A lesbian feature film shows us how to be bold and live our best lives.
Once in a blue moon, a film will come around that has the power to move mountains deep within the pits of our inner selves — a film that creates a longing to be better and to live our lives as happily as can be.
From the brilliant mind of Jan Miller Corran, comes Snapshots. A visionary tale of three generations of women is brought to life against the backdrop of a Missouri lakefront cottage. When a grandmother’s secret past collides with her granddaughter’s secret future and her daughter’s angry present, we get to witness if the love they have for one another is enough for acceptance.
Snapshots takes us on a journey through the present and into the past where Rose, played by the incomparable, Piper Laurie (Carrie, Twin Peaks, Children of a Lesser God) is presented with a sealed envelope of old photos that her granddaughter Allison (Emily Baldoni) had developed for her. Upon seeing what the photographs actually were, Rose is transported back to the early 1960’s; to a time when she was much younger (Young Rose played by Shannon Collis), the lake house was a new adventure for her and her and her husband Joe (Max Adler – Glee), and when she met the absolute love of her life, beautiful Louise (Emily Goss).
Though Rose’s secret wasn’t fully revealed until two thirds in, she continually takes us on her emotional ride back. What started out as a chance encounter, while attempting to fish down by the lake, turned into a blown love affair that spanned over three years between young Rose and Louise.
With their husbands clueless as to their activities while they “tended to the mines” during the week, Rose and Louise allowed themselves to get lost in each other with a love so beautifully portrayed by both actresses.
In the midst of dealing with the loss of her husband, daughter Patty (Brook Adams) attempts to find solace in micromanaging both Rose’s and Allison’s lives while casually drinking her troubles away. Patty is in obvious turmoil and the trip to the lake house with Allison was her attempt at an escape of her lingering reality. When the secrets of her mother and daughter are finally revealed, she is hesitant to come to terms with them as she is too focused with her own inner demons to respond to theirs.
The trio spent a long weekend coming together and falling apart, only to come back together again when these secrets are revealed and they find that they have a lot more in common than they think.
Directed by Melanie Mayron (Jane The Virgin, Pretty Little Liars) and produced by Corran and the powerhouse Lee Anne Matusek (A Perfect Ending, Elena Undone), Snapshots brings forth a wonderful breath of fresh air in the midst of the #TIMESUP era. With a feature film incorporating strong women both in front and behind the camera, along with the very obvious lesbian theme, this film is the perfect edition for present-day cinema. “Snapshots reminds us that from generation to generation bias and prejudice exists,” said Corran. “Whether it is the mistaken belief that women cannot deliver in the same way men can in the industry or the persistent battle to be heard as a woman or LGBTQ. A focus on the strengths of women filmmakers who can and do bring important stories to the screen can be a catalyst for social change for the better.”
This is a special film for Corran as it was a true story that she wrote with her late mother in mind. “The inspiration for the story came from my mother,” said Corran. “At the age of ninety-four, on her deathbed, revealed that the love of her life was a woman. My mother lived her entire life not being her true self. It was important to tell the story because everyone must live their true lives and not live afraid or in emulation of what society says ‘normal’ is.”
“For me, this film was a big eye-opener on what was looked at as ‘normal’ and not ‘normal’ in the 60s,” said Collis. “Hearing stories from Melanie (Mayron) about what it was like growing up around that era and this story Jan and Leanna developed told another perspective. I think that’s really important, to see that we as a community of human beings can understand one another better and ultimately love is love.”
“I hope Snapshots encourages people to share their truths with their families, showing us that we can disagree and still get along,” said Goss. “I hope this film reaffirms that love is love is love.”
Snapshots brings forth a relatable subject of family secrets and quarrel with a wonderfully balanced transition into the 1960s. The film even incorporates some very interesting and fun period tunes that we have all danced to! I mean, who doesn’t love a great period piece? Preparing for their roles as star-crossed lovers in this era proved to be intriguing and educational for Collis and Goss.
“I was constantly thinking of how drawn I was to Louise but also wanting to be respectful of Joe,” said Collis. “You can see that everyone cared about each other, the complications arose naturally.”
“Historical and cultural events give me a sense of what I’m fighting against as Louise,” said Goss. She is a woman who is attracted to women, a woman who champions equal rights and racial equality, a woman trying to be an artist. Then the huge changes in American culture from 1960-1964, in addition to a million little off-screen moments between Rose and Louise, all affect the scripted scenes which are scattered over the years.”