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Original poster

Bechdel Test Thread

330 replies

TrilllianAstra · 22/06/2011 20:52

I thought having a thread for "I just watched this and it passed/failed and I thought..." would be good to encourage me to think of the Bechdel test when watching TV/films or reading books. I wonbe watching/reading anything on purpose for the thread, just thought I would apply it to whatever I happened to be watching or reading.

The test doesn't necessarily say that a film is feminist/antifeminist, but it is interesting.

Rules reminder:
Are there at least two women (some versions say "two women with names")
Who have a conversation
About something other than a man?

Feel free to join in :)

OP posts:
GossipWitch · 29/08/2011 09:58

Ok im trying to think of some but no, its not happening.

leafgreen · 28/08/2011 13:23

A while back I saw an Australian film called Jindabyne that passed the test.

It also did a reasonable job of depicting how privilege (both male and white privilege, as well as a combination of those two) functions: how those who have got it can be utterly unaware that they've got it, and fail to even see that the way they're treating others assumes that those others don't need to be treated like actual human people - while those on the receiving end of privileged individuals' behaviour can be only too aware of the less-than-human status they're being accorded.

I did think the ending was far too saccharine and undid some of the good work of the rest of the movie. Would still recommend, though.

TrillianAstra · 28/08/2011 11:36

Source Code = fail.

Only two women, they don't have a conversation.

TrillianAstra · 20/08/2011 15:59

I'm reading the Morganville Vampires books (someone on here recommended them) and they pass. Claire has conversations with Eve and with Amelie (and sometimes with Monica) that are often about other subjects. I'm not sure if conversations about vampies in general count as "conversation about men", they're conversations about large groups of people, some of whom are men.

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 16/08/2011 13:04

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind passes the first two points of the test. That's it.

Fight Club, is complex. It either fails completely, or borderline passes the test. Depends on if you include Chloe's addressing the audience as her talking to another woman (Terry and Marla are in the audience) about her cancer. But then, Terry and Chloe are only in the film for literally one scene.

sockpoppet · 14/08/2011 23:23

Watership down is a big test fail.

AliceTwirled · 14/08/2011 21:27

I watched the Banksy film last night. There were only 2 women in it, fleetingly, let alone time for speaking to one another

swallowedAfly · 14/08/2011 21:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TrillianAstra · 14/08/2011 21:09

Iron Man is on right now. No chance at all, I imagine.

swallowedAfly · 14/08/2011 21:05

This reply has been deleted

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TrillianAstra · 07/08/2011 21:18

Wow, I found a very serious website Amelie apparently gets taught to read by her mother.

sockpoppet · 07/08/2011 21:15

I think they talk about men though.

TrillianAstra · 07/08/2011 21:14

Really? I don't remember it too well but doesn't Amelie have chats with the lady who runs the cafe? Or does she mostly talk to herself in her head?

sockpoppet · 07/08/2011 21:08

Oh no! I think Amelie is a fail despite a female lead.

TrillianAstra · 07/08/2011 21:06

Ashes to Ashes passes - the series as a whole or on a per-episode basis?

sockpoppet · 07/08/2011 21:05

Ashes to ashes passes but life on mars fails. What about spooks?

TrillianAstra · 07/08/2011 21:00

Harry Potter (very last film) only passes if you think this counts as a conversation:

Not my daughter you bitch

mwah haha tee hee

TrillianAstra · 22/07/2011 13:45

I spent a good amount of time at the beginning of the film going to IMDB and spluttering that the actress playing his wife was 26 years younger than him! As it turns out you get to see Liam Neeson's character's passport and the character is only 14 years older than January Jones.

TrillianAstra · 22/07/2011 13:44

Unknown (with Liam Neeson) fails. Only two female characters, and I don't think they talk at all. It's qnot bad though, if you're looking for a thriller-type film.

HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 18/07/2011 10:54

Australia passes. And Nicole Kidman's character was quite a positive female role too. Bonus!

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 18/07/2011 10:26

Indeed.

When do I get to see the version with She Who Must Not Be Named and The Girl Who Lived?

Bridesmaids passed, with a lot of whatever-the-female-equivalent-of-bromance is about the place.

Muppets Christmas Carol passed :o - if only for the bit where Emily Cratchit (Miss Piggy) is found groffling chestnuts by her daughters, and the bit later where they ask her to stop crying.

Does Labyrinth fail? Oh no hang on - it should pass because of the bit where she talks to the lady with all the piles of stuff, shouldn't it?

HerBeX · 17/07/2011 16:34

I went to see the new Harry Potter yesterday.

Great big fail.

TrillianAstra · 17/07/2011 16:21

Harry Potter 1 was on yesterday.

I forgot to pay proper attention but I think Hermione and Prof McGonagall may have spoken in class, but I might be remembering that from the book rather than the film.

I think it gets better when we spend more time at the Weasleys and once Ginny and Luna are introduced as characters.

DontCallMePeanut · 05/07/2011 12:25

*Makes a note to search out Spirited Away

I'm contemplating using feminism in my dissertation next year, but want to do something about measuring feminism in film and literature. I think the Bechdel Test will come under some scrutiny, there Grin

steamedtreaclesponge · 05/07/2011 09:29

Thistledew there is an English dubbed version of Spirited Away that would be good for children.

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