Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie’s Dead Aunt)

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“17-year-old  Ellie is struggling to find the courage to ask her classmate, Abbie, to the formal. Luckily her Aunt Tara, a lesbian who died in the 80’s has shown up as a “Fairy Godmother” to dish out advice, whether Ellie wants it or not. “ -Showtime

This wonderful Australian comedy made me laugh out loud with a story that mirrors the reality of teens (LGBTQ+ and not) across the world. It’s cast gives a great performance that can engage both younger people and parents. While the film is built on the main character coming out, the storyline goes beyond that- living ‘out’ in the world, figuring out if that girl you like is also gay, teenage romance, parent/child relationships, generational differences, grief, and more. Additionally the film brings to light a real historical event- the LGBTQ counter protests to the anti-gay march on Oxford Street in 1989 (although the presentation of it may or may not be totally accurate)- something I had not known about as an American. The film includes cliches, but not of LGBTQ folks.

Confirmed LGBTQ+ cast/crew:
Zoe Terakes
Julia Billington
Monica Zanetti (director)
According to an if.com.au article at least 50% of the cast and a high proportion of the creative and producing teams identify as LGBTQ.