14 romantic bisexual movies you probably haven't seen, yet

It's Valentine's Day weekend, and love is in the air. For bisexuals, choosing a movie to sit down and relax with your loved one(s) can be a bit of a dilemma. You don't want a schmaltzy hetero-only love trope. The gay male love stories tend to fixate on why one guy can't settle down and keep his zipper up to stop playing the field, and the lesbian love stories tend to have one partner too obsessive with her lover and wants to move in right away. Ugh!

So, here is a list of bisexual romantic movies that may reflect the issues of bisexuals a bit better (minus the occasional murder here or there). Some of them are simply fun, some are very serious, some will make you cry. But, they're not the ones you've expected, like "High Art" or "Brokeback Mountain" or "Cabaret" or "Velvet Goldmine."
Some of the movies are available online very easily. Some are on Amazon or Netflix, but a few of the others you'll have to do some searching to find. Inevitably, they're all worth watching. If you have any other ideas, mention them in the comments below.
 
 

3 (Three)

This German film from 2010 follows a seemingly hetero couple in their 40s, Hanna and Simon, who become a little restless as their 20th anniversary together is looming. Reminiscent of a 1930's screwball comedy (except for the full frontal nudity), Hanna fools around with a younger guy, Adam, and then Simon also fools around with Adam in a steamy scene in a gym locker room.

The movie is directed by Tom Tykwer who did "Run, Lola, Run" and it explores how a couple can introduce a third party into their relationship. The dialogue about their attractions, and their honesty about their relationships is as out-there as their uncut penises and bare breasts. It doesn't fall into the expected jealousies and sense of betrayal as audiences may expect.
In fact, it ends in a rather pleasant way.
 

Angels of Sex

From Spain, there’s a sexy film "Angels of Sex" (El Sexo de Los Angeles) that explores the difficulties of a triad relationship even among the most liberal of youth. It starts off with two couples that are happy together. Handsome blond Rai is a street dancer and a karate instructor who is in an open relationship with gorgeous free-spirited Maria. Talented photographer Carla is in a long-standing relationship with brunet Bruno, an architect who stumbles across the couple.
Bruno tries to understand this couple’s open relationship as he tries to grapple with his intense attraction toward a man. He asks Rai, “If there are no limits, she is not a real partner.” Rai replies, “Sticking to the rules doesn’t improve the relationship.” After consummating his attraction with Rai, Bruno tells Carla, "This Rai thing is different he’s my friend, it’s like a drug… I’m not interested in other guys.”Carla and her best friend discuss the issue and her friend tells her, “He’s bisexual, let him have the occasional fling.”
Young up-and-coming director Xavier Villaverde is no stranger to bisexuality, and said, “I was very interested to make a film aimed at young audiences - although I have found that interest to all kinds of public- which will be concerned with issues such as the emotional and sexual boundaries in a couple, the bisexuality, when love and friendship are mixed, if it is possible to love two people at the same time, what is love really is.”
The movie doesn’t have room for labels. Rai doesn’t identify, and Bruno, when asked directly if he’s bi, simply says, “I don’t know.” There’s a satisfying ending for all bisexuals, and that again, is unique for stories like this. It’s itching for a sequel.
 

The Fluffer

This surprising dark indy film is filled with humor and tragedy, and even has a cameo by bisexual diva Deborah Harry, and bi porn star and director Karen Dior. The movie is co-written and co-directed by Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer who were responsible for "Still Alice," which won Julianne Moore a Best Actress Oscar.
The story starts when budding film student Sean comes to L.A. to break into the movie business. He rents "Citizen Kane" from a video store (remember those?) and mistakenly gets "Citizen Cum" and sees gay porn hunk Johnny Rebel. It throws Sean's sexuality into complete confusion, and becomes obsessed to the point of becoming a cameraman/fluffer for the Men of Janus porn company where Johnny Rebel works. (A fluffer helps the actors stay aroused so they can perform on camera.)
But, Sean is even more confused when it turns out Johnny has a girlfriend and is a gay-for-pay performer.
The movie has a great cast, and is beautifully shot with incredible music. Look for the late Taylor Negron, and other character actors such as Adina Porter ("True Blood"), Robert Walden ("Lou Grant") and the hunk played by Scott Gurney who later went on to produce "Duck Dynasty."
 

French Twist

This is a light romantic comedy where a wife is torn between her Don Juan husband and a lady plumber. This takes as many twists and turns as a bisexual love triangle could possible take, and it's outrageous and sweet all at the same time.
This was a hit in France, but rather lost in the American audiences, so it's worth a look at when you can. It's written and directed by the star Josiane Balasko, who plays the stocky fix-it lady named Marijo. At first, the cheating husband can't take his wife's affair with Marijo seriously. But eventually, the couple settles into a formal triangle, with all the hilarious twists you would expect it to take.
 

Frida

Frida Kahlo, the out and proud bisexual Mexican artist, has a love story behind her real life that finally was made into a worthy picture, but few people ever saw it. Salma Hayek took over the role after Madonna had a few false starts on the project.
This is a story about a love affair the volatile Diego Rivera and Kahlo. Rivera is played by Alfred Molina who gained 35 pounds for the part. The film made $20 million domestically and earned Hayek an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
 

The Grotesque

This quirky Gothic period murder mystery has Sting as a randy butler and his real-life wife Trudie Styler playing the housekeeper. And, practically everyone is bisexual. At least one of them is a murderer.
Set in 1949 there's a genius professor father, a nympho mother and a ditzy daughter with some wild and crazy help. The black comedy gets rather sinister along with its eerie seduction. You've probably never heard of it, or seen it, so that's why it's on the list.
Whether or not there's any real bi romance in the film, at least there is romance between Sting and Styler who have been together more than three decades.
 

Head in the Clouds

This period movie stars Charlize Theron and real-life boyfriend at the time, Stuart Townsend as they enter a three-way relationship with Penelope Cruz, who is a gorgeous bilingual, bisexual bohemian. Cruz will later, by the way, win an Academy Award for playing a bisexual gal in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" by Woody Allen. Charlize is a glamorous free-wheeling character and the three characters have a torrid romance during WWII as a backdrop.
There’s a dance-floor tango between the ladies, a sadistic scene with a kinky Frenchman and a lot of history.
 

Imagine Me & You

This 2005 British-American romantic comedy is written and directed by Ol Parker. It centers on Heck (Matthew Goode) getting married to Rachel (Piper Perabo) and during the planning of the wedding, Rachel notices and falls for Luce (Lena Headey) who is a florist. She suddenly realizes that Heck may not be the one for her, and Rachel is smitten.
It's a funny and poignant journey where love makes no sense, but the film is lovely and a hidden gem.
 

Jules & Jim

François Truffaut's New Wave bisexual masterpiece takes place in the turn of the century France. Best friends Jules and Jim share favored pastimes like poetry and pretty women. When they meet Catherine, everything changes. While she teases both men, she eventually marries Jules. World War I breaks out, and the friends are forced to fight on opposite sides. When the conflict ends, Jim goes to visit Jules and Catherine. The couple has had a child which they've named Sabine, and all appears happy.
But Jules has bitter news. Catherine is unfaithful, and no longer loves him. Instead, she sees Jim as her latest, most desirable target for conquest. Hoping to keep his family together, Jules enters into an "arrangement" with Jim. If he is willing to have her, all three can live in the chalet with Sabine. Tragedy lies in wait for this troubled threesome.
 

Steam

"Steam" tells the stories of three very different women, whose lives are linked only by the steam room at the local gym. It is the last film of celebrated actor Ruby Dee (who was nominated for an Oscar for "American Gangster") and sings "Amazing Grace" that will bring tears to your eyes.
This also stars Ally Sheedy ("The Breakfast Club") whose best friend is played by the wisecracking Chelsea Handler before she became famous. It's directed by bisexual filmmaker Kyle Schickner.
The bisexual girl is played by beautiful Kate Siegel ("The O.C."). As Elizabeth, she plays a college co-ed who is still dominated by her strict parents, who live nearby. Elizabeth meets and falls for the fiery Niala (played by Reshma Shetty) whom some people may call a stereotypical evil bisexual, but there's always one, isn't there?
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Splendor

This steamy bisexual screwball comedy is one of bisexual director Gregg Araki’s most pleasant films. The two-guy-and-a-girl triad is very comfortable and freewheeling and seemingly perfect. Even though they’re super-sexy 20-somethings, they seem to also be rather mature and know how to have fun.
The story takes place with a nice girl Veronica, played by Araki’s real-life girlfriend Kathleen Roberson, and she flirts with two guys, Abel (Johnathon Schaech) and Zed (Matt Keeslar), only to dump them and get engaged to a third boyfriend.
It wouldn’t be an Araki movie if they didn’t all eventually share the same bed at some point, and they do, but it’s not with the angst or drama they usually have in such situations.
 

Summer Lovers

This 1982 classic became every straight man's dream fantasy, which is why it's even funner that it's written and directed by gay director Randal Kleiser (who also did "Grease" and "Blue Lagoon"). It stars hunky and often shirtless Peter Gallagher with super sexy Daryl Hannah and knock-dead gorgeous Valerie Quennessen.
Peter and Daryl play a young couple trying to save their rocky relationship and they end up having a ménage à trois with a beautiful female French archaeologist played by Valerie. There’s some poking fun at American stiffness, especially when trying to get Hannah to relax in bed (this was in her pre-“Splash” days).
The triad relationship takes place on the Greek isles and the whole thing is simply dreamy.
 

Three of Hearts

After her female lover leaves her, a nurse hires a male escort to seduce the lover and then break her heart so she will return. As the escort begins to win her over, however, he begins to fall in love and questions his task and the direction of his life. Meanwhile, an acquaintance has gotten out of prison and seeks to put a hurt on the escort, blaming him for his prison sentence.
It stars a sexy William Baldwin with Kelly Lynch and Sherilyn Fenn.
 

Threesome

Threesome concerned the tangled sexual and emotional relationship between three college students, played by Stephen Baldwin, Josh Charles and Lara Flynn Boyle. It’s regarded as one of the earliest examples of a “Generation X” Hollywood movie where gay and bisexual characters were portrayed positively.
The 1992 film has Baldwin playing a college jock who gets into a bisexual threesome with preppy Charles and bohemian Boyle. It does get a bit uncomfortable, but it’s fun along the way.