History Lessons (2000)

Director: Barbara Hammer
Stars: Ann Maguire, Jane Fine, Cocoa Fusco

A montage of film clips and stills calling all lesbians to come out and celebrate who they are. Weaving together clips social guidance and classroom shorts from the fifties, a World War II documentary on a fleet of female fighter pilots, advertising films, home movies, snap shots, newsreel footage of an all-women conference held by Eleanor Roosevelt, and even some shockingly graphic lesbian themed "smokers" from the 1920's and 30's (made for a straight male audience), the variety and clever juxtaposition of the images makes for a moving, if at times demanding, experience. The soundtrack is often re-dubbed or added to, so that Eleanor Roosevelt can say things like "Thank you all for coming to this wonderful lesbian conferance."

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