Here is my personal list of great female made movies. According to women, and Hollywood, of the top 100 grossing films of 2019, only 12% of these films are female film directors (https://womenandhollywood.com/resources/statistics/). Watching female made films is so important and also inspiring to see to get more women behind the camera. I brought together some iconic films, films of a mix of different genre and some of my favorites to pick and choose from. There is a range of films, some more of a realistic approach to film making, all the way to more easy going films if you wanted some fun escapism to wind down to.
When putting this list together I considered to look back at films I have studied from A-Levels to University, and was shocked to see the lack of female directors I have studied. No films prior to the 1970's I had studied were directed by women and any films studied past the 1970's, well I counted three films all together I have looked at that had female directed roles. I did however do some watching and found some films prior to the 1970's that had been directed by women, so if you wanted to see from the beginning of cinema that’s an option to all the way to present day. So hopefully there is something for you.
So without further ado....
Before getting into the more recent films with female directors I wanted to look at Marion E. Wong who was a film director and made a film somewhere between the years 1916- 1917. Although incomplete from being lost, it is great to see the representation of women in film making history that film historians have forgot about and neglected. It is really interesting to delve in the early filmmakers like Marion E. Wong, Mabel Normand and Many more. Including Alice Guy-Blaché who is considered to be one of the first female film makers. It is unfortunate that a lot of female film has got lost in history but it is interesting to look into the people who made it possible and inspired women to direct to this day.
Here is the surviving footage of Marion E. Wong’s from around 1916-1917 film The Curse of Quin Gwon: When the fear East Mingles with the West:
Girlhood
Bande de filles (English title: Girlhood,2014, Céline Sciamma) is a coming of age story that is brilliantly acted and beautifully shot. There is a heartwarming scene of our protagonist Marieme ‘Vic’ portrayed by Karidja Touré and her friends she makes along her journey in the film dancing to the song ‘Diamonds’ by Rihanna. This was unfortunately put up for copy right however after a viewing by Rhianna she stated she allowed the song to be used because the scene was so powerful, Rihanna’s management stated 'we will make an exception because we find that the scene is beautiful and, looking at your previous work, it's interesting'
(https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/70383339/why-pop-star-rihanna-gave-her-blessing-to-film-festival-movie-girlhood). If you don’t get the chance to watch it I have linked the diamonds scene as even without context it is such a heart-warming scene to watch.
Here is the scene from Girlhood featuring the song Diamonds by Rihanna
TW: Strong Language, Violence, Drug use
The Matrix
The Matrix (1999, Lilly Wachowski and Lana Wachowski) is an iconic film that everyone even if they haven’t seen it could definitely quote. This film being the inspiration for so many films with new inventive storytelling and film making techniques. The films inventive 360 degree shot using 120 separate cameras to create its effect is just enough a reason to watch it. The film also delves into complicated psychological arguments so it’s definitely one that needs concentrating and multiple viewings but absolutely a recommend.
I felt the trailers spoils the film massively and its best to go in blind so if you are unsure about it have a look at the film’s opening:
TW: Contains strong fantasy violence
Lost honor of Katharina Blum
Next a great wave of cinema New German cinema which includes the amazing film Die Verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum oder (English title: The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum, 1975, Margarethe Von Trotta and Volker Schlöndorff) co directed by Margarethe Von Trotta the film explores the scrutiny of the media and the negative effects it can have on someone’s life. Here’s a clip advertising the films of Margarethe Von Trotta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILaiLf5H7_w TW: Brief explicit images The Farewell
The Farewell (2019, Lulu Wang) based on the experiences in the directors life this comedy drama is shot beautifully by female cinematographer Anna Franquesa Solano and acted amazing by Awkwafina (Oceans 8, Crazy Rich Asians). Again without saying too much here is the trailer:
TW: Mild bad language, sex reference
What happened, Miss Simone?
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015, Liz Garbus) is a documentary following the life of jazz musician Nina Simone. It ended up being nominated for a 2016 documentary academy award. As stated by Grabus she wanted creative control to tell Nina’s story correctly as she says ‘Nina’s story had been so often misunderstood and misrepresented’. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GYZI8_2YEU)
The Selfish Giant
The Selfish Giant is a 2013 film directed by Clio Barnard. An upsetting British realism film taking a critique in social classes in the Uk and the effect it brings to young children. I don’t want to go into too much detail but the film making in this film is so powerful for its subject it is tackling.
TW: Contains strong language, once very strong.
Mari
Mari (2010, Georgia Parris) is a dance-drama film which is a very interesting watch as it incorporates dance as a form of storytelling as well as the dialogue. The music incorporates well and something that I really enjoyed so I will also link the soundtrack. Choreographed by female choreographer Maxine Doyle which is beautifully portrayed by dancer and choreographer Bobbi Jene. Bobbi Jene was center of the 2017 Documentary of the same name which is another I would like to add in while talking about the film Mari. Although women in dance is another subject all together it is great to see women in dance come into the film medium also. The documentary Bobbie Jene (2017, Elvira Lind) although staged is beautifully directed by another talented female film maker Elvira Lind and is a great love story as well as dance doc.
Mari trailer:
Soundtrack from Mari:
Bobbi Jene:
TW: Infrequent strong language
Edge of seventeen
A teen comedic 2016 coming of age film directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. It follows Nadine Franklin in her complicated dysfunctional relationship with her family and falling out of her best friend. Similar to many American high school classics like mean girls this film is an entertaining drama which is a definite recommend if you’re in the mood for a heart-warming feel good comedy.
TW: Strong language, sex references
American Psycho
Another iconic film that if you haven’t seen then it’s one to view and if you have seen its one to give another watch. American Psycho (2000, Mary Herron) is a comedic psychological film following Patrick Batemen. This film is better going in blind in my opinion so I will leave it there in terms of plot summary. However, I will link one of my favourite scenes below but if you want to go in blind then just watch it with no further knowledge.
TW: strong bloody violence, disturbing behaviour, strong sexual content, nudity, drug use and language.
Trigger warnings via British board of Film Classification
Ameila is a joint film and dance student wanting to explore the world of screendance, she is part of Tmesis' Creative Development Course. www.ameliascreendance.co.uk
I've yet to watch every film on this list! But love all these suggestions - Alice
Thank you very much, Amelia <3 I would like to share with you a film directed by a woman, Kasi Lemmons, about the amazing human being Harriet Tubman.
Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) was an American abolitionist and political activist. Born into slavery, she escaped and subsequently made several missions to rescue hundreds of enslaved people through a secret network, 'The Underground Railroad'. During the American Civil War, she served as an armed scout and spy for the Union Army. In her later years, Tubman was an activist in the struggle for women's suffrage.
"Harriet" (2019) is a beautiful and emotional movie about the journey of a great woman who changed the course of history. A very inspirational story that made me…
This is great Amelia! The statistics are crazy, your going to have to get out there as a female film maker and make a difference :-) Looking forward to checking out some of the films on this list that I hadn't heard of x