The Wikipedia page details that intimacy coordinator work was minimal, and much of the physical contact was choreographed but performed without acting "tricks." Mullen and the actors opted for a naturalistic approach, which contributed to the film’s NC-17 rating in some jurisdictions.
The Wikipedia page often includes a "Distribution" section, but streaming availability changes frequently. As of the last major edit, the film was available on several on-demand platforms, but you should check JustWatch for current status.
| Actor | Role | Notable For | |--------|------|--------------| | Natalie Krill | Jasmine | Former professional dancer; her first major dramatic lead | | Erika Linder | Dallas | Swedish model; famously appeared as a “female Tom Hardy” in a Louis Vuitton campaign | | Sebastian Pigott | Rile | Canadian actor known for Orphan Black | | Mayko Nguyen | Kiki | Jasmine’s colleague and confidante | | Tommie-Amber Pirie | Quinn | Dallas’s ex-girlfriend |
Erika Linder’s casting was particularly notable. A cisgender woman, Linder had built a career modeling men’s and women’s fashion due to her androgynous look. Her performance as Dallas drew comparisons to a young Mickey Rourke or a female James Dean. film below her mouth wikipedia
Released in 2016, Below Her Mouth is a Canadian erotic romantic drama film directed by April Mullen and written by Stephanie Fabrizi. The film is notable for its bold, naturalistic style, a predominantly female crew, and its explicit portrayal of a lesbian relationship.
Plot Summary: The story follows Jasmine (played by Natalie Krill), a successful fashion editor engaged to a man named Rile (Sebastian Pigott). Her life seems picture-perfect until she meets Dallas (Erika Linder), a rugged, charismatic roofer. The two women embark on a powerful, intense, and sexually charged affair that forces Jasmine to confront her true identity and desires. The film is minimalist in dialogue but heavy on visual storytelling and emotional vulnerability.
Filming Below Her Mouth is distinguished by its production process. Director April Mullen and the producers made a conscious decision to hire an entirely female crew for every department, from cinematography to sound and set design. Mullen stated that the goal was to create a safe space for the actors to explore the intimate subject matter authentically, aiming to capture the "female gaze" in a genre often dominated by the male perspective. The Wikipedia page details that intimacy coordinator work
The film was shot on location in Toronto, Canada, over a tight schedule. To capture the spontaneity of the romance, the film relies heavily on close-ups, natural lighting, and improvised dialogue, lending the narrative a cinéma vérité quality.
Casting Casting Erika Linder was a pivotal choice for the filmmakers. Linder, known for her gender-bending modeling career, brought an androgynous aesthetic to the role of Dallas that challenged traditional Hollywood portrayals of lesbian romances. Natalie Krill, a trained dancer and actress, was cast opposite Linder to provide a contrast of sophistication and inhibition.
Q: Is Below Her Mouth based on a true story?
A: No. Writer Stephanie Fabrizi has said it’s fictional, though inspired by the emotional beats of real relationships she observed in Toronto’s queer nightlife. | Actor | Role | Notable For |
Q: Were Natalie Krill and Erika Linder actually having sex?
A: Both actors have consistently said no. They describe the scenes as highly choreographed simulation, though they admit the line was blurred because they shot without barriers and used extended takes.
Q: Is the film on Wikipedia banned anywhere?
A: The film itself was banned in several conservative countries (e.g., UAE, Malaysia) due to lesbian content. The Wikipedia article remains accessible globally, though some school networks block it as “sexually explicit.”
Q: Does Below Her Mouth have a sequel?
A: No. Director April Mullen has said she has no plans for one, calling it “a complete story.”
Below Her Mouth entered the cultural conversation largely due to the debate surrounding the "female gaze." In feminist film theory, the male gaze refers to the depiction of women as sexual objects for the pleasure of the male viewer. Mullen sought to invert this. The camera in Below Her Mouth lingers on reactions, emotional shifts, and the sensation of touch rather than just body parts. The film attempts to present sex as a mode of communication and discovery rather than