Women on film

[Molesworth]

I'm interested in the ways women are represented in mainstream cinema. Recently I was reading about the Bechdel Test* and how shockingly few mainstream films pass. I'd love to have some recommendations for films which represent women in non-stereotypical ways. I can nominate Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank which I found quite moving/harrowing in the way it represents the experience of its protagonist, a white, working class young woman. It inspired me to watch Arnold's earlier feature, Red Road which I'm afraid I found extremely disappointing from a feminist POV (for reasons I can't detail without giving away the plot). Anyway, any recommendations for films which in some way 'tell the truth' about being a woman and/or represent women in non-stereotypical ways?

• The Bechdel Test:
  

1. It has to have at least two women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man

[BelleDameSansMerci]

Hmmmm, well it's hardly a feminist masterpiece but I like Steel Magnolias for the relationships between the women. It's certainly mainstream though!

[southeastastra]

ha it's actually quite hard! for what's it's worth i really liked red road

[southeastastra]

i suppose volver is about a man?

[coldtits]

Little WOmen

[Molesworth]

Hurrah I'm not munching me feminist popcorn alone after all! Thanks for the replies. I haven't seen Steel Magnolias

Have you seen Fish Tank SEA?

Re: Red Road - hard to discuss this without spoilers but I thought the film was v well-made and well-acted ... but I didn't like the way the protagonist's actions in a key scene (iyswim) bolsters certain ideas which I think need to be firmly stamped out (iyswim)

That probably made no sense whatsoever did it

[justallovertheplace]

I did a film module as part of my degree and remember a big chunk of the course being about the 'to-be-looked-at-ness' of women in film. They literally were just eye candy .
I'll see if I can find the study...

[southeastastra]

no i understand exactly what you meant about red road. was quite shocked!

haven't yet seen fish tank, it's not a film that would ever be released at my local

will def look out for it though

[BelleDameSansMerci]

Thelma and Louise?

[Molesworth]

Oh do see it SEA, would love to get your thoughts on it. I identified a lot with the main character.

I've never seen Little Women either. I was a bit meh about Volver, but can't remember much about it now tbh.

Didn't really word the OP very well actually - because there are films which don't pass that test but which are still 'on the side of the woman', whereas there are others which pass the test and are still as sexist as hell. Really I'm after films which aren't sexist, or with well-rounded female characters.

[Molesworth]

Re: Thelma and Louise - haven't seen it for years, but I did love it at the time. Shame about the ending though. Like 'it's OK to say "fuck you!" to The Man, but only if you end up dead' iyswim

[southeastastra]

the website is funny! (and true)

grey gardens definitely though have only seen the documentary

[BelleDameSansMerci]

I hated the end of T&L - really pissed me off!

How about "All About Eve"? It's one of my favourite films of all time...

[Molesworth]

Oh I love All About Eve too. I can definitely identify with Margo Channing

[BelleDameSansMerci]

I can't believe I'm struggling for more mainstream films. I am a bit all over the place today, though...

[kickassangel]

Girl Interrupted - ok about bulemia, but shows a broad range of females who rarely talk about men & v much on their side. pretty mainstream - winona ryder & angelina jolie

i've heard (not seen) that alice of alice in wonderland is a good role model for younger women - she is rebelling against societal norms by returning to wonderland & doesn't just accept what she's told to do.

[HerBeatitude]

Vicky Cristina Barcelona?

Vicky and Maria Elena talk about photography and art

Am clutching at straws

[southeastastra]

kate winslet films, hideous kinky and heavenly creatures?

[HerBeatitude]

ooh ooh tea with mussolini - cher, joan plowright, maggie smith, judi dench - all talk about the war, mussolini, etc.

[HerBeatitude]

And Ladies in Lavender.

[kickassangel]

hmm, what about teen flicks? i'm thinking about things like mean girls, the clique etc. they ARE very stereotypical, but also trying to send a positive message, about not having to fit in with the crowd, it's ok to be yourself etc.

in fact, almost 'public service television'

[kickassangel]

julie & julia ? a guess - haven't seen it, but from what i read, not about boys.

Does it have to be more than one woman - what about chocolat? main stream & strong female character.

notes on a scandal

are you interested in modern female action heroes? angelina jolie & sigourney weaver? i know they're women playing a male role, in essence, but interesting how the role of women in action adventure has developed so far - compare/contrast with the character of 'willie' in indiana jones & temple of doom.

cagney & lacey (tv, i know, but there was a movie)

charlie's angels

[MrsPixie]

Persona - bergman

[thelunar66]

Blardy Hell.. difficult to think of any mainstream films

[southeastastra]

ponyo is quite cool

[kickassangel]

panic room? (think that's the name) a mum & daughter?

really must go & get dinner ready, dh due in from work soon. i used to teach media & once did a unit on women in film, trying to remember more now.

have you looked into 'the male gaze' - v. interesting. the whole film industry is vv male dominated, even when women portray women (e.g. female writers, directors, producers, etc) they still come out how men want them to look, rarely how women really are.

however, i would say there is little main stream film which portrays men how they really are either, so perhaps more about film = fantasy than misogyny.

also interesting to do some comparison of amount of screen time occupied by a woman, compared with a man (especially in a romcom, where surely they should be equal) and the position that the women occupy within the screen e.g. left or right of screen, high up or low down.

do you have a particular aspect you're interested in, or just generally thinking aloud? this is a huge area.