So fed up with watching films with no decent female roles - please give me your recommendations

[whatsinanumber]

Watched yet another 'classic' film tonight in which the occasional (beautiful) woman flitted on screen either grieving for a man or being seduced by one, the rest was just a bunch of guys shooting at each other. I don't know what the actual percentage of the films I've watched in my life that have been like that but, thinking about it tonight, it feels absurdly high. I know this is much discussed but watching films with teenage DDs I'm just reminded how few films there seem to be with fully-formed girls and women in them who aren't just there to look hot. I started googling 'female empowering films' and got stuff like Superwoman and, while I don't have a problem with Superwoman, that's not really what I'm after - I don't especially need to be showing my daughters films in which the women kick ass and beat all the men in fights, or being heroes in some other capacity. They don't need to be all about women, I just want there to be nuanced girls and women on screen being part of what's going on, having conversations etc.

I'm sure they are out there, I'm just all out of ideas and would love to have a list on hand for when we are choosing films as a family. So if you have any favourite films with great female characters please share!

Going to bed shortly but pick this up again in the morning. Thanks in advance

Found a link that works. Full movie available on YouTube.
Strangers in good company directed by Cynthia Scott (1990):
A busload of women become stranded in an isolated part of the Canadian countryside. As they await rescue, they reflect on their lives through a mostly ad-libbed script.

Terminator - Sarah Connor.

Polite Society (British Pakistani teen who
wants to be a stunt woman struggles with older sister's engagement) is a sweet and funny gem and very age appropriate. It's on Sky Movies
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PoliteSociety(film)

Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility is lovely.

Anatomy of a Fall
Mrs Harris goes to Paris

Terminator - Sarah Connor.
Sorry, but it has to be Terminator II. Where she has toughened up. TI is the traditional running away role.

Erin Brockovitch
Silkwood
Three Billboards
Legally Blonde
Wild
Nyad

There's an amazing film (based on a true story) about a young woman who trains wild camels and treks alone across Australia with them. I forget the film title. It might be Trek.

The one about Dagenham motors.

There's an amazing film (based on a true story) about a young woman who trains wild camels and treks alone across Australia with them. I forget the film title. It might be Trek.

I haven't seen it but I am pretty sure that is Tracks

About the Elizabeth Gaskell adaptations, I'm afraid I still wince when I think of them. EG didn't finish Wives and Daughters, so the adaptation has our heroine striding around the Veldt wearing jodphurs. And North and South, where the couple settle down to a good snog in the railway carriage.
Almost as bad as Bleak House (with Anna Maxwell Davies) where they totally changed the ending.

Which reminds me of Rabbit Proof Fence

I don't massively care about adaptations changing things, as long as it works! But I can understand why if you loved the books it might be irritating.

I tend to watch more foreign films that Hollywood/British ones. So if you are happy with subtitles it may be worth giving some a go.

Netflix has lots of foreign films and dramas. It does depend what you mean by 'strong' female characters, though? I'd say any film in which women are written well and believable is a good one. In which women's roles are equal to men's roles, if not central to the story.

I've recently watched a Turkish drama series called 'Ethos' on Netflix. It was one of the best things I've seen for ages. It focuses on female characters and is basically looking at the tensions between the middle class, secular Turks living in Istanbul and the traditional hijab wearing villagers who come into istanbul to work. Brilliantly acted, intense, with strong female leads.

As for american movies i really enjoyed 'American Honey' which was directed by a woman, Andrea Arnold . A road movie with a great soundtrack.

American Honey is a 2016 road drama film written and directed by Andrea Arnold, and starring Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf, and Riley Keough. Star is a teenager who is burdened with the responsibilities of two children and an abusive father. However, her life changes when she runs away from home and joins a magazine-selling crew.

Another female directed film is 'Winter's Bone'.

Winter's Bone is a 2010 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Debra Granik .Ree ( Jennifer Lawrence) lives with her family, including her ailing mother, in a poor rural area. When faced with the threat of losing their home, she is determined to find her estranged father who must appear in court.

I really liked Poor Things. Not suitable for a younger teen, though.

Only because she hasn't discovered the cause fully at that point. At the end of the first she is actually doing what she can to keep John safe. You need to watch Terminator 1 first to see how the story arc develops and fully understand the characters and storyline for Terminator 2.

For those who enjoyed Nyad, I’d also recommend Edie.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3823098/

I can see Legally Blonde has been suggested a few times, I always enjoy Miss Congeniality. I know there’s things to pick apart in it but it’s a lot of fun, and Sandra Bullock is great in it.

For TV series, I’d suggest We Are Lady Parts (channel 4) and The Other One (iplayer). You might want to watch them first though to check if you’re comfortable as there’s swearing. Also, for TV series, what about Gentleman Jack.

The French film 'I am not an easy man' - central male character as a run of the mill chauvinist hits his head and winds up in an alternate reality where everything is reversed and the women are in charge. It's refreshing to see the relaxed women secondary characters.

'Flashback', another French film is a very not serious history tale where a not very serious lawyer learns to take women's rights seriously (she starts off the film defending a rapist by saying that his victim wanted it because she came to the date in skimpy red underwear, disappointing her mother).

Only because she hasn't discovered the cause fully at that point. At the end of the first she is actually doing what she can to keep John safe. You need to watch Terminator 1 first to see how the story arc develops and fully understand the characters and storyline for Terminator 2
thank you - that's true.
As a side note, it was Kingsley Amis' favourite film.

I really liked Poor Things. Not suitable for a younger teen, though.
I loved this.
Mark Ruffalo was fantastic in it - so funny

Erin Brockovitch. One of my all time favourite films

The one about Dagenham motors.

That's 'Made in Dagenham'. And an excellent suggestion.

A PP mentioned Ocean's 12 - but means Ocean's 8.

For TV series, alongside Cranford, Lark Rise to Candeford. Story revolves around a female-led post office.

I disagree with Lost in Translation. Really doesn't fit the bill at all. Nor does Poor Thing, which is even more problematic.

It's a while since I've seen Steel Magnoias, but from what I remember that might work.

Borgen's another great TV suggestion.

Korean dramas (while rather stylised, so not for everybody) have quite a few options with a female lead, who always seems to have a female close friend/staunch supporter (although romance with the male lead does take precedence. Apprencie Attorny Woo, or Rookie Historian may appeal. The former is probably a better one to start with - closer to what you're looking for with multiple good female character, and you don't need to get your head around thebrather complex historic Korean palace and government structures.

There are so many brilliant suggestions on here. I have created a very long list on my phone. Thank you all very much indeed!! Hope it'll be useful to others as well. Mumsnet at its finest ❤

Jackie Brown
Thelma and Louise

I dont mind films but i hate it when i see the tough acting woman and men it cringes me out.
Like look at me ive just took down 10 men with my hands and not ruind my hair or im a tough man just took down an army with just a sword.
Its a me problem.
Hidden figures is good.
I dont really watch English films.

There's a Bollywood one about the place of.women in India that's very good, but a hard watch. Lajja. Not for the younger one, but possibly for the older girl. I'd suggest you watch it first though to check if you think she'd cope.

Volver (2006 Penelope Cruz)

Jessica Jones. It storms through the Bechdel test and I love the thoughtful relationship between Jessica and her best friend.