Stolen Moments, a multi-faceted chronicle of lesbian history, much of it untold up until now, is not only a must-see for anyone interested in lesbian cinema, but it's a film that rises above gender sermonizing to speak eloquently to everyone with an interest in Western civilization and social mores, and anyone who appreciates the power of a great documentary.  

From Dykes on Bikes, a lesbian motorcycle gang in last year's New York Gay and Lesbian Pride Day Parade, to salvaged fragments of Sappho's lyric poems, to 18th-century life along the misty canals of Amsterdam; from early 20th century Paris salons, to the butch / femme clubs of 1950's North America, Stolen Moments documents lesbian history through interviews, archival footage, dramatic recreations and strong narration by actor Kate Nelligan. There's even a fascinating section on cross-dressing women who have, for centuries, passed as men in order to enjoy fuller access to the world at large - including the irrepressible Jeanie Beret, who moved from Paris to San Francisco in the late 1800s, learned to gamble big time, and was killed in a brothel by her lover's pimp. 

"Aside from being an exceptional piece of filmmaking," writes critic Angela Baldassarre in the Globe and Mail, "Stolen Moments is a reminder that what once was news for the few must now become history for the masses." 

John Dippong