Skin and Blister Films About The Love between sisters

What on earth does skin and blister mean? Well, it is a form of English slang that originated in the East End of London and is known as Cockney rhyming slang, where the word ‘sister’ is replaced by the rhyming term ‘skin and blister’. Another example of this would be ‘apples and pears’ for stairs. Skin and Blister is a playful and indirect way to refer to one’s sister, whose relationship can offer lifelong emotional support, foster crucial social skills like empathy and conflict resolution, and provide a unique, shared history that acts as a secure anchor. Yet these relationships often involve high emotional intensity, including anger, navigating disagreements, and reconciliation, which prepares them for adult relationships. Maybe this is why it’s such a strong subject for films. Find out more in Skin and Blister Films About The Love between sisters

Films about sisters

Films about sister relationships have carried through the history of cinema, and have included hilarious to heartbreaking situations. Here are a few really worth watching

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) Robert Aldrich

Part psychological thriller, but black Humour, this film explores Jane Hudson (Bette Davis), a faded, alcoholic former child star, who torments her paraplegic sister, Blanche (Joan Crawford), in their isolated Hollywood home. Jane isolates Blanche, controls her food and communication, and descends into madness, eventually leading to a tragic showdown that reveals the real story of their past.

The film came with a little bit of life reflecting art, as during the production, via rumours, there was an on-set ongoing feud between Davis and Crawford, though the actresses would later deny this. Probably not aided by the alleged bitter rivalry between the two stars, the film’s success was pivotal in revitalising their slightly ailing careers.

The Other Boleyn Girl,  2008  Justin Chadwick

It is a fictionalised account of the lives of 16th-century English aristocrats Mary Boleyn, mistress of King Henry VIII, and her sister, Anne, who became the monarch’s ill-fated second wife

Critics were not all fans, saying things like ‘this is a film for people who prefer their costume dramas to gallop along at a merry old pace rather than get bogged down in historical detail,’ but Portman’s performance was well received, with critics commenting that it showed her with a range and depth unlike anything she’s done before. 

The Virgin Suicides (1999) Sofia Coppola

In the sleepy suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, a group of neighbourhood boys (now grown men) reflect upon their memories of the five Lisbon sisters, ages 13 to 17, in 1975. Unattainable due to their overprotective Catholic parents, the sisters, Therese, Mary, Bonnie, Lux, and Cecilia are enigmas who fill the boys’ conversations and dreams.

Written and directed by Sofia Coppola in her feature directorial debut, she was inspired to write the film after reading the source novel.

I really didn’t know I wanted to be a director until I read The Virgin Suicides and saw so clearly how it had to be done. I immediately saw the central story as being about what distance and time and memory do to you, and about the extraordinary power of the unfathomable

Sofia Coppola

Ladies in Lavender, 2004  Charles Dance

The screenplay is based on a 1908 short story by William J. Locke. The film stars Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Daniel Brühl and Miriam Margolyes.

Two sisters befriend a mysterious foreigner who washes up on the beach of their 1930s Cornish seaside village. The Widdington sisters, Janet and Ursula, live in a picturesque, tight-knit fishing village in 1936. A gifted young Polish violinist from Kraków, sailing to America, is swept overboard from his ship in a storm.

The presence of the musically talented young man disrupts the peaceful lives of the sisters, and Ursula develops romantic feelings for the much younger visitor.

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) directed by Kim Jee-woon,

A critically acclaimed South Korean psychological horror-thriller focusing on two sisters, Su-mi and Su-yeon, returning to their rural home from a mental institution. The film, inspired by the folktale “Janghwa Hongryeon jeon,” explores themes of trauma, guilt, and grief.

They return to a tense home environment with their aloof father and a cruel, unnerving stepmother, Eun-joo. They encounter supernatural events and terrifying apparitions. The film blends gothic, psychological, and supernatural horror with intense family drama, prioritising atmosphere and emotional depth over jump scares. With a complex narrative, slow-burning tension, and a major twist ending that changes the understanding of the entire story and is considered a masterpiece of modern Asian horror.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) written and directed by Woody Allen

This 1986 American comedy-drama film tells the intertwined stories of an extended family over two years. It explores the intricate, often turbulent relationships between three sisters, their parents, and their partners over two years, structured around three Thanksgiving dinners.

Hannah’s (Mia Farrow) husband, Elliot (Michael Caine), becomes infatuated and begins a secret affair with her sister Lee (Barbara Hershey). Hannah’s hypochondriac ex-husband, Mickey (Woody Allen), deals with existential crises and finds himself dating Holly (Dianne Wiest), another sister struggling with her career and insecurity.

The Joy Luck Club (1993) directed by Wayne Wang

This drama explores the complex, often strained relationships between four Chinese immigrant mothers in San Francisco and their American-born daughters.

The mothers share stories of loss, endurance, and love, which help their daughters understand their heritage. Whilst the daughters navigate the gap between their mothers’ traditional values and their own lives.

Ginger Snaps (2000) directed by John Fawcett and written by Karen Walton

A Canadian cult horror film that uses lycanthropy as a metaphor for puberty, female sexuality, and adolescent alienation. The story follows two death-obsessed, suburban teenage sisters, Ginger and Brigitte, whose tight bond is strained when Ginger is bitten and slowly transforms into a werewolf. 

The film explores the “monstrous” nature of change, puberty, and the painful process of growing apart. It equates the transformation into a werewolf with the violent, unwanted changes of puberty.

Our Little Sister (2015) directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda

 The film is about three adult sisters living in Kamakura, Japan, who invite their shy teenage half-sister, Suzu, to live with them following their estranged father’s death.

The film focuses on family bonding, healing from past trauma, and the quiet joy of everyday life. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

From a loving bond to a painful grip, sisterhood is complicated. But by viewing it in film, the emotions may well sit a little easier.

If you enjoyed reading Skin and Blister films about the Love Between Sisters, then why not read Art Arrives In Beautiful Bodmin here

.Cent Magazine, London. Luxury Mindset