Here’s your new LGBTQ+ movie obsession: ‘The Sympathy Card’
Planning to be at Dances with Films in L.A.? If y’all makin’ it to the festival event, don’t miss The Sympathy Card on June 22nd at 12:30 pm. Here’s why you’ll want to catch the world premiere of this heartfelt LGBTQ+ romcom.
The Sympathy Card is an LGBTQ+ genre film centering on an unconventional lesbian love triangle. Three women traverse same-sex marriage, cancer, and deathbed-ordered hall passes in this movie directed by Brendan Boogie starring Petey J. Gibson, Nika Ezell Pappas, and Lauren Neal.
The inspirational lesbian romcom covers the universal themes of making difficult choices, the challenges of relationships, and the fear of loss.
The Sympathy Card was written, directed, and edited by award-winning filmmaker Brendan Boogie.
The film was co-produced by Boogie and costar Petey J. Gibson (Transparent, Grace and Frankie, Broad City) who plays Emma, the dying cancer patient who insists anxiety-ridden wife Josie, played by Nika Ezell Pappas (Netflix’s Nia on Vacation), use the “sympathy card” to get laid and start dating a free-spirited florist, Siobhan, played by Lauren Neal (The Lovely Rejects, Spicy Wit).
The Sympathy Card is an Official Selection in the Fusion category at Dances With Films, screening on Saturday, June 22nd, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.
Co-producer & costar Petey J. Gibson says, “We believe the lesbian community deserves a really fresh take on a lesbian love story that isn’t another ‘coming-out’ movie. Telling stories in the LGBT+ community—especially complex, funny, authentic stories—is vitally important. We bring the lesbian community to life in The Sympathy Card—the nuances, the love and celebration, the humor—with fully realized women.”
Plot and Themes
The film’s central premise remains an unconventional lesbian love triangle involving same-sex marriage, cancer, and hall passes. Those elements sit alongside universal themes of choices, relationships, and loss, delivered with the same frankness the original script carried into the 2019 festival circuit.
Production and Crew
Shot in the Boston area, the production worked with an all-local team that was 75 percent female and 33 percent queer-identifying. Several queer-owned businesses such as Inman Oasis and City Girl Café doubled as locations, and the city’s LGBTQ+ community supplied consistent support throughout the shoot.
Humor and Tone
The film leans into laugh-out-loud humor, including scenes of anxiety attacks, sexual domination, and bad first dates. Emma even threatens to haunt Josie from the afterlife if she doesn’t go out and get laid. Gibson notes that the story tackles cancer and end-of-life issues in a genuine, funny, and non-saccharine way, inviting viewers to feel both love and grief without sentimentality.
Where to Watch The Sympathy Card Today
Viewers no longer need a festival pass. The film is available to rent or buy on Fandango at Home, Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon. It also appeared on Tubi for a stretch, giving new audiences a chance to meet Emma, Josie, and Siobhan without waiting for a revival screening.
Petey J. Gibson's Career Since The Sympathy Card
Gibson’s post-premiere résumé includes a recurring role as Head Forensic Anthropologist C. Hemingway on FOX’s Alert: Missing Persons Unit, which has run into at least season three. In 2024, Gibson took the lead in the stage production Becoming a Man, extending the actor’s reach from the screen into live theater while maintaining the grounded presence first showcased as Emma.
Director Brendan Boogie's Subsequent Projects
Brendan Boogie followed The Sympathy Card with The Once and Future Smash in 2022 and the rock-and-roll buddy comedy Tallywacker in 2023. Both projects keep his focus on character-driven stories that mix humor with emotional stakes, showing the same interest in ensemble dynamics that shaped the 2019 feature.
Audience Award and Lasting Reception
The film earned the Audience Award at the 2019 Dances With Films edition in Los Angeles. Its profile persists on Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd, and IMDb, where fresh reviews and user lists continue to surface, confirming that the story’s blend of grief and romcom timing still finds an audience years after the premiere.
Director Brendan Boogie adds, “As a straight cis male, I try to be aware of my privilege. Most movies in the history of cinema have been made by and for people who look like me. It was important to me that we did justice to theLGBTQ+ community. “Very early on, I enlisted as many queer collaborators and advisors as possible. Petey Gibson led the charge on making sure all voices were heard and considered at every stage of production. I feel strongly about doing my part to bring experiences other than my own to the screen.” The Sympathy Card was shot in the Boston area featuring an all-local team made up of 75% female and 33% queer-identifying crew members. Several local queer-owned businesses such as Inman Oasis and City Girl Café were used as locations, and the Boston LGBTQ+ community was incredibly supportive. The film is loaded with laugh-out-loud humor, including scenes of anxiety attacks, sexual domination, and bad first dates. Emma even threatens to haunt Josie from the afterlife if she doesn’t go out and get laid. Gibson adds, “The film also tackles cancer and end-of-life issues in a genuine, funny, and non-saccharine way. While many movies shy away or sentimentalize death, The Sympathy Card invites the audience to feel love and grief.” — For more information, visit The Sympathy Card website and follow the movie on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Make sure you get your tickets now.
