The film industry historically has been run by powerful male CEOs and directors. Small and unknown female filmmakers have been pushed out of the spotlight for many years and hidden in the corners of small production companies and independent films. However, even with the disadvantages that they face, several female directors rise up in the ranks to create beautiful pieces of art that demonstrate their value in filmmaking. Here are some of my favorite movies that show women’s strength in creating moving art in the industry.
Movie #1: Thirteen directed by Catherine Hardwicke: This movie is unique in the fact that it takes the shared female experience of puberty in a way that it hasn’t been shown before. It is a film that is full of grit and brutal honesty about the struggles that we women face as we transition from being a girl to being a woman. To me, this sort of honesty is what makes this film stand out as it doesn’t try to sugarcoat the often awkward and questionable decisions you make at this age. It instead embraces this stage for what it truly is; uncomfortable and embarrassing.
Movie #2: American Psycho directed by Mary Harron: This movie is extremely complex. Despite being a woman in a male-dominated industry, Harron was able to present such a real depiction of the male experience that many men resonated with at a certain level, thus elevating the film to be a cult classic. The understanding of the male culture of greed and isolation is portrayed so well by someone that has never had a male experience. The film set such a precedent for the type of art and new perspective that female directors can bring to the industry.
Movie #3: The Power of the Dog directed by Jane Campion: This western drama highlights how toxic masculinity can be as harmful to men as it is to women. Feminism is usually reduced to the uplifting of women and hating of men, but this film really highlights the true mission of feminism which is to dismantle the patriarchy. This message highlights the constant back-and-forth fight that never really causes a real change, it simply keeps people in a box or a role that they remain in to be socially acceptable. This stops people from achieving their true identity and potential.
Movie #4: The Virgin Suicides directed by Sofia Coppola: Female pain and suffering are often glamorized in film and media. This movie appears to continue that trend by placing the tragic story from the perspective of young boys observing the horrific lives and deaths of their young female neighbors. However, the story is anything but glamorous. It is tragic and isolating, thus depicting the female experience in a raw form. It highlights how, when men glamorize the female experience, it creates a superficial form of understanding and sympathy. Coppola herself has faced such scrutinization for her place in the industry but continues to prove herself as an artist of vision and talent.
Movie #5: Little Women directed by Greta Gerwig: Little Women is a timeless classic that has been remade multiple times. However, in this 2019 film, Gerwig utilizes modern techniques to bring forth the idea that the topics discussed in this piece (topics such as a woman’s place in the world and the type of life you want to lead) aren’t exactly reserved to the time period the novel takes place in; these are topics that are still relevant today. The constant back and forth between time periods is in no way chaotic, as color palettes and character appearance change with ease, creating a film that is enjoyable. Even more enjoyable is the chemistry between the actors, as Gerwig creates a scene that makes the viewer feel involved. This is possible with an exceptional cast that includes Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, and Timothée Chalamet.