Films with a feminist angle

[rosiepony]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for films with a feminist angle to watch during this lockdown.

I watched Silence of The Lambs last night with my DD for the first time in ages. I was reminded how brilliant it is, how it centres Jodie’s role and shines a critical light on all the male characters although they’re exaggerated for entertainment. I also had new reflections on Buffalo Bill and his ‘woman suit’ although I won’t go into that for fear of being banned! Quite timely given what’s going on though!

Anyway, I’d be grateful for any recommendations. Thanks.

Hidden Figures is absolutely awesome and I like Erin Brockovich, too.

I really enjoyed this film Whale Rider about a 12 year old Maori girl. (Suitable for both adults and teenagers. It's ultimately very up-lifting).

Only males are allowed to ascend to chiefdom in a Maori tribe in New Zealand. This ancient custom is upset when the child selected to be the next chief dies at birth. However his twin sister, Pai, survives. At age 12, she enlists the help of her grandmother and the training of her uncle to claim her birthright. But to break with convention, she'll have to do the impossible: win over her ultra-traditional grandfather

...and also Corpo Celeste ( Italian with english sub-titles). a wonderfully atmospheric coming of age tale, set in Calabria, southern Italy. Again, suitable for adults and for teenagers. wonderfully observed and with a fantastic performance by the girl who plays Marta, the central character.

Thirteen year-old Marta has recently moved back to southern Italy with her mother and older sister. Marta struggles to find her place, restlessly testing the boundaries of an unfamiliar city and the catechism of the Catholic church

Captain Marvel, if you want something light and easy to watch.

The secret life of Bees and Twentieth century women.

Rosie if you get a chance, maybe watch the mini series Cross of Fire on Prime. It is based on a true story, where a Literacy teacher in Indiana in the twenties was tortured by a very high up member of the Ku Klux Klan. She poisoned herself to escape, and her testimony before she died helped to bring down the KKK in the Deep South of America. It was groundbreaking TV back in the eighties...I was thrilled to rediscover it!😃

First Wives Club

Howard’s End is a great film and an interesting period piece - essentially about toxic masculinity, with wonderful performances from Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter and Vanessa Redgrave.

As superhero movies go, I found Wonder Woman didn’t live up to the hype as a feminist film - way too much male gaze (the scene where she tries on cute little outfits in a department store ffs), and set in WWI for no reason that I could see except that it excused every other main character being male.

Captain Marvel on the other hand, I loved. A rare film that didn’t indulge in male gaze and works as a fantastic parable about female socialisation and how it oppresses us.

I’ll second the earlier suggestions of Steel Magnolias, Pitch Perfect, Spy, Bridesmaids, Mad Max Fury Road, Monster, Erin Brockovich, Thelma and Louise, Ladybird etc - as pp have said, not all strictly speaking “feminist” films, but fabulous films with well written and performed female leads.

Also - Mean Girls, Sense and Sensibility and Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Persepolis. An animated film set in Iran during the revolution. It's about a young woman and how she refuses to conform to the regime.

Oh, and agree that The People vs OJ Simpson takes a very feminist angle on the story - not just the way Marcia Clark was treated, but the focus on the way domestic violence is minimised and excused.

OH - how could I forget? Another TV series, but unabashedly feminist (and just brilliant): Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

I remember reading that David Shwimmer was an advocate for women...IIRC he sits on the board of a Rape Crisis Centre, so I am not surprised he features in feminist productions. I really want to see the People vs. OJ. now.

@DaydreamingDay

It’s so good, I’ve watched the series three times now and been hooked back in every time. An insane story, with so many outrageous characters you can barely credit it as true.

Ball I am going to watch this tomorrow for sure!! I had always wanted to but I feel such rage against that Simpson POS I was worried I would hate it because I hate him!!

It’s a very complicated story, and the drama does a very good job of telling it. You’ll hate him, but you won’t hate the series. I also recommend the documentary.

I'm really looking forward to it now Ball, thank you so much. I was just worried that it would heap more misogynistic shit upon Nicole and I couldn't bear that but now I know it is feminist...bring it on!!💪

Let me know what you think!

Misbehaviour - it was released in the cinemas just before lockdown. Brilliant film!

ot sure about feminist, but hereditary is amazing horror mostly about a woman dealing with grief. as is the babadook as well !

i second made in dagenham.
moana and brave for cuddlier films.

I will!

Does anyone remember Tank Girl? It must be about 20 years since I watched so I can't remember if it was truly feminist but it had a strong female lead. A bit Tomb Raider but more offbeat I think.

There's a good feature length doc on Prime at the minute (so not a film strictly) called Falling for a Killer - it's about Ted Bundy but with the focus on the women whose lives he affected, set to a backdrop of 2nd wave feminism in the US. It's surprisingly good considering the topic.

I think you would like The Witch. All about Calvinism and the scapegoating of young women.

Unbelievable on Netflix is brilliant - a police procedural about rape where the police leads are women - and they're angry. So rare to see this kind of story from a feminist perspective, and it's really well done. It's an 8-part miniseries; perfect for lockdown.

I remember Tank Girl! Definitely feminist imho, the little girl she is friends with gets taken to work in a brothel and Tank Girl rescues her!
I enjoyed Charlie's Angels but don't think of it as feminist because the girls are controlled by Charlie. But it is a film with 3 strong female leads, so not anti-feminist!

Thanks Love51 I can't remember much about it. Might have to search it out and rewatch.