Camp Belvidere (2014): The Lesbian Short Film That Still Makes Me Cry Every Time
If you’re a lesbian who loves period dramas, forbidden love, and stories that punch you straight in the chest, then you already know about Camp Belvidere. This 37-minute short film from 2014 is one of those rare pieces of queer women’s cinema that feels like it was made just for us – no male gaze, no excuses, no watered-down feelings. Just pure, aching, beautiful lesbian love set in the repressive 1950s.
Directed by Astrid Ovalles (who also stars as the smoldering camp swimming instructor Rose) and co-starring the ridiculously charming Whitney Abel as the young camper Gin, Camp Belvidere tells the story of an intense summer romance between a married camp owner’s wife and the new lifeguard. Sounds simple, right? But oh girl, it is anything but.
From the very first glance across the lake – you know the one – you feel it. That electric pull. The kind of look that only happens between two women who instantly recognize themselves in each other. The chemistry between Ovalles and Abel is off the charts. I’m talking heart-racing, can’t-breathe, rewinding-the-scene-three-times level chemistry.
What makes Camp Belvidere so special for the lesbian community is how honest it feels. There’s no big coming-out speech, no political agenda shoved down your throat. It’s just two women falling deeply, dangerously in love in a time when being gay could ruin your entire life. The stolen touches, the secret kisses behind the boathouse, Gin calling Rose “Coach” in that soft, reverent voice… I’m getting emotional just typing this.
And let’s talk about the ending for a second – without spoiling too much. If you’ve seen it, you know. That final shot? The way Rose stands there? It’s devastating in the most beautiful way possible. Years later and it still makes me ugly-cry like it’s the first time.
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This short film proves you don’t need two hours to tell a complete, soul-crushing lesbian love story. In just 37 minutes, Camp Belvidere manages to capture the joy, the passion, the fear, and the heartbreak of loving women in a world that doesn’t want you to.
If you haven’t watched it yet, stop whatever you’re doing and go find it (it’s free on YouTube most of the time). And if you have seen it… well, welcome to the club of lesbians who will never emotionally recover from a 2014 short film about summer camp.
Camp Belvidere isn’t just a movie. For a lot of us, it’s a feeling. A memory. A “what if.” And honestly? We need more stories like this – unapologetic, tender, and 100% ours.
Have you seen Camp Belvidere yet? Drop your favorite moment (or how many times you’ve cried) in the comments. Let’s talk about this masterpiece together.
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