Dykes, Camera, Action!

Caroline Berler; 2018; USA; 60 min.
A history of queer cinema from the women who made it happen—complete with juicy clips and stories—director Caroline Berler’s accomplished first documentary goes beyond Hollywood myth-making to show how women, lesbians, and people of color helped transform the queer imagination. Filmmakers Barbara Hammer, Rose Troche, Cheryl Dunye, Desiree Akhavan, and Vicky Du (among others) discuss confronting mainstream image-making and creating work that pushes boundaries, tells great stories, and reflects diversity and desire. A delightful behind-the-scenes exploration of ’70s lesbian cinema, ’80s activism, ’90s New Queer Cinema, and 21st-century pop froth, this is a shoo-in for Best Access to Copyrighted Archival Material and a gift to all cinema lovers.