“The noir trappings, the dialogue, the examination of identity, the fearlessness to portray lesbian attraction on-screen for more than titillation, the investigation of technical ability in search of personal directing style — it makes Bound not just [the Wachowskis’] first film, but their best complete effort to date.” –Tim Stevens, The Spool

“[S]exuality oozes from every speck of cinematic colour, the devil in each distinctive detail. … The line “I’m trying to seduce you” references The Graduate, but here firmly cements a queer romantic confidence previously lambasted.” –Jasmine Valentine, Little White Lies

Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly nearly set the screen on fire in this clever, female-powered twist on the standard Mob caper film. Gershon is Corky, an ex-con renovating the apartment next door to where Tilly’s Violet lives. Violet is the moll of psychotic gangster Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), who uses the apartment as an occasional location for meetings and beatings, and also uses Violet as an occasional plaything for his Mob cronies. Violet is attracted to the super-sexy Corky, and the two begin an intense affair. Corky hatches a plot to escape with $2 million that Caesar is planning to give to a Mob boss, and the mayhem escalates from there. Made three years before their blockbuster phenomenon The Matrix, Bound is the Wachowskis’ first film and a sexy, nail-biting thriller whose matter-of-fact yet sensational queerness is still ahead of its time.

This film is screening on March 24 at 8:00 pm and March 25 at 9:00 pm as part of Arkadin’s March-long spotlight on great films by female directors.