Berlinale 2025 Film Review: Lesbian Space Princess ★★★★
SYNOPSIS
“In space, no one can hear you howl with laughter!”
That tagline perfectly sums up the joyous chaos of Lesbian Space Princess, the queer animated sci-fi musical comedy that made an explosive debut at the 75th Berlinale. Co-writer-directors Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs premiered their feature to thunderous applause, taking home the Teddy Award—the world’s most prestigious prize for LGBTQ+ cinema—and securing second place in the Panorama Audience Award for Fiction Film.
The film follows Saira (voiced by Shabana Azeez), a shy space princess who must leave her queer utopia, Clitopolis, and her exuberant royal mothers (Jordan Raskopolous and Madeleine Sami) to rescue her ex-girlfriend Kiki (Bernie Van Tiel) from the Straight White Maliens—a hilariously misguided band of cosmic incels. To succeed, Saira must uncover her inner strength and wield her birthright weapon, the labrys, “the most powerful tool known to lesbian kind.”
Along her journey, Saira encounters a cast of unforgettable misfits, from a snarky, misogynist spaceship (voiced by Moulin Rouge!’s Richard Roxburgh) to a soulful gay-pop recluse named Willow (Gemma Chua Tran), whose songs both narrate and comment on the story. Drag Race Down Under and Global All Stars icon Kween Kong brings big laughs and bigger attitude as Blade, the drag diva and weapons expert whose scenes are among the film’s highlights.
Visually, Lesbian Space Princess dazzles with bold, colorful animation and a handcrafted charm—remarkable considering it was created by a core team of just five artists. The humor leans into improvised energy and sharp cultural parody, balancing satire with sincerity. Beneath the neon chaos lies a heartfelt message of self-love and queer resilience, echoing RuPaul’s timeless mantra: “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”
At once absurd, emotional, and subversive, Lesbian Space Princess celebrates queer joy and defiance in equal measure. It’s a cosmic, candy-colored ride of laughter, music, and self-discovery—one that boldly goes where no queer animated feature has gone before.
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