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Feminism: chat

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Feminism: chat

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Children's films with good female leads

95 replies

AlmaMartyr · 05/05/2011 08:00

Sorry if this has already been done. I was wondering if anyone can recommend any films with good female lead roles. My DD is 2, coming up on 3 and DS is 1. We have quite a few Miyazaki films which seem pretty good (Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, Spirited Away) and Mulan. The Princess and the Frog isn't bad. What else can people think of? I'm sure there are more with good roles in them but can't remember them all.

OP posts:

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PrinceHumperdink · 05/05/2011 08:13

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zikes · 05/05/2011 09:35

Lilo and Stitch.

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MitchiestInge · 05/05/2011 09:39

Nim's Island

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zikes · 05/05/2011 09:49

Labyrinth

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Portofino · 05/05/2011 09:56

Bookmarking for interest....

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millionsandmillions · 05/05/2011 09:57

Akeelah and the Bee

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thefinerthingsinlife · 05/05/2011 09:58

Marking place for ideas.

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ElephantsAndMiasmas · 05/05/2011 09:58

I quite liked Monsters V Aliens as there is a woman who decides to keep being a giant rather than marry the vile bloke.

Alice in Wonderland? (Cartoon version)

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yama · 05/05/2011 09:58

I was going to suggest the Miyazaki films. I take it you've seen My Neighbour Totoro?

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millionsandmillions · 05/05/2011 09:59

For the tiny children, though, it's much harder. I get very annoyed about the knowingness about gender roles that children are introduced to. Even Tangled - and I like Tangled, compared to many Disney films, because the female character had a bit about her - did the whole 'bad boys are sexy' thing.

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ElephantsAndMiasmas · 05/05/2011 09:59

ooh YES Labyrinth.

And Howl's Moving Castle.

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yama · 05/05/2011 10:01

Ooh yes - Howl's Moving Castle.

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jumpyjack · 05/05/2011 10:04

Jo-Jo's Circus

Sorry, these are for a bit older:
Yes to Nim's Island and Labyrinth
Also Hayley Mills in the original Parent Trap.
Anne of Green Gables

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MitchiestInge · 05/05/2011 10:05

Didn't know there was a film of Howl's Moving Castle! Goodie.

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steamedtreaclesponge · 05/05/2011 10:06

A Little Princess and The Secret Garden are both pretty good on that front...

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Fennel · 05/05/2011 10:13

It gets much easier in terms of girl-led books and films as they get a bit older, we have little trouble now mine are all primary age.

Besides the others there is Swallows and Amazons and The railway children. as well as more modern films.

For pre-schoolers, hmm. I can't think of much at all. You could just stick to Dora.

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StewieGriffinsMom · 05/05/2011 10:14

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melpomene · 05/05/2011 10:14

Charlotte's Web

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NormanTebbit · 05/05/2011 10:15

Ponyo
My Neighbour Totoro
Matilda
Laura's Star
The BFG

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steamedtreaclesponge · 05/05/2011 10:16

It's not exactly recent, but what about National Velvet?

Also Fly Away Home has quite a good female lead. And there's Sophie in the BFG, she's pretty good too...

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ElephantsAndMiasmas · 05/05/2011 10:20

Definite YES to Matilda - I was trying to remember that, she was the one I wanted to be as a kid.

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StewieGriffinsMom · 05/05/2011 10:21

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Bue · 05/05/2011 10:46

Some great suggestions here!

For older children, Pan's Labyrinth.

So amusing for me to see Roald Dahl films mentioned here. My mum didn't like me reading him as a kid because she felt he was woman-hating. I think she mainly got that from The Witches, and I've never been able to decide if he's actually just adult-hating and she was taking it all a bit personally.

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Fennel · 05/05/2011 10:51

I'm not a Roald Dahl fan either. I am not keen on some of his portrayals of women, though it might be just anti-adult rather than anti-women, I do sometimes feel uncomfortable with it.

I am rather in agreement with that research that came out a couple of weeks ago, which was discussed on the feminist boards here, that the less tv/film etc a girl watches, the less she adheres to traditional feminine stereotypes. I didn't always stick to this when mine were tiny and I wanted a bit of peace, but if they are watching less, there is less worry about the role models.

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ElephantsAndMiasmas · 05/05/2011 10:58

I think Roald Dahl wrote some very creepy stories (he was a horror writer, after all) but the main thing seems to be that he depicts the helplessness of children against bullying adults, and his characters find ways to fight back against these adults.

Matilda is definitely not an anti-woman story. Obviously Matilda is the heroine and she is great - obsessed with reading and friends with the female librarian who helps her in her quest for fresh books. Then there is Miss Honey who is the teacher who understands Matilda and takes her in. Miss Trunchbull is the villain but she is balanced out by Matilda's dad who (to my mind) was at least as bad if not worse than her. Plus Matilda's mum tries to get Matilda to think about being quiet and pretty and letting boys win, an idea which is completely rejected in the book/film.