Feminist Tendencies
Feminism as a concept has gone in and out of vogue since the first suffragette demanded the right to vote, but throughout history there have always been remarkable women, prepared to claim their power in the name of a cause ('Ride to Freedom: The Rosa Parks Story', 'Veronica Guerin'), or just to rediscover their own self-worth ('Shirley Valentine', 'My Brilliant Career'). This collection does not only contain films about the political struggle of women to achieve equality ('Iron Jawed Angels'), if it did it would be a very short list because despite the fact that the rise of women in the workforce and in politics was one of the defining movements of the 20th century, very few films have been made on the subject - filmmaking being still a largely male-dominated pusuit. Now, as women are making films in greater numbers than ever, our own Niki Caro is a good example of someone ready and willing to tell a story about the oppression, and ultimate triumph of women in the 'post-feminist' 1980s ('North Country'). Perhaps women as an audience are now ready and willing to hear their own stories.
The Source (2011)
7.3/10
Director: Radu Mihaileanu
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Leila Bekhti, Saleh Bakri, Hafsia Herzi, Biyouna , Sabrina Ouazani,...
A.k.a. "La source des femmes". Romanian-born filmmaker Radu Mihaileanu ("The Concert") directed and co-wrote this 'battle of the sexes' comedy drama s... Read more
The Turning Point (1977)
6.9/10
Director: Herbert Ross
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Leslie Browne, Tom Skerrit...
Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft are estranged friends and dancers at the end of their careers, but they are brought back together by MacLaine's dau... Read more
The Weather Underground (2002)
7.6/10
Director: Sam Green, Bill Siegel
Thirty years ago, a group of young American radicals called The Weathermen announced their intention to overthrow the U.S. government. Fueled by outra... Read more
Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005)
6.6/10
Director: Darnell Martin
Starring: Halle Berry, Michael Ealy, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Nicki Micheaux, Lorraine Touss...
Based on Zora Neale Hurston's classic novel and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, this Emmy-nominated TV drama stars Halle Berry as the free-spirit... Read more
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
6.6/10
Director: Rodrigo Garcia
Starring: Glenn Close, Cameron Diaz, Holly Hunter, Calista Flockhart, Kathy Baker, Valeria...
An all-star cast shines in this comedy-drama of five vignettes, as modern women deal with a myriad of problems. Glenn Close struggles with loneliness;... Read more
Titless Wonders (2001)
Director: Gaylene Preston
Starring: Aimee Gruar, Jan Bolwell, Kay Larking, Ruth Bly
An upfront documentary dealing with emotional journeys travelled after a breast cancer diagnosis. Filmmaker Gaylene Preston has seen women in her fami... Read more
Vera Drake (2004)
7.7/10
Director: Mike Leigh
Starring: Imelda Staunton, Phil Davis, Peter Wight, Daniel Mays, Alex Kelly
Vera Drake (Imelda Staunton - Academy Award Nominee Best Actress 2005) lives with her husband Stan (Phil Davis) and their two adult children, Sid and... Read more
Veronica Guerin (2003)
6.9/10
Director: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Gerard McSorley, Ciaran Hinds, Brenda Fricker
Taut, true story from director Joel Schumacher ("Phone Booth") stars Cate Blanchett in the title role, a journalist for Dublin, Ireland's Sunday Indep... Read more
Waiting To Exhale (1995)
5.8/10
Director: Forest Whitaker
Starring: Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine
Four African-American women support and comfort each other through a year of romantic ups and downs. Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon and... Read more
Walking and Talking (1996)
6.8/10
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Starring: Todd Field, Anne Heche, Catherine Keener, Kevin Corrigan
Two young women who have been best friends since grade school and helped each other through a series of romantic crises find the future of their relat... Read more