Perfect: Julia Fox Stars in Sapphic Sci-Fi Romance Set During a Water Crisis

Julia Fox and Ashley Moore lead Perfect, an independent romance that brings together two women in a world where access to clean water has become increasingly uncertain.

The film, directed by British filmmaker Millicent Hailes, premiered at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in March 2026 and follows a heartbroken drifter who discovers an isolated lakeside community.

Although its setting draws on environmental science fiction, the central story concerns attraction, personal relationships and the search for somewhere to belong.

A Hidden Lake and an Unexpected Romance

Kai is living out of her car following the breakdown of a relationship when she discovers a secluded lake that offers refuge from the outside world.

The location is home to a community of outsiders, including Mallory, a wealthy pregnant woman whose presence draws Kai into an unexpected relationship.

Their attraction develops against the backdrop of a world affected by water contamination, but Mallory’s circumstances complicate their connection.

The premise allows the film to examine a relationship between women whose lives and expectations differ considerably.

Rather than building its story around a conventional romantic setting, Perfect uses an isolated community to explore how people form attachments when their wider circumstances are uncertain.

Pregnancy, Desire and Sapphic Storytelling

Mallory’s pregnancy is one of the more unusual elements of the film’s central relationship.

Her attraction to Kai places her personal desires alongside the expectations associated with becoming a mother, creating a character whose romantic experiences cannot be reduced to her pregnancy.

Kai, meanwhile, approaches the relationship following an emotional loss, giving the two women different reasons for seeking companionship.

The film’s premise offers an alternative to familiar coming-of-age lesbian romances by focusing on adult characters whose circumstances are already complicated.

Its science-fiction setting provides another dimension, although the available synopsis places greater emphasis on the characters than on explaining the wider environmental crisis.

Watch the trailer:

Who Made Perfect?

Hailes directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Kendra Miller.

Julia Fox and Ashley Moore lead the cast, which also includes Micaela Wittman, Lío Mehiel, Ryder McLaughlin, Kate Moennig and Creed Bratton.

Fox is also an executive producer alongside Tess Wheeler and Stuart Clark.

The film runs for 94 minutes and is represented internationally by Visit Films, which lists its SXSW appearance among its festival screenings.

The project marks Hailes’s feature directorial debut following her earlier work in music videos and short-form filmmaking.

When Can You Watch Perfect in the UK?

Perfect premiered at SXSW in March 2026, but a UK cinema or streaming release date has not been confirmed yet