When Desire Became a Conversation: Below Her Mouth Beyond the Screen
Below Her Mouth, a Canadian indie romance film, was released in 2016. It was the first Canadian film to unabashedly explore female sexuality. Directed by April Mullen, the film features Erica Linder and Natalie Krill, telling the story of Jasmine, a successful fashion editor, and the life-changing affair she has with a roofer named Dallas after a chance meeting. At first, it seemed like it was going to be a simple, romantic love story. However, it was the first Canadian film to explore female sexuality without shame. It was a cultural phenomenon that sparked a conversation about…
…intimacy, representation in media, and the portrayal of romance in film. It reached far beyond the realm of cinema, and touched office and social media discourse, college and university dorm conversations, and social discourses. It ignited dialogues among women and LGBTQ+ communities about the unfettered representation of desire on film, and the courage it took to portray it. There was a significant amount of discourse on fashion, memes, and other media recreations that were politically charged in their commentary about representation.
A Story That Smoldered
At the center of Below Her Mouth is Jasmine, a woman within a structured life, engaged to a man she loves, but whose routine comforts her more than he excites her. Soon after, Jasmine meets Dallas. The contrast between the two characters is immediate, with Dallas’s inner free spirit and entrancing nature stirring up long-buried desire within Jasmine underneath the confines of societal influence. The two’s encounters are captivating in their emotional and primal dimensions, often intertwining in ways that leave the audience breathless and even more contemplative.
The boldness of the execution of the film is what sets it apart and is revolutionary for mainstream queer cinema. The camera work, for instance,First captures the essence of the first raw and fearless love, and of a woman’s confounding and painful quest for freedom, through the tenderness of stolen moments. In contrast to other works, most romances focusing on women, and particularly lesbian love, Below Her Mouth unapologetically centered on the woman’s perspective through a female lens and creative control, with ALL the women working on the film, including director of photography and women Cynthia of the editing of the film.
From Screens to Sidewalks: The Cultural Ripple
Shortly after the film was released, its impact began to diffuse into various unexpected areas of culture. In the fashion world, the ‘roofer-chic’ aesthetic, characterised by Dallas’ casual edgy attire of ripped jeans, loose shirts, and attitude, was revitalised by young women seeking to channel the carefree and rebellious essence. Natalie Krill’s office scene high fashion wardrobe was also the inspiration for several Pinterest boards and Instagram recreations, mingling ‘corporate chic’ with ‘sensual empowerment’.
Online, memes and GIFs thrived. Jasmine’s uncertain looks and Dallas’ unrepentant swagger were converted into shareable snaps about desire, heartbreak and empowerment. In some circles of social media, the film’s dialogue was used to signify an epiphany of self-discovery or the thrill of defying societal expectations. Indian meme accounts also adopted the film’s dialogue, humorously overlaying it on snippets of everyday life, from commuting to office politics, and everyday situations.
Critics, activists, and bloggers engaged with the film on multiple levels, particularly its representation of queer female desire. Many praised the film for the explicit portrayal of lesbian love, while others claimed more focus was needed on the issues of consent, power relations, and the representation of these elements in film. The film and its themes made their way into classrooms and feminist film theory, focusing on sexuality, narrative agency and ownership, and how feminism is articulated through film.
Actors’ Journeys Behind the Camera
The filming of “Jasmine,” was for Natalie Krill, another major milestone in her career. In an interview, she described the shooting as scary but exhilarating, “It was the first time I felt that the camera was truly witnessing my character’s desire without judgment.” In the film, she expertly articulated the longing and desire of her character. Krill also underwent an important shift. Many fans, women and men, reached out and describes their journeys and conflicts around sexuality. These letters captured the film’s cultural importance.
As a model, Erika Linder had already distinguished herself by redefining expectations in her industry and had a role in the film as Dallas. She noted that the role required engaging in physical preparation for the intimate scenes, but more importantly, there were meaningful discussions with Mullen about authenticity, emotional openness, and the portrayal of desire in a way that would not be overdone. Linder’s career experiences as a model who blurred gender boundaries provided an insight that made the film deeply resonate with those audiences who were looking for representation beyond the traditional stereotypes.
From the interviews, director April Mullen described how the all-female crew’s perspective influenced the intimacy being depicted. She noted, “We wanted every scene to feel like it belonged to the characters, not to the male gaze.” One of the crew members mentioned that the pre-shoot rehearsal for the scenes involving intimacy were so emotionally focused and so extensive that they were described as ‘safe spaces’ to enable Linder and Krill to freely explore the intimacy.
Integration of Politics and Popular Culture
In the months after its release, Below Her Mouth was integrated into the political and social conversations landscape. One persistent question was whether mainstream cinema would ever capture queer narratives with explicit and uncompromising eroticism. Within the Indian context, where queer representation in films is nearly absent, conversations about the films circulating in the community integrated with the broader literature and debates on queer rights, visibility and censorship. For many, the film was a symbol of a certain type of liberation — a modest and powerful testament that stories about female desire were possible and could be told without dulling their edges.
The film also inspired commentary in mainstream entertainment. It was discussed in the context of Changes to Streaming Culture, the normalisation of queer relationships in television and the ways digital tools have provided alternative access to narratives. Even fashion stylists started to use the film as a reference point for collections where the outfits, inspired by the characters Jasmine and Dallas, merged themes of empowerment and eroticism, resonating with the film.Why Below Her Mouth Lingers
A big part of the film’s relevance today is its unabashed intimacy. It does not shy away from depicting female sexuality in all its multifaceted complexity. The honesty of that representation, coupled with the acting, and direction by Mullen, provided audiences with the rare gift of a narrative that felt both personal and universal.
In order to keep the film’s rippling effect alive, audiences have continued sharing stories and memes, and recreating iconic scenes on TikTok. Below Her Mouth frequently serves as a cultural touchstone in discussions around representation, specifically, around gender fluidity, and desire. It is cited, not only as a form of entertainment but as social commentary, and a conversation starter, a fashion trend, and social behavior.
The film silenced the critics of intimacy in cinema and proved that intimacy, in all its forms, transcends screens. The film provoked new conversations, challenged societal constructs, and brought new “norms” to the forefront. It served as a reminder that cinema, when bold and authentic, resounds with the voice of its audience, and helps reshape their culture. It embraced the intimacy of its characters and became part of the zeitgeist.
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