Pride Month: Representation of queer femininity in ‘Disobedience’
While we’ve come a long way with regards to LGBTQI representation on screen, even today many of the queer female characters in film conform to harmful stereotypes. Lesbians are often predators as seen in Pitch Perfect, and they rarely get happy endings as seen in The Children’s Hour. That’s why we were stoked to see Sebastián Lelio’s Disobedience confront these stereotypes head on.
Disobedience is set in an Orthodox Jewish community in North London, a place that emphasizes conformity. This strictness leads Ronit Krushka (Rachel Weisz) to abandon the community after she is caught in flagrante with her friend Esti Kuperman (Rachel McAdams). Filmed in 2017 and released in 2018, the story shows Ronit returning years later. Their attraction is stronger than ever, and the two must navigate their sexualities in a community that tries to force them into gendered roles.
Current State of Queer Female Representation in Film
Recent data shows the opening claim of steady progress needs adjustment. LGBTQ+ characters appeared in only 20.4 percent of 225 major films released in 2025, marking a third consecutive year of decline. Female protagonists fell to 29 percent in the same year’s top films. These numbers underscore why a story that refuses to cast queer women as predators or doomed figures still matters.
The Source Material: Naomi Alderman's Novel
The film adapts Naomi Alderman’s novel of the same name. Alderman’s text already centers repression and sexuality inside a tight-knit Orthodox Jewish world, and Lelio’s version keeps the focus on choice rather than sensationalism. The adaptation stays faithful to the source’s interest in how women decide their own futures when every external pressure pushes them toward silence.
Critical Reception and Awards Recognition
Disobedience earned an 84 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics highlighting the performances by Weisz, McAdams, and Alessandro Nivola. The film received nominations at the British Independent Film Awards for Best British Independent Film and in acting categories. Those nods recognized the cast and crew for treating queer female desire as ordinary rather than lurid.
Legacy and Enduring Availability
Eight years later the film remains easy to find. Viewers can stream it on YouTube TV and Cinemax, rent or buy it on Amazon and Apple TV, or watch it free through Kanopy and Hoopla in participating libraries. That continued access keeps the conversation about choice and disobedience alive for new audiences.
Recent GLAAD data on the drop in LGBTQ+ inclusion makes the continued relevance of films like Disobedience clear. The picture avoids both the predatory trope and the tragic ending that once dominated queer female stories on screen.
While the community tries to keep Ronit and Esti in line by demonizing their sexuality, disobedience is what humanizes these women. The powerful opening scene shows us that it’s our ability to choose that makes us human. As the narrative unfolds, we see the women’s defiance as the most human act.
In the end, the pair choose to go their own ways. This isn’t a typical ending for a romance, but the film doesn’t have romantic intentions. Our hero’s journey is understanding our freedom of choice and seeing how women make and act out their own decisions. As we fade to black, we’re secure that these characters have made the right choices for them, which leaves us thinking about the choices we make way after the credits roll.
