‘Below Her Mouth’ Fans Must Watch These Steamy Sapphic Romances Next

If you finished watching ‘Below Her Mouth’ craving more of that captivating chemistry between two women entangled in an irresistible connection, you’re certainly not alone. The 2016 Canadian drama directed by April Mullen has become a hallmark for viewers seeking unapologetic sapphic narratives, largely due to its bold portrayal of desire.

Fortunately for fans, there is a rich array of films that explore queer female intimacy with similar audacity. Some delve into emotional longing, while others focus on passionate heat. The selections below encompass both ends of the spectrum, ensuring that anyone looking to recapture that ‘Below Her Mouth’ essence has plenty of new options to explore.

To appreciate these recommendations, it’s essential to understand what made ‘Below Her Mouth’ resonate so deeply. Mullen’s film was notably shot with an all-female crew, a choice made by producer Melissa Coghlan to create a comfortable atmosphere during the many intimate scenes. This decision imparted an unmistakably female perspective that both critics and audiences have hailed as its defining characteristic.

The narrative follows Dallas, a Toronto roofer portrayed by Swedish model Erika Linder, and Jasmine, a fashion designer played by Natalie Krill, whose engagement to a man named Rile unravels amid a passionate affair. The plot is intentionally sparse, as Mullen has expressed that the film was inspired by her own experience of falling hopelessly in love, aiming to convey that electric feeling within a concise runtime.

In an interview with MovieMaker Magazine, Mullen shared how the team sought to expose themselves creatively and emotionally, ensuring the intimacy on screen felt genuine. An interesting tidbit is that Erika Linder trained as a roofer for two weeks prior to filming and even convinced a customer that she was a seasoned professional. This level of commitment is precisely what fans often seek in similar films.

A frequently mentioned counterpart to ‘Below Her Mouth’ is ‘Blue Is The Warmest Color,’ the 2013 French film directed by Abdellatif Kechiche. It made history as the first film to have the Palme d’Or awarded to both the director and the lead actresses, Lea Seydoux and Adele Exarchopoulos, at Cannes. The film received an NC-17 rating in the United States for its explicit sexual content, and its nearly ten-minute centerpiece scene became as iconic as its awards recognition.

Another noteworthy film is ‘Carol,’ Todd Haynes’ 2015 adaptation featuring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as two women whose chance encounter in a 1950s department store blossoms into a forbidden romance. While this film trades the urgency of ‘Below Her Mouth’ for a more restrained longing, the chemistry between its leads is equally electric. It holds a special place in the hearts of many lesbian viewers, despite some prominent queer critics expressing concerns about its male-directed perspective.

For those who appreciated the rawness of Mullen’s film but desire a more expansive emotional narrative, these two films are essential viewing. They represent opposite tonal extremes, with ‘Blue’ embracing bodily intensity and ‘Carol’ favoring elegant repression. Both leave a lasting impact long after the credits roll.

If ‘Below Her Mouth’ ignited a spark, ‘Portrait Of A Lady On Fire’ nurtures a slow-burning flame that lingers well beyond the credits. Celine Sciamma’s 2019 film won the Best Screenplay award at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where it also received the Queer Palm. It tells the story of a portrait artist, Marianne, who is commissioned to paint Heloise, a young noblewoman who refuses to sit for the painting in defiance of her unwanted marriage.

Park Chan-wook’s ‘The Handmaiden’ offers a more intricate narrative, intertwining deception and politics within a queer love story that spans nearly three hours. The 2016 Korean film follows a con artist plot involving a wealthy heiress and the maid hired to deceive her, culminating in a sensual narrative that fans of Mullen’s intensity will surely appreciate. Both films fit seamlessly into any sapphic watchlist.

Sciamma’s pacing is renowned for being soft and tentative, filled with yearning, while Kechiche’s is rapid and at times overwhelming. Both films demonstrate that intimacy on screen can resonate just as powerfully when it is paced like a held breath, rewarding viewers who desire that feeling of earned desire rather than instant gratification.

In addition to the major titles, several films are frequently recommended for ‘Below Her Mouth’ fans by various outlets compiling sapphic film lists. ‘Bound,’ from 1996, often appears on these lists, merging neo-noir tension with a central queer romance. Some argue it deserves more recognition than ‘Blue Is The Warmest Color’ for setting the modern standard in this genre.

The Swedish romance ‘Kiss Me,’ released in 2011, is another fitting choice, depicting a woman whose engagement is disrupted when she falls for her future stepsister, closely mirroring the central tension of Jasmine’s storyline. Additionally, ‘Desert Hearts,’ a foundational sapphic film from 1985, is perfect for those seeking something older and more contemplative.

Streaming options continue to grow as well. Titles like ‘365 Days,’ ‘After We Fell,’ and ‘Addicted’ are often grouped with ‘Below Her Mouth’ on Netflix recommendation lists for fans of steamy romance, even though their narratives are not queer. They satisfy the same craving for viewers who are simply looking for something passionate and immersive.

What did ‘Below Her Mouth’ reveal to you that these other films either matched or completely overlooked, and which one is at the top of your watchlist now?