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.
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
Once Were Warriors (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
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
Personal Velocity (2002)
6.6/10
Director: Rebecca Miller
Starring: Kyra Sedgwick, Parker Posey, Fairuza Balk
Three very different women. One daring leap of faith. Kyra Sedgwick, Parker Posey and Fairuza Balk star in this compelling drama about three women who... Read more
Places In The Heart (1984)
7.3/10
Director: Robert Benton
Starring: Sally Field, Lindsay Crouse, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan
Against a Depression-torn background in Waxahachi, Texas, Sally Field struggles against incredible hardships. With fine performances by John Malkovich... Read more
Postcards From The Edge (1990)
6.7/10
Director: Mike Nichols
Starring: Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Quaid
Based on Carrie Fisher's best selling autobiographical novel and revolving around the caustic relationship between a mother and daughter and satirisin... Read more
Prisoner Cell Block H - Volume 1 (1979)
Starring: Elspeth Ballantyne, Sheila Florance, Val Lehman, Fiona Spence
Attaining cult status around the world, this Australian series set in a women's prison was a gritty no-nonsense drama that tackled issues such as homo... Read more
Private Benjamin (1980)
6.1/10
Director: Howard Zieff
Starring: Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, Armand Assante
Goldie Hawn is delightful as a spoiled Jewish/American princess who decides to get away from her life by joining the "new liberal" Army. Her army camp... Read more
Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017)
7.1/10
Director: Angela Robinson
Starring: Oliver Platt, Connie Britton, Bella Heathcote, Rebecca Hall, Luke Evans
If behind every great man is a great woman, then Harvard psychologist and inventor Dr. William Moulton Marston has the good fortune of having two -- h... Read more
Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer (2013)
7/10
Director: Mike Lerner, Maxim Pozdorovkin
Starring: Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Mariya Alyokhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich
Three young women face seven years in a Russian prison for a satirical performance in a Moscow cathedral. But who is really on trial in a case that ha... Read more