WORD PREMIERE - Cascadia International Women's Film Festival | OFFICIAL SELECTION - Montreal Lesbian and Gay Festival | OFFICIAL SELECTION - Toronto International Women Film Festival
Female Solidarity • Lesbian Motherhood • Families • Elderly • LoveDate of Completion: 2024 | Run Time: 39 minutes | Language: English with Spanish subtitles | Captions: Yes | Includes: Transcript | Director: Greta Schiller | Executive Producer: Andrea Weiss | Editor: Alex Miellier
LOVE LETTERS tells the remarkable story of esteemed professor and feminist scholar Catharine R. Stimpson and Australian musicologist Elizabeth (Liz) Wood. Now in their 80s, they recall a time when living openly and loving unapologetically was a radical act. For Catharine, this jeopardized her career and relationships with her family. The stakes were even higher for Liz as the mother of four children at a time when judges routinely denied custody to lesbians. Driven by their fierce desire to be together at all costs, Liz battled in Australian family court to be able to bring the children to New York and forge a life with Catharine. Liz’s lesbianism was used against her in court despite the children’s firm desire to remain with her. Ultimately, with Catharine’s unwavering support and that of feminist communities in Australia and New York, including luminaries such as Kate Millet, Adrienne Rich and Rita Mae Brown, Liz prevailed. Her victory established the precedent that lesbian mothers could not be considered unfit simply for who they love, and secured their life together as a family for the next five decades. Both women are motivated to tell their story now as younger generations wage their own battles against the patriarchy.
CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival | Cheryl Crooks
"Love Letters is a profound and heartfelt film beautifully unfolded by director Greta Schiller. The story of the two women who courageously challenged the child custody system at a time when it was radical for a lesbian couple to do so is touching, personal and genuinely moving. CASCADIA is excited and honored to give it the world premiere."
Smith College | Kelly Anderson, Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality
"Set against the backdrop of the women’s liberation movements of the 1970s, “Love Letters” is a story about love at first sight, feminist revolutions, and the beautiful families that lesbians have made. This is a film about desire, rich intellectual and political lives, and the importance of our archives. Thank you, Liz and Kate, for the worlds you have made possible."
AWARDS
Best Documentary Short | Queens World Film Festival
Nominee, Best Director of Short Doc | Queens World Film Festival
FILM FESTIVALS
Cascadia International Womens Film (World Premiere)
Montreal Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Toronto International Women Film Festival
image+nation Festival Film
GAZE International LGBT Film Festival
Mystic Film Festival