Therese and Isabelle (1968)

Rated: ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)

This little gem is probably a movie you've never heard of nor could you presumably find it at your local video shop. However, it is available on netflix for all of you with an account (and we strongly suggest you get one if you don't already have one).

This is your classic girl meets girl at boarding school and experiences a sexual awakening story. Therese and Isabelle begins and ends with Therese as an older woman, visiting the Swiss boarding school of her youth. As she progresses from room to room, memories flood her vision of all of her lesbian romps with Isabelle and the movie takes us back in time to play out the course of their relationship.

From looking at this movie, we assumed it was going to be very tame and campy. We expected at most a kiss, but maybe one of those cleverly filmed sex scenes where all the real action is obscured. However, what we got was something straight out of a 50's lesbian pulp novel. The actresses are surprisingly hot, and not even that bad at acting. There are at least 3 sex scenes in the movie, which wouldn't be very graphic themselves if it weren't for the extremely vulgar narrative over top of it. Therese is the main character, dealing with problems ranging from her mother's new husband to her new found insatiable desire for Isabelle. Isabelle is more free and light hearted, causing issues between the two. Most viewers will probably find themselves sympathizing with Therese on several occasions. This story really is, after all, just a story about the intensity of first love.

Although the ending is somewhat of a let down, we were forced to give this movie 5/5. It's surprising, oddly sexy, and so classically vintage... we just couldn't resist loving it.

View the trailer here.