keen intelligence and finely tuned ear to tackle the nature of friendship and loving in Lianna." They especially praised the acting and the supporting characters' reactions to Lianna's lesbian affair. In his New York Times review, Vincent Canby wrote "Though Mr. Sayles's methods are antidramatic, the film is full of the kind of middle-class desperation that seldom finds its way into movies, where emotions are usually bigger than life. Lianna is never dull but it is so finely tuned that one has to pay attention to receive it properly. It doesn't knock you off your feet, slam you against the wall or leave you gasping for breath. It's civilized." In a joint review of Lianna and another John Sayles film, Baby It's You, Michael Sragow commented that Sayles has his strengths but is considerably overrated, and compared both films unfavorably to his earlier Return of the Secaucus 7. He elaborated that Lianna is too ideologically single-minded while failing to offer any new insight or perspective on the subject of lesbianism. He also criticized the "truly embarrassing audiovisual montages", citing as an example the lesbian love scene being accompanied by the sounds of the women whispering in French. Reviewing Liannas release on DVD, film critic Glenn Erickson called it "daring" and "sophisticated". He found the film's strongest point to be that rather than becoming a "melodrama" of scandal, it focuses on the protagonist's isolation and self-discovery. By his analysis, the film "sidesteps position statements and stresses intimate character touches. Lianna'' doesn't ask us to condemn or condone anything, but simply to be understanding and sympathetic with each other." Critics Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat wrote "The screenplay by John Sayles is both congenial and wise... Viewers are sure to find much to savor in the moral and emotional confrontations. Lianna muses upon love, friendship, and camaraderie in a fresh but unspectacular way. It is an appealing movie worth experiencing." Accolades The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: 2002: AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions – Nominated References External links Lianna film scene at YouTube 1983 films 1983 drama films American LGBT-related films Films directed by John Sayles Films shot in New Jersey Films set in New Jersey 1983 LGBT-related films American independent films Lesbian-related films Films with screenplays by John Sayles Films scored by Mason Daring 1983 independent films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films