YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER is now on Netflix. If you still haven’t watched this sweet lesbian coming-of-age movie, now is your chance. Sure, it has some tough moments, but overall, this is one of the LGBTQ+ movies I can watch again and again. Read our You Can Live Forever movie review here!
YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER is a wonderful lesbian coming-of-age story set in a religious environment. Obviously, this isn’t ideal if you want to live your life freely as your true self. However, there’s a reason why this movie has become very popular in the LGBTQ+ community.
First, and foremost (I think), it’s because of the very believable romantic story and chemistry between the lead character. Second, and almost as important, this movie has become a beloved addition to lesbian love stories because the ending isn’t tragic. It’s not easy or cute either, but nobody dies, and the girls can choose what they want.
Continue reading our You Can Live Forever movie review below. Find it on Netflix in the US now.
Young Love vs Old Religion
You Can Live Forever begins in 1992, so we’ve already had the AIDS crisis of the 1980s (which was far from over), and queer famous people are slowly coming out. For comparison, Ellen DeGeneres came out in both her own life and on her sitcom in 1997.
Anyway, in this movie, we follow the lesbian teen girl, Jaime (Anwen O’Driscoll), as she moves from a “normal” life to life with her aunt in a tight-knit religious community. The move is only temporary, on the heels of a tragedy that her mom needs time to deal with. Also, her own parents used to be Jehovah’s Witnesses, so she knows the “drill”.
As part of the living arrangement, Jaime is urged to go to meetings in the Jehovah’s Witness community. That may not have been the best idea, as she immediately locks eyes with a girl who clearly shows she’s interested in Jaime. The girl is Marike (June Laporte), and she’s the daughter of the man leading this particular religious community.
Want to live now or eternally?
Maybe Marike has been a bit too used to “handling” her dad. She certainly seems to know which rules to follow rigidly, and which can be bent to her own will and desire. And yet, she probably never expected to fall so hard for the new girl. Soon, the two are inseparable, and people notice!
Of course, being gay isn’t an option in this religion. Instead, everyone is being on their best behavior so they can live forever. However, Jaime isn’t in the religion, so she’s more focused on living now. Can the two girls find a way forward, or is their love doomed from the beginning? Watch You Can Live Forever to see how it ends… or begins?!
As much as I like the overall story, there is no doubt in my mind that having Anwen O’Driscoll (Bet) and June Laporte (The Last of Us S2) in the two lead roles was key to it working this well. They have a very believable and palpable chemistry.
Also, I absolutely adored Jaime’s friendship with Nathan (Hasani Freeman). These two teenagers immediately recognized that they could be themselves with each other, which is a priceless gift. In any community.
Not a fan of religion? You can still enjoy this one
As someone who is not a fan of organized religion, You Can Live Forever was still a very good watch for me. While I have no problem with faith or spirituality, I have absolute disdain for anything organized that relies financially on its members and tells people how to live.
At the same time, I also want to acknowledge that some religious people live their lives with love and kindness as their path in life. I have met Christians, Jews, and Muslims who dedicate their lives to doing good and being kind to others.
This was what I felt was also essential to the story in You Can Live Forever. The very religious people in You Can Live Forever are portrayed with love and kindness. Sure, those living in and with religion judge homosexuality, but they also look at the girls as people who have a choice. For now! And their choices have dire consequences.
In that sense, it reminded me more of Disobedience than The Miseducation of Cameron Post, though it had more of the coming-of-age innocence of the latter. And I do love both of those movies.
Watch You Can Live Forever on Netflix (or Tello) now
You Can Live Forever was written and directed by Sarah Watts and Mark Slutsky. Filmmaker Sarah Watts is a former Jehovah’s Witness, so she has a lot of personal experience to put into this movie. I have no doubt this is why we get a very direct, yet not judgmental, take on both life within a religion and the right to choose something else.
This movie is from 2022, and I’m sorry to say Sarah Watts hasn’t written or directed any feature films since. She has, however, directed two music videos, so she is still working in the business. Hopefully, she has more coming, as this first endeavour into filmmaking made for a very strong debut.
Even though we’re covering You Can Live Forever due to its June 2026 Netflix release, the movie has been out on Tello for quite some time.
Womentainment recommendation: Watch (or rewatch) this on Netflix now!
Whether you’ve watched You Can Live Forever already or still have that first time in store, be sure to check it out on Netflix now. Both to show Netflix that they need to add more of these queer titles and to help this movie in particular become a hit.
I’m confident it’s no coincidence that this is being released on Netflix during Pride Month, but if enough people watch these LGBTQ+ additions, more will come. Netflix is all about the numbers, so help them along, and have fun supporting a really sweet and realistic lesbian love story.
You Can Live Forever was released on Netflix US on June 4, 2026.
Directors/Writers: Sarah Watts & Mark Slutsky
Cast: Anwen O’Driscoll, June Laporte, Liane Balaban, Antoine Yared, Hasani Freeman
Official plot:
A queer teen moves into a tight-knit religious community after a tragedy, where she develops complicated feelings for someone within the community.
