Out of Season (1998) User Reviews

A fire-footed woman finds love in the most unexpected place.

[indiereel69 · 17 March 2001]

This is an amazing cinematic accomplishment for first time Director Jeanette L. Buck. Out of Season is both poignant and compelling with an honesty rarely seen in film performances. Especially in the lesbian genre.

Micki is a bit of a wanderer. She never stays in one place too long. Never with a woman much longer. Now family and maybe fate brings her to East Coast Cape May to nurse her ailing Uncle Charlie. She doesn't know if "she's searching for something or running from it."

Quickly this lack of direction is challenged by a local lesbian recluse/short order cook Roberta. As much as you want them together, you can't help but surrender--savor every moment they clash. Sexual tension times a hundred--sweet connection to the moon and back.

What makes this film such a reviving feature is that it exudes the primitive nature of falling in love, being vulnerable, and realizing who you are. No fancy tricks with editing or explosive "Run Lola Run" cinematography. Just a statement from the heart, from the soul.

In the moment.

I've seen Out of Season and put it at the top of my list of nearly any lesbian film prior. Get misplaced!

Wonderful lesbian romance film.

[sonya90028 · 10/10 · 21 June 2009]

Carol Monda stars as Micki, a restless, cynical native New Yorker. When her uncle Charlie becomes terminally ill, Micki reluctantly agrees to help take care of him. Charlie lives in the small town of Cape May, which big-city gal Micki has trouble adjusting to.

Micki happens to be a lesbian, and she's wary of getting involved in a serious relationship. She's been burned before, and she's just too foot-loose to want to settle-down anyhow. But Micki soon finds herself chasing after a very attractive women named Roberta, that she meets at the local diner. The one thing Micki has in common with the woman, is that they both look after Micki's dying uncle.

Micki sets out to seduce Roberta. But Roberta is reluctant to get involved with Micki, due to Micki's inability to form a permanent, serious relationship. Micki tries all sorts of clever ways to win Roberta over. Roberta does become attracted to Micki's roguish charm, but continues to play hard-to-get. Roberta makes it clear that if Micki wants her, it has to be a real relationship, and not just a fling. Micki has to decide if Roberta means enough to her, to let Roberta tame her wanderlust.

This film was quite down-to-earth, regarding the very human need that we all have to be loved. Carol Monda as Micki, and Joy Kelly as Roberta, really clicked on-screen as the star-crossed lovers. They played out the classic romantic dilemma of opposites attracting, then repelling. The trials and tribulations of their love affair, is something that most anyone who has been in love, can relate to.

This film is a sensitively told story, of lesbian romance between two very different woman, and their struggle to make their relationship work. Both women begin to overcome their fears about being vulnerable, once they start an on-going relationship. The film ultimately shows that no matter who a person is, they can find love, if they open their hearts and let love in. It's kind of a corny premise. Yet it also is true to the hopes most of us have, to find the one person who'll love us deeply, warts and all.

a jaded woman learns the true meaning of family and belonging

[icebaby · 10/10 · 18 May 1999]

mickey, a cynical new york photographer travels to cape may, nj to assist her dying uncle. there she meets roberta, a woman with no illusions about the love 'em and leave 'em attitude mickey has toward relationships. but something clicks between the two women and both learn lessons about opening up and accepting love , even if you're not quite sure that it'll work out. a warm and funny film that i saw last year at the san francisco gay/lesbian film festival.

Brilliant

[crosswinds64 · 10/10 · 3 March 2003]

This movie lifted me , it is honest, down to earth , no glitzy dreamland hollywood version of girl meets girl. There is sexual tension, sarcasm, confrontation of emotions , real life scenarios.

I have watched this movie several times and each time i see it i get something else again out of it.

Joy Kelly is gorgeous as Roberta. Carol Monda is again excellent as Micki the wanderer, searching for something, which i suppose we all are.

It is well worth buying this video.