Girls Like Girls
The brief
Hayley Kiyoko brings her music video sensibilities to this tender small-town romance, creating something that feels like if Call Me By Your Name happened in an Oregon diner instead of Italian villas. Maya da Costa and Myra Molloy have genuine chemistry that makes their hesitant circling around each other feel authentically awkward rather than manufactured, while the grief subplot adds real emotional weight without overwhelming the central love story. The pacing is deliberate and patient, letting moments breathe in a way that mirrors how these relationships actually unfold when you're seventeen and figuring everything out. Perfect for anyone who loved The Half of It or wants their queer romance served with actual emotional complexity instead of just indie film aesthetics.
The verdict
If you crave authentic queer romance with genuine emotional complexity and don't mind deliberate pacing that lets teenage relationships unfold naturally, this is exactly what you've been waiting for. If you prefer fast-paced plots or need constant narrative momentum to stay engaged, you'll find this small-town character study too slow and introspective for your taste.
Watch with
- 👫 Perfect for a quiet date night
- 👤 Great solo viewing for emotional processing
- ⚠️ May be too slow for group viewing
Heads up
- Parental death and grief processing (moderate)
- Teen sexuality and intimate moments (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Hayley Kiyoko
- Cast
- Maya da Costa, Myra Molloy, Levon Hawke, Zach Braff, Remy Marthaller, Maya Ford, Alozie LaRose
Official synopsis
Coley, 17, from rural Oregon, navigates intimacy after her mother's passing. Meeting Sonya sparks new feelings, but self-doubt hinders their connection. Sonya, unfamiliar with dating girls, is uncertain. They learn to embrace emotions.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Beau Is Afraid (2023)
Both explore young people confronting deep anxieties about identity and connection.
Total runtime: 1h 35m + 2h 59m = 4h 34m
