This post originally appeared on DirectedByWomen, 5/21/19
Online dating is an enigma. More than once, my line has hooked a catfish. I considered buying an EMF meter because of all the ghosts that haunted my Tinder feed.
The Date tells a more positive tale.
Directed by Emmalie El Fadli, this film captures the tale of two women looking for a relationship in our social-media filled age. Though it runs short of ten minutes, the piece carries the heart and storytelling of movies much longer.
As a staunch member of the LGBT community, it’s been…difficult finding a film that resonates with me. Cinema overflows with gay relationships between two men and tosses the scraps to the lesbians. Films catered to us feature toxic relationships, a calculating ex-boyfriend, and, inevitably, one—or both women—dead.
The Date is a wholesome, relatable treat. Olivia, one half of this adorable relationship, sends the heartwarming “good morning” texts every relationship-less person craves. Lizzy battles the pre-date jitters: switching outfits in front of a mirror, then anxiously waiting for the other to show. The meetup itself isn’t mundane or awkward; I felt like I was sitting with them (not as an awkward third wheel, but like I was on a date myself).
But what I found most crucial was the hand-holding. Being a shy person and no stranger to homophobia, holding a girl’s hand once seemed like an element of a fairy tale. The Date depicts the innocence of reaching out—the anxiety that rests in an empty palm—and the relief when the other person reaches back. Watching Olivia and Lizzy stride around so confidently with their hands entwined brought back that feeling of triumph every once-closeted kid feels when they dare to press the boundaries. When they dare to love another of the same sex.
Riding the wave of cruciality, the film’s impact doesn’t stop before the credits. Video clips shot on phones and laptops dot the final scenes, featuring extra heartwarming content from LGBT couples all across the globe. Featuring actual couples not only emphasizes the validation of same-sex relationships, it gives hope to those who haven’t found their true love yet—or even eased out the closet door—that there is someone for them in this world.
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