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Original poster

Please recommend me some pro-feminism films- I am fed up!

88 replies

Aworryingtrend · 12/12/2011 14:20

The last few films I have watched have either had very few female characters, or the ones they have had have either been 2-dimensional characters as a prop for the main lead characters, or simply as a sex object love interest.

It's really getting me down now, and Idon't think I am being paranoid as DH also remarked upon the lack of strong female characters.

Recently I have seen

  • New Years Eve- anti-feminist on sooo many lvels
  • The Accidental Husband- turned it off after 20 minutes
  • Horrible Bosses- didn't even attempt to hide its 'women as sex objects' plot, use of lots of anti-women swearing and insults
  • Teeth- NOT my choice to watch this, saw it at a friends house and was Shock

The only half-decent film I have seen recently with a strong female character is 'La Potiche', a French comedy.

Does anyone have any recommendations for pro-Feminism films?

OP posts:
LEttletownofBOFlehem · 12/12/2011 22:52

Ah, A Woman's Touch, and My Secret Love- how I missed that when I was a kid, I don't know Grin

thunderboltsandlightning · 12/12/2011 22:46

Silkwood
Erin Brokovich
Mask

Worth looking through Meryl Streep's back catalogue too. 30s and 40s films with actresses like Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn, show women as strong characters and leads.

Also not feminist at all but Doris Day movies. Calamity Jane has a lesbian subtext though.

thunderboltsandlightning · 12/12/2011 22:43

Monster was based on letters that Aileen Wuornos wrote to the director. I'm sure there was artistic license involved, but then Nick Broomfield takes a fair amount in his own documentaries too.

stuffedauberginexmasdinner · 12/12/2011 22:21

Monster isn't 100% accurate though, did you see the documentary on aileen wornous(sp?).

Made in dagenham? Not see it but is billed as feminist

Fried green tomatoes at whistle stop cafe is great

The good girl with Jennifer Anniston was surprisingly good and raised plenty of feminist issues.

Legally blonde? That is probably stretching it...

thunderboltsandlightning · 12/12/2011 22:12

Private Benjamin is ace.

Monster is good from a radical feminist perspective, because it's truthful. It's very sad though.

Prolesworth · 12/12/2011 22:04

oh I'm quite looking forward to the Thatcher film!

ScarlettIsWalking · 12/12/2011 21:56

The piano

An angel at my table

Camille claudel

HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 12/12/2011 21:49

How about The Help? Read the book which was brilliant. Haven't seen the film though. Lots of good female characters in the book and an awareness of the restraints of women in 1950's southern America.

Matronalia · 12/12/2011 21:45

Private Benjamin
Practical Magic
First Wives Club

StewieGriffinsMom · 12/12/2011 21:03

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LEttletownofBOFlehem · 12/12/2011 19:54

Avatar is a pile of colonialist wank, unfortunately. And I'm sorry to say that I will gauge my own eyes out with a spoon before I watch a film about Mrs Thatcher.

Prolesworth · 12/12/2011 19:44

I really liked Leaving and I Am Love but wouldn't call either of them light hearted Xmas Confused

MrsMagnolia · 12/12/2011 19:43

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smallwhitecat · 12/12/2011 19:11

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stuffedauberginexmasdinner · 12/12/2011 19:05

what about nine to five? would that qualify?

scarlettsmummy2 · 12/12/2011 18:12

'Mona Lisas Smile' with Julia Roberts- it is fairly light hearted and is about her trying to teach girls in the 1950's there is more to life than marriage and babies.

TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 12/12/2011 18:09

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Prolesworth · 12/12/2011 17:44

Yeah there are things to really like about it:

  • good female main character
  • strong female friendships
  • love and romance not being at the forefront of the women's minds
  • Bliss's mum (beautifully played I thought) and their relationship

and at least one other thing to do with how it ended that I won't mention because it's spoilery.

But the coaches and the ringmaster = all men (albeit quite pathetic men, but doesn't that kind of suggest that the women wield real power over the foolish blokes when in reality we don't)
The skaters = obliged to be hawt and sexay albeit in a grungy way
Baying men getting off on hawt and sexay women fighting

I guess I'm not the target audience :)

StewieGriffinsMom · 12/12/2011 17:25

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TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 12/12/2011 17:05

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Prolesworth · 12/12/2011 16:46

ooh hello dollymixtures and welcome Xmas Smile

I watched Whip It last night and although it's a fun film and has stuff going for it, I wouldn't call it feminist.

dollymixtures · 12/12/2011 16:42

If you just want a light hearted fun film what about Whip It?

Prolesworth · 12/12/2011 16:37

I am struggling to think of a single film that could be described as feminist. I'm sure there must be some out there, but I haven't seen them Confused Just having strong female characters and/or passing the Bechdel Test doesn't necessarily make a film feminist does it?

dreamingbohemian · 12/12/2011 16:34

aubergine THANK YOU, I can't stand that film and am mystified as to why people consider it feminist.