User reviews

It was fun to see and remember the early days of the "Lesbian Ouvre" that Curve amassed in its pages. But it did not strike me as a simple trip down memory lane. It asks some very relevant questions of the future. But, I'm not the spoiler alert type so you'll just have to see for yourself.

A thoughtful glimpse into lesbian culture, informed by the story of Curve Magazine's pioneering publisher, Franco Stevens. A must see for those who champion equality, equity and inclusion .

I love this film so much! We live in an unincorporated area in the So Cal high desert. I moved down from Oakland, my partner moved down from Valencia Street in SF. We love it here, but miss lesbian culture. Watching this film reminded me of how important it is to connect with others in our lesbian community. I especially loved learning the history of Curve Magazine, which was such important work at a critical time in LGBTQ history, giving visibility and voice to lesbians. The film is fast moving, rich with historical info, and is a great 'human interest' story for all audiences. Much love and many thanks to Franco Stevens for founding Curve Magazine, and gratitude to all who supported the magazine through the years. Thanks also to Jen, Rivkah and the whole film crew for producing this film and documenting this history.

Ahead of the Curve is about a bold woman who started a wildly impactful lesbian magazine. The film includes wonderful 90s nostalgia and a thoughtful exploration of the future of lesbian visibility. I crave stories like this - women charting their own path and carving out space to make this world more inclusive!

Loved it! This film sheds a light on the power & importance of seeing yourself represented in the world around you. As a young queer woman, I loved learning about a snippet of recent history I didn't know loads about. It's also full of colour, joy and great music - would highly recommend.

Truly inspirational story of how one person can make a difference for an entire community and movement. Inspirational, poignant, and hopeful!

Those are a few of the adjectives that describe this wonderful walk down memory lane. Curve founder Frances Stevens explores the glossy past of the world's No. 1 selling lesbian magazine as well as what it means to be a lesbian today. Does the community still need Curve? From thoughtful discussions with diverse, multi-generational activists and celebrities, Frances finds her answer. The film is full of fun archival footage as well. Jen Rainin is a masterful director and writer. Oh, and interviews with Melissa Etheridge, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Lea DeLaria, and more. "Ahead of the Curve" is the perfect way to kick off Pride Month. Enjoy!

This film is a pure celebration of life. Franco Stevens realised that there wasn't a publication proudly supporting the lives of lesbians across the US and she did something about it. In the face of constant setbacks, she knew that a community needed to be created across the country.

Some might say that a magazine can't change the world, but when you hear the personal testimony of readers in the film, you can see how much this publication meant to them. It was a powerful reminder of how hostile the environment was 30 years ago, and how far the LGBTQ+ community has come in terms of representation and acceptance.

Highly recommended for those in the LGBTQ+/queer community, but more importantly those who want to learn more about the history of the space, and the work that still needs to be done to create an equal world for all.

I loved learning the story of Franco and how Curve magazine came to be, and appreciate that the film goes beyond this history to highlight BIPOC activists who continue to dream up, organize for, and create towards a more equitable future. This is the kind of queer media that I crave! Most highly recommended.

Really enjoyed this movie. Excellent plot and fantastic footage. Totally worth my time and yours!

I definitely recommend this documentary to everyone. It's a story about the power of a community and the importance of coming together and fight for our rights and goals.

This documentary is a heartwarming glimpse into the pages of queer herstory. A must-watch for queers, dykes, lesbians, and our allies! I loved getting CURVE magazines growing up, and now I know the inspirational story behind its creation. #VisibilityMatters.

It was a very well filmed documentary. And I recommend it 10/10.

Ahead of the Curve (2020) was directed by Jen Rainin and Rivkah Beth Medow.

Franco Stevens is a lesbian woman who had the courage to begin publishing an openly lesbian magazine in 1990.

Previously, lesbian publications were small and more-or-less under the radar. Stevens and her team put the word "lesbian" on the cover of the magazine. Either it would work, or it wouldn't. It worked.

The movie is full of detail about the struggles, the highs, and the lows of Curve magazine. It also shows us Franco's physical problems, which she meets with courage but also realism.

We saw this movie at Rochester's excellent ImageOut LGBTQ Film Festival. The film has a solid IMDb rating of 7.4. I thought it was even better than that, and rated it 9.