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.
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
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
7.6/10
Director: Wayne Wang
Starring: Kieu Chinh, Tsai Chin, France Nuyen, Lisa Lu
Amy Tan's sensational bestseller receives first rate treatment from director Wayne Wang as he explores the turbulent lives of four uncompromising Chin... Read more
Suffragette (2015)
6.9/10
Director: Sarah Gavron
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep, Anne-Marie Duff, Ben Whisha...
With an all-star cast including Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff, Ben Whishaw and Meryl Streep as Emmeline Pankh... 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
Cagney and Lacey: Season 1 (1982)
Starring: Tyne Daly, Sharon Gless, John Karlen, Philip Baker Hall, Lance Henriksen, Grace...
Here was something entirely new: a cop show featuring two strong and intelligent female detectives in a male-dominated workforce. Credited as a ground... Read more
At Home with the Braithwaites: Series 1 (2000)
6.8/10
Director: Andy De Emmony, Robin Sheppard
Starring: Lynda Bellingham, Peter Davison, Amanda Redman, Sylvia Syms, Sarah Smart
When housewife Alison (Amanda Redman) wins the lottery, she keeps her winnings a closely guarded secret for fear that it will corrupt her family. Mean... Read more
Educating Rita (1983)
7.2/10
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Starring: Michael Caine, Julie Walters, Michael C Williams
An entertaining adaptation of Willy Russell's stage play about a young working class wife who wants to better herself and selects a boozy professor as... Read more
Shirley Valentine (1989)
7.2/10
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Starring: Pauline Collins, Tom Conti, Alison Steadman
A gem of a film about a witty housewife, bored with the hum-drum routine of suburban life, who jumps at the chance to rediscover herself when she join... Read more
Silkwood (1983)
7.2/10
Director: Mike Nichols
Starring: Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, Cher , Craig T Nelson
Meryl Streep plays Karen Silkwood in this true account of the mysterious circumstances under which Silkwood died while exposing the dangers of Plutoni... Read more
Iron Jawed Angels (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Katja von Garnier
Starring: Hilary Swank, Frances O'Connor, Julia Ormond, Anjelica Huston, Molly Parker, Pat...
American women didn't get the vote until 1920, an important yet largely overlooked historical landmark that is given air in this HBO-produced drama st... Read more