Reviews & Quotes | No Straight Lines

Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO) | Reviewed by Andrew Koval, MSLS
Highly Recommended "A comprehensive mix of empowerment, history, grief and cultural analysis of the gay community through the medium of comics."

Stanford University | Estelle Freedman, Edgar E. Robinson Professor in United States History Emeriti
"No Straight Lines provides a lively and engaging account of lesbian and gay comics in the U.S. from their origins in 1970s counter-cultures to their establishment in the 21st century. Driven by the compelling personal histories of pioneers such as Howard Cruse and Alison Bechdel, the film takes care to draw out intergenerational influences, technological change, and the non-linear trajectory of queer comics from margin to mainstream."

Yale University | Roderick A. Ferguson, William Roberston Coe Professor of Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and Professor of American Studies
“Fun and moving! No Straight Lines is a survey of an ever-evolving history that many of us didn’t know we had. Watch it and see how these amazing artists say and draw ‘gay’ over and over again.”

Journal of International Women's Studies | Reviewed by Peter Jnr Tshetu & Brian Pindayi
"No Straight Lines ─ The Rise of Queer Comics is a thought-provoking and visually engaging documentary that skillfully weaves together personal stories, historical context, and the evolution of queer comics. It stands as a testament to the power of art in shaping narratives, challenging stereotypes, and creating a space for diverse voices within the queer community.

Films for the Feminist Classroom | Reviewed by Krista Quesenberry
"No Straight Lines is at once intimate and significant. It is a flashy and joyful history that traces queer representation from painful obscurity to flourishing visibility."

Los Angeles Times

“Quietly powerful.”

IndieWire
"10 Must-See Films"

The Guardian
“A rich tapestry of interwoven voices and images.”

San Francisco Chronicle
“Kleiman tells a wider and deeper tale about the power of seeing one’s experience represented… Kleiman made the artwork itself the star of film.”

ArtNet
“One of ‘6 Gripping Art Films to See at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival"

Filmmaker Magazine
“Kleiman does a phenomenal job… A film that evokes laughter with the timeless humor of queer comics while engaging as well with the AIDS crisis and other elements of historical LGBT political oppression, No Straight Lines succeeds in blending history with narrative, ultimately doing justice to the rich history of queer comics.”

CBS News
“An entertaining and enlightening documentary… Traces the evolution of comics as a social movement, and artistic expression as a vital channel of sexuality.”