I’m not really drawn to what people usually call “feelgood” movies. You won’t catch me falling for a happy ending, and I’m not into Disney films either—honestly, all those talking animals and flawless princesses creep me out a bit. I’ve always preferred the rough, gritty side of things: the stylish slasher Knife+Heart, the fashion-focused murder in In Fabric, and the snuff-film obsession in Thesis. Basically, sex and gore. For a long time, my favorite movie was Crimes of the Future, a stomach-churning body horror about sexual-surgical experiments.
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But there’s one movie that shows a softer side to my taste, one I go back to again and again to feel that giddy, crush-like excitement. That film is Bound. It’s the 1996 directorial debut from the Wachowski sisters, and the story is a classic opposites-attract setup with high stakes: Corky, a plumber, and Violet, a mobster’s girlfriend. When their eyes meet in an elevator, that tiny space fills with sexual tension—it’s electric.
What makes this film work is the undeniable chemistry between Corky, played with slick masculinity by Gina Gershon, and Violet, played with ultimate sex appeal by Jennifer Tilly. The whole movie is shot from a sapphic perspective: we get plenty of close-ups of Corky’s hands working on pipes, snaking through holes, and unscrewing things in slow, detailed, almost sensual shots.
Say what you will about whether openly queer actors should play queer roles, but this film—starring two straight, cis female leads—is a masterclass in lesbian eroticism. The two actors perfectly capture a butch/femme dynamic without the forced, preachy tone of many later movies. They create a relationship that feels oddly real (except way, way hotter).
How do I love this film? Let me count the ways. Just a year after playing the vampy Cristal Connors in the trashy 1995 Vegas film Showgirls, it’s amazing to see Gershon transform so completely into a butch pin-up. It’s fair to say that Corky’s sly smirk and shaggy hair probably inspired Shane from The L Word.
And then there’s Jennifer Tilly. She’s like a porcelain doll—her sex appeal is right there on the surface, in her pout and her dramatic sighs. But underneath, she’s strong and tough. She plays a complex female character who uses her charm to manipulate men and get what she wants, a femme trapped by her own beauty. Tilly gives what I think is the most insightful performance I’ve ever seen about the double life of a lesbian who passes as straight.
Anyway, back to the story. After their first meeting, things get very relatable: Corky, just out of prison, is especially vulnerable to Violet’s ultra-feminine charms. In a move that can only be explained by pure lust, Corky agrees to help her with a crazy plan to steal $2 million from the mob and frame her boyfriend. Honestly, I’d probably do whatever Violet asked me to, too.
But to be honest, the crime plot doesn’t really matter to me. Do I care if they pull it off? Not really. If you’re curious, though, there are some tired—almost anti-femme—moments where Corky starts to doubt whether Violet is really a lesbian or if she’ll leave her for a man at the first chance. But despite all that, they still get their happy ending.
Interestingly, the story draws a parallel between Corky’s time in prison and Violet’s own kind of sentence: the years she spends hiding her true self in straight relationships with men just to survive financially. At the end of the film, escaping prison and with a pile of cash, they’re both free: Corky from the justice system, and Violet from the confines of a straight, cisgender world.Heterosexual society. Even though this movie came out about 30 years ago—the year I was born—it’s still the most believable portrayal of lesbian sexual dynamics I’ve ever seen on screen. The Wachowski sisters (both trans lesbians) weren’t publicly out at the time, but they were bold in their filmmaking: they captured the playfulness, mischief, and joy of sapphic relationships in Bound. I’m from a different generation than the directors, and I’m supposed to have plenty of queer representation available to me, but without this film made by two trans women in the ’90s, I wouldn’t have cinematic proof of my own sexuality.
Bound is available on Kanopy or to rent digitally in the US, and to rent digitally in the UK and Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the articletopic A Masterclass in Lesbian Eroticism Why Bound is My Feelgood Movie written in a natural conversational tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What exactly is Bound Is it a porno
No its not a porno Bound is a 1996 neonoir crime thriller directed by the Wachowskis Its famous for its incredibly stylish tense and explicit depiction of a lesbian relationship between two women but it has a plot about stealing money from the mob
2 Why would someone call a crime movie a feelgood movie
Because for many queer women the feelgood part isnt the crimeits the love story The movie shows a lesbian relationship that is powerful trusting and passionate without the usual tragedy or shame It feels good to see a happy ending for the couple
3 What makes the eroticism in Bound different from other movies
The sex scenes are directed like a conversation They focus on mutual desire eye contact and real chemistry between the actors Its not about a male gaze its about two women actively wanting each other
4 Is the movie violent
Yes It is a mafia thriller so there is some stylized violence and blood However the violence is directed at the male characters not at the lesbian couple The love story is the safe warm center of the movie
IntermediateLevel Questions
5 How does the movie use noir style to create erotic tension
The blackandwhite color palette and heavy shadows create a claustrophobic dangerous world The eroticism stands out because it is often lit by warm soft light contrasting with the cold harsh light of the mobs world It makes the intimacy feel like a secret sanctuary
6 Why is the leather glove scene considered a masterclass
Its a perfect example of less is more Corky ties Violets hands with a necktie then slowly pulls off her leather gloves with her teeth There is no nudity but the focus
