Blue is the Warmest Color and The Handmaiden are two examples of mainstream contemporary lesbian cinema. Through their example, this paper shows the presence of a pre-existing global model of...Show moreBlue is the Warmest Color and The Handmaiden are two examples of mainstream contemporary lesbian cinema. Through their example, this paper shows the presence of a pre-existing global model of lesbianism in cinema that is being challenged by new lesbian films in the past decade. Through their example, this paper will show how local manifestations of lesbian cinema challenge the expectations of a previously established Global On-Screen Lesbian. The literature review first highlights the crucial lack of recent lesbian cinema analysis, along with a drive for the visible and the mainstream. The analysis of Blue is the Warmest Color and The Handmaiden showed that both are embedded in the idea of the Global Lesbian, as shown by the lingering tropes and other characteristics of the pre-established global lesbian cinema. Nevertheless, each film defies what is expected of the Global On-Screen Lesbian by actively walking away from traditional tropes and narratives, while anchoring themselves in their respective local culture.Show less
