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.
Nine Lives (2005)
6.8/10
Director: Rodrigo Garcia
Starring: LisaGay Hamilton, Glenn Close, Dakota Fanning, Sissy Spacek, Robin Wright, Aidan...
A scorching ensemble comes together for Rodrigo Garcia's impressive episodic drama, featuring the lives of nine women. Each ten minute glimpse into on... Read more
Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
6.3/10
Director: Josie Rourke
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, David Tennant, Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn,...
Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary Stuart defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful t... Read more
Once Were Warriors ( Blu-ray ) (1994)
7.9/10
Director: Lee Tamahori
Starring: Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, Julian Arahang...
Director Lee Tamahori's stunning debut film focuses on a violent love story set against a contemporary urban backdrop. This insightful, gutsy drama fe... Read more
Norma Rae (1979)
7.4/10
Director: Martin Ritt
Starring: Sally Field, Beau Bridges, Pat Hingle, Ron Leibman
In an Oscar-winning performance, Sally Field is unforgettable as Norma Rae, the Southern millworker who revolutionises a small town and discovers a po... Read more
Strangers In Good Company (1990)
7.8/10
Director: Cynthia Scott
Starring: Alice Diabo, Constance Garneau, Winifred Holden
AKA "The Company Of Strangers". Seven elderly women, previously strangers, are forced to spend three days together in a dilapidated house and draw on... Read more
Courage Under Fire (1996)
6.6/10
Director: Edward Zwick
Starring: Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Matt Damon, Scott Glenn
Denzel Washington plays a guilt-ridden army Officer investigating Medavac Pilot Meg Ryan, a candidate for a posthumous Medal of Honor for her heroism... Read more
Spider and Rose (1994)
Director: Bill Bennett
Starring: Ruth Cracknell, Simon Bossell, Max Cullen
Spider McCall (Simon Bossell) is an ambulance driver with 'attitude'. His final day on the job lands him the assignment of driving a feisty 70-year-ol... Read more
Haven (2001)
6.3/10
Director: John Gray
Starring: Natasha Richardson, Colm Feore, Henry Czerny, Sheila McCarthy, Sebastian Roche,...
The stirring true story of Ruth Gruber (Natasha Richardson), an American journalist who volunteered for a treacherous wartime mission - escorting near... Read more
Offside (2006)
7.3/10
Director: Jafar Panahi
Starring: Sima Mobarak-Shahi, Shayesteh Irani, Ayda Sadeqi, Golnaz Farmani, Mahnaz Zabihi
In Iran, women are banned from sporting events, but during their country's 2006 bid for the World Cup, a handful of die-hard fans just can't resist se... Read more
Forbidden Lies (2007)
Director: Anna Broinowski
In 2003 Norma Khouri's book 'Forbidden Love' was published as the true account of the so-called 'honour killing' of her best friend, Dalia. Eighteen m... Read more