605: Better Than Chocolate

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You know what’s better than chocolate? — being unapologetically gay! This week Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out to discuss Better Than Chocolate, a 1999 Canadian romcom, for this Lez-ssentials episode, a recurring segment on the essential movies and TV shows in the lesbian canon.

Being in the closet is hard, but being in the closet while trying to cohabitate with your mother, younger brother, and secret girlfriend really takes the chaos to another level. Maggie juggles hiding her sexuality from her mom, Lila, working at a queer bookstore that is constantly under threat by the censors, and falling in love with Kim, a bohemian artist whose hippie van gets towed while they are hooking up; and she juggles it all about as well as can be expected for a 19 year old.

As Lila gets further entangled in her daughter’s life, she meets Judy, a trans woman who becomes her closest friend and confidante, and ultimately helps her learn to accept Maggie’s sexuality. In return, Lila helps Judy conquer her fears of rejection and confront her feelings for the love of her life, Frances, the owner of the queer bookstore. In true late 90’s fashion, there is a bit of period typical homophobia to contend with, including a full on hate crime scene that we honestly could have done without. Ultimately this movie ends on a happy and hopeful note, a rarity for lesbian movies, even moreso for older ones. Better Than Chocolate contains everything we want in a great lesbian movie- a dramatic love story, hilarious jokes, incredible chemistry between the main couples, a moving storyline, a happy ending for our leads, and more dildos than even the most well stocked sex shop could ever have on display.

At the end of the episode, stick around to hear our original song based on Better Than Chocolate titled “A Little Bit Better” written by Leigh Holmes Foster, produced by Ellie Brigida, and performed by Ellie Brigida and Leigh Holmes Foster. Join us on Patreon at bit.ly/lezpatreon for mp3 downloads of all our original songs or find us on Bandcamp to purchase songs individually.

Follow along on Twitter: Lez Hang Out (@lezhangoutpod) and answer our Q & Gay at the end of every episode. Leigh Holmes Foster (@lshfoster) and Ellie Brigida (@elliebrigida). You can also join us on Facebook.com/lezhangoutpod and follow along on Instagram (@lezhangoutpod).