mothers day present

[Molasses]

Can anyone recommend a book/dvd for my mum - a woman in her sixties, always been a SAHM, still with DH reluctantly and newly looking at feminism?

I know she loved Shirley Valentine, so something of that ilk.

(And yes I know I'm leaving things a bit late.)

Cheers.

She might like (movies) Frida, Out of Africa, made in dagenham, Erin Brocowich (sp), Muriel's wedding, nine to five, and Thelma & louise of course!

Books, i'd reccomend Testament of youth by Vera Britten, anything by Maya Angelou or Alice Walker. If you're feeling brave then the Vagina monologues is great, Bread & chocolate by Philipa Gregory, a room of one's own by Virginia Woolf.
There have been some good threads on fiction in the feminism section so worth a search.

As she enjoyed Shirley Valentine, I'd like to put in a word for the 1999 film 'Don Juan DeMarco' starring Johnny Depp and Marlon Brando with Faye Dunaway in a support role. Needless to say, the acting is incomparable.

Ostensibly, this is a lighthearted 'romantic' film which leaves the viewer with the feelgood factor, but it carries a powerful message about the art of the possible and how we create our own lives.

After your dm has watched this film, she will inevitably find herself comparing her marriage to that of Brando and Dunaway's characters...

An afternoon or evening on the sofa with Don Juan DeMarco and a box of Godiva or other Belgian chocs could prove lifechanging and I have no doubt that your dm will find it far more enjoyable than poring over some worthy feminist or other tome.

Add a bunch of tulips or daffs and you'll certainly make this Mother's Day memorable for her.

Testament of Youth was televised in the '80s, so it's possible that your mum could have read the book, as well as Testament of Friendship (which was dreadfully sad).

Has she seen Calendar Girls?

Bookwise, your dm will be able to reinvent lose herself completely in the magic that can be found in Angela Carter's novels.

Nights At The Circus would be an excellent introduction to this sadly no longer with us writer if your dm is unfamiliar with her work.

In the Midst of Life by Jennifer Worth

who wrote Call the Midwife. My dad and MIL have both read and enjoyed this. As long as she won't be offended by the subject matter!

From Amazon: Review
'Few readers will fail to be moved by her stories, which are artfully used to examine some of the genuine societal dilemmas death presents, and to point up the ill effects that flow from the mixture of embarassment, denial and avoidance with which we surround it.' TLS 'This is a taboo subject and makes absolutely gripping reading because it is one that, whether we like it or not, is going to matter enormously to each and every one of us.' GOOD BOOK GUIDE
Book Description
The last collection of true-life nursing stories from the No.1 bestselling author of the CALL THE MIDWIFE series, soon to be a major BBC TV series.

I'm a similar age to your mother and one of the books which sparked my involvement in feminism was Down Among The Women by Faye Weldon. It was written in the seventies and looked back over the lives of a set of women from the fifties onwards. I think it lit the flame for a fair few women.

Beaches

If she has a sense of humour and is (becoming) unshockable - then give her a boxed set of 'Shameless'. I am over 60 and I just love it! Not so much the visual shocking things more the comments on life.

Driving miss Daisy.
Steel magnolias.
The kings speech.