Lesbian Space Princess
In the fun new Australian release Lesbian Space Princess, we’re invited into a glittering sci-fi universe where queer identity, self-worth and a full-on space quest collide. The film follows Saira, a sheltered princess of the planet Clitopolis whose power—her labrys—is mysteriously dormant. After a breakup with her ex-girlfriend Kiki and then Kiki’s sudden kidnapping by the mis-named “Straight White Maliens”, Saira must leave home, commandeer a spaceship and face her self-doubt in order to rescue Kiki and reclaim her agency.
Co-directed and written by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, this adult animated comedy is as camp as it is heartfelt. It premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival and won the prestigious Teddy Award for outstanding LGBTQIA+ cinema. Critics have described it as “a fizzy animated film with loads of laughs and a lot of heart.”
Visually playful and laden with pop-culture winks, the film toys with science-fiction tropes and subverts them through a queer lens: a princess who doesn’t need saving, ex-girlfriends with agency, and a spaceship that becomes part of the story’s flourish. Thematically it’s about self-love, taking up space, and what it means to define your own power—not just in the cosmos, but in the internal universe of identity.
For Vancouver audiences eager for something fresh, funny and unabashedly queer, Lesbian Space Princess promises a welcome escape into inter-galactic spectacle and queer affirmation. Grab your popcorn and keep an eye on Cineplex listings for showtimes next Friday.