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Guinevere Turner, V.S. Brodie, T. Wendy McMillan, Migdalia Melendez, Anastasia Sharp ... see more see more... , Michael Maguire , Ara Celi , Donnie Jarman , George LePorte , Polly W. Le Porte , Arthur C. Stone , Brooke Webster , Danielia Falcon , Elspeth Kydd , Jennifer Allen , Mary Garvey , Mimi Weddell , Tracy Kimme , Walter Youngblood

This hit arthouse ensemble piece traces the romantic and political ups and downs of a group of multicultural Chicago lesbians. The central story involves an unlikely romance between Max (Guinevere Tur... read more read more...ner), a hip young babe, and Ely (V.S. Brodie), a slightly older woman involved in a long-term, long-distance relationship that's basically a smokescreen for her fear of romantic risk. When the pair are introduced by Max's roommate, teacher/activist Kia (T. Wendy McMillan), Max isn't interested in Ely, whose long hair, hippie accoutrements, and fondness for decaffeinated herbal tea don't impress the younger, more fashion-conscious woman. Soon, though, fate, friends, and Ely's butch new hairstyle conspire to push the women closer together. As this new romance inches along, the pair's friends have problems of their own: Kia must help her closeted girlfriend, Evy (Migdalia Melendez), come to grips with the disapproval of her conservative Latina mother, while their pal Daria (Anastasia Sharp) incurs the disapproval of the lesbian community for her decision to sleep with a man. Filmed in black and white on-location in Chicago, Go Fish features a number of non-standard narrative devices, most notably the Greek chorus, or "jury," of lesbians who comment on not only the plot, but also the political and social ramifications thereof. Shown in competition at Sundance in 1994, Go Fish went on to earn critical and commercial success and establish the careers of director Rose Troche and actress Turner, who together co-wrote and co-produced the picture. Turner would appear in several additional indies and co-write the script for American Psycho, while Troche would go on to helm 1998's Bedrooms & Hallways. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Flixster Users

53% liked it

2,805 ratings

Critics

77% liked it

13 critics

R, 1 hr. 25 min.

Directed by: Lawrence L. Simeone, Rose Troche

Release Date: June 1, 1995

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DVD Release Date: July 24, 2001

Stats: 142 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (142)

  • anastasia57001
    November 28, 2009
    anastasia57001
    Rose Troche does a great job in directing this film. First of all, we see women though a woman's eye. It's unusual, and it focuses on completely different things, than what men usually pay attention to. Here we have an obsession with faces, eyes and hands- not boobs. Very refresh... read moreing from that point of view! Also the black & white photography maximizes the effort to capture all those sexually ambiguous women.

    The fact that I am only watching this film 15 years after it was made, is a shame. I wish I knew it was out there when I was first questioning myself and my identity. It would have been a tremendous step towards realizing that even freaks of nature (according to the western society's standards) deserve to be happy and can be loved.

    Love can be found in the weirdest of places. Ely maybe "U.G.L.Y." but she can make Max happy. Max has to give up on the idea of the ideal girlfriend, and explore more tangible options. I loved it, even though it's totally NOT "L word" and girls are not necessarily attractive and worn out in the gym.
  • CaptainCampion1
    May 14, 2009
    CaptainCampion1
    Funny and witty yet very down to earth ... this movie is all about the dialogue and interactions ...
  • sepio41
    November 24, 2008
    sepio41
    guinevere turner is a one luscious actress, as she displays in this film and the next on my list. but this film was lensed on the north side of chicago and it will always be high on my list for giving some light to chicago's lesbian scene.
  • heybarbara
    October 31, 2008
    heybarbara
    This movie was somewhat interesting. The characters in it were well rounded, but the acting had a lot of room for improvement. This film revolved around dialogue and there was plenty of it. For the most part the dialogue was funny and somewhat interesting, but overall this film m... read moreostly felt like a dirty version of Sex and the City: Lesbian Edition. I did think it was interesting that the film included real depictions of lesbian women and didn't just have classically beautiful women in it pretending to be lesbians. It also wasn't afraid to show uncensored lesbian relationships, which a great number of people in 1994 would have found repulsive.
  • bristowjoelmcfly
    June 20, 2007
    bristowjoelmcfly
    The actors wade their way through gross, over-baked dialogue that thinks its miles more clever than it actually is.
  • LsMonkey
    May 4, 2007
    LsMonkey
    Can seem a little boring if you're not into documentaries! But in my opinion, It's a really good movie!!
  • kaijawitch
    April 16, 2007
    kaijawitch
    Not the best film ever made, but I like it because it makes me feel like anyone could have made it.. It feels like something your friend films for you or something.. and I really do wish I could believe that anyone has a chance..
  • mitchf5
    January 12, 2007
    mitchf5
    If you like a movie that shows the community in a real fashion, this is one to watch! It's a little strange, but it covers the whole arena of stereotypical lesbian looks.

View All Go Fish Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
August 2, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety

The most significant lesbian film of the past 20 years, this comedy is refreshingly not about coming out--it challenges prevalent stereotypes about lesbians without the stiff and sanctimonious tone of... Full Review

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
July 2, 2003
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies

The film's limited budget prompted some creative editing and filmmaking techniques. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 30, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Entertaining and spunky drama about lesbian love. Full Review

Chris Hicks
January 1, 2000
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Go Fish features a largely non-professional cast -- and there are too many scenes where the players' lack of acting ability shows. The result is a labored quality. Full Review

February 23, 2012
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Phil Gallo
June 29, 2011
Phil Gallo, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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