Films that do pass the Bechdel test?

Passing the Bechdel test is no indication that it is a film worth watching.

Sex & the City 2 passes with flying colours. Nuff said.

We just watched "Conviction", a movie from last year about Betty Anne Waters, who got a law degree in order to overturn her brother Kenny's conviction for murder--a task that took her 17 years. There's a female lead of course, but what gets this film past the Bechdel test is that the heroine is helped along the way by her law-school friend Abra Rice. Let's assume that talking about Kenny Waters in this context doesn't really count as "talking about a man"! Also the courthouse clerk who finds the vital evidence, the judge who finally sets Kenny free, and the district attorney who (reluctantly) drops the case are all women too.

On the other hand, it's made clear in the movie that although the happy ending was the result of a woman's work, the original frame-up was done by another woman, shown in the film as a police officer but actually the police chief's secretary, who was being allowed to do police work that she wasn't qualified for. And the false evidence that put Kenny in prison came from two ex-girlfriends, neither of whom is eager to help exonerate him years later. But then it's the daughter he had with one of the exes who persuades her mother to change her story.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conviction_(film)

Jane Austen Book Club - they talk about each other, they talk about the books, yes they talk about men, but not exclusively.

An Education - just watched this the other day, and the two main females talk about university and 'what it does to a woman's looks'

Girl, Interrupted - Susanna and Lisa talk about all sorts of things. Also, Susanna talks to a female doctor, a nurse and numerous female patients, about herself and her mental health etc.

However, according to the website (fascinating reading for a fan of lists...) Twilight passes; a movie which is undeniably anti-feminist! I'm a little shocked at the number of movies which do not passed, but judging those that did, I can't see that it's good for identifying positive female portrayals, let alone feminist beliefs.

Out of interest, I would like to see this test done from both angles at once - so each film rated as to more than two women talking about something other than a man AND more than two men talking about something other than a woman. I think we could all guess how it would turn out, but am still a little curious as to the extent of the imbalance...

Ghost World - two young women talk about setting up flat together & enjoy inventing scenarios about unusual people they encounter

Vera Drake

Vera talks to a number of women about abortion, to her "friend" who sets up her appointments, to a female arresting officer, chit-chat with her employer

A few Mike Leighs would pass - Happy Go Lucky (teaching projects, flamenco dancing, pensions) Another Year (the mum & her son's girlfriend talk about work). I thought Abigail's Party might qualify and then remembered the scene I was thinking of involved Abigail asking a female neighbour whether she liked Demis Roussos!

Beaches
Dirty Dancing

In the loop and career girls just off the top of my head

crikey... do Ripley and Newt talking about Aliens count?!

sticking with Ghibli... Kiki's Delivery Service looks like a cute cartoon about a young witch, but mainly consists of women talking to each other about getting ahead with integrity in business.

LRD it's quite a distressing film, to be honest, but I think it's a masterpiece. It's about a woman who appears to have chemical sensitivity, but leaves the viewer with a lot of questions.

Mama Mia! Well they sing to each other anyway. Ditto Sound Of Music
er.....
Juno
My Summer Of Love
Black Swan

Sindy - Safe sounds good - is it a fun watch? I'm seeing a trip to the video rental in the offing ...

Time, thanks for starting this thread!

[Safe] has Carol & Claire engaged in a meaningful (and very 80's New Age) discussion about self-love. It really shines out in a film about the impact of living with sterile communication & environment.

Thanks LRD & Greythorne.

I'm finding the "to each other" bit depressingly difficult to get past...

Working Girl - Signourney Weaver, Melanie Griffith and Joan Cusack talk about work.

Beaches - they talk to each other about lifelong friendship, class differences, and the care of one of the character's daughters when one dies.

Fried Green Tomatoes - Jessica Tandy talks to Kathy Burke about her younger days, the chracaters in the flashback talk about a cannibal barbecue, amongst other things.

Oh, I love Steel Magnolias! That's made me think - How to Make an American Quilt. I don't think that has men in it who talk about anything but women!

Sindy
They justbhave tomtalk about something other than men. Not exclusively.

Sindy, I think they're allowed to talk about men some of the time, just not all of it! Browsing that site it's depressing how many films never show two women talking about anything except a man ... and the Harry Potters are obviously on the edge, which is poor.

Steel magnolias
The women do talk about men a lot, but they also talk about friendship, careers, life, how to cater a wedding (!), death, God.

[Safe] is springing to mind immediately

Actually, Totoro's "love story" is just a friendship, really.

Hmm, massive Ghibli fan, but Totoro and Spirited both have a male love interest...

Does the test decree that the two female characters not talk about a man at all, or just that they talk about other things?

I just saw "Bridesmaids" and LOVED it. Lots of women talking about their lives - and my friend, when we left the cinema, said "and the men barely said anything" with obvious pleasure. It's true- there are some men, and they say a few things - but the point of the story is the women and their friendships.

Top stuff. Patchy in place, but it made me laugh till I was gasping at others - I want to see it again