Billie and Emma

The streaming service Tubi has become a crucial ally in my quest to watch every single WLW film. Out of all streaming services, whether free or subscription-based, Tubi has the largest LGBTQ* film section. And I am ever thankful for that. However, while Tubi might be getting full marks for their quantity of LGBTQ* films, the quality of said films is likely to be lower than a film you would get on a more curated streaming service. I’ve seen some serious garbage of Tubi. And frequently. But just because it’s more likely the film might be bad doesn’t mean it absolutely has to be! I watched Billie and Emma on Tubi last night. And it is a movie that is good!

Teenage tomboy Billie moves from Manila to a small town to live with her aunt. This move was not exactly Billie’s choice. The move means Billie has to join a new school mid-term. On her first day, Billie experiences seemingly pointed homophobia in religious class and is put on the spot by the school’s golden child, Emma. Emma is a scholarship student and thus, works overtime to be the ideal student. The two girls don’t get along. That is, until they’re grouped together on a health project where they care for an egg as if it were a child. As their project develops, Emma’s life gets more complicated. Her perfect status is heavily impacted when she realizes she’s pregnant, throwing her future into jeopardy.

Writer/director Samantha Lee is a real talent. She’s batting 100% on good quality WLW films. Her first film, Maybe Tomorrow is also good. And I just learned she’s got a WLW miniseries. So, I guess I know what I’m doing after this. Lee’s instincts are so good. Her eye for shots and lighting really stands out. She also shows great mastery of story and particularly, queer story. Billie and Emma feels so successful because the basis of it is trope-laden. The project partners to lovers story has been done. But she uses this as framework to also delve deeper into the characters. This isn’t just fluff of no nutritional value. There’s depth and drama to this teen romance too.

One thing that’s so striking in Billie and Emma is how brave the main characters are. Billie and Emma both find themselves in situations where every social factor is against them, often vocally. Billie’s visual queerness causes problems right off the bat. And Emma’s eventual pregnancy garners similar treatment. Both of these girls have society itself stacked against them. Yet at almost every turn, Billie and Emma fight back. Billie is constantly confrontational about the anti-gay rhetoric at school. And Emma shows intelligence and boldness in her strategy to retain a spot at school despite her pregnancy. These girls are the opposite of doormats. And that’s beautiful and admirable to watch.

Because the film does have stakes, that makes the romantic moments have all the more weight. Samantha Lee takes two characters who are not only shunned, but at the centre of very “adult” scandals relating to sexuality and pregnancy. And she gives them an incredibly sweet romance. It’s all hand-holding, bike rides and soft lighting. And these girls deserve this! And girls who watch this movie and identify with these characters deserve this too. These brave, marginalized girls also get to have such sweet, beautiful moments. And these moments feel all the more important because you know the happiness within these scenes is so fragile.

I’m in awe of Samantha Lee. I’ve really enjoyed the work of hers I’ve seen and I’m eager to watch more of it. This is a great high school romance film. It balances lighter romantic moments with a major injection of drama. As much as the romantic moments do shine, the film works so well because it’s more than just romance. Lee manages to use the film as a really great vehicle for social commentary and a passion for equality.

Overall rating: 7.3/10

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