We know we're going to be a bit repetitive this week. But we believe it's still crucial to talk about feminism and everything surrounding it. Yesterday we shared our favorite YouTube talks about feminism , and today we're going a step further.
For all you film lovers out there, we've put together a selection of movies about feminism that will help you understand this movement a little better. Not all of them are directed by women [but the vast majority are], and not all of them focus on feminism as their main theme. But they are all essential viewing for understanding women's struggles, their suffering simply for being women, and, why not, for enjoying a good movie.
Here is our selection of 13 movies about feminism that you are going to love:
Movies about feminism of all genres
documentaries on feminism
★ She's Beautiful When She's Angry
(2014) This American documentary reflects on the second wave of feminism, trying to break with the stereotypes of "the furious feminist". Recorded with archival images, it shows the actions carried out by many of the women of the 70s.
★ Miss Showcase
(2011) To understand the role of women, we must understand the media and how it portrays women. Furthermore, how many hours do teenagers spend on social media, and what messages are conveyed? This documentary by Jennifer Siebel reflects on all these aspects, on women in positions of power, and how these aspects could be modified to help combat inequality.
★ Portraits of feminism
(2018) Johanna Demetrakas directs this documentary, which uses footage from the 70s to narrate the experiences of a dozen feminists, including Jane Fonda. These portraits are reflections from women who tell us what has changed since then and what could have changed but hasn't. It's not a dense or overly profound documentary. But it's a great starting point for exploring this topic. You can watch it on Netflix.
Learn more about documentaries on Netflix.
Fictional feminist films to understand feminism
★ Fried Green Tomatoes
(1991) If the '90s were already turning films into classics, this is one of the greats. Jon Avnet adapts—with great skill—Fannie Flag's novel. In a vindictive tone, it tells the story of two friends who must confront the violent abuse of one of their husbands. Commercial, entertaining, and easy to watch, as well as very necessary.
Explore more about feminism and related topics.
★Orlando
(1992) Orlando, one of Virginia Wolf's novels, was made into a film by director Sally Potter, and if you haven't seen it yet, it's a safe bet in these times when one of the main debates within feminism is gender identity. The protagonist goes through time and space, changing gender and living in different moments, rethinking issues such as art and life itself.
★ Piano
(1993) Directed by one of the greats of New Zealand cinema, Jane Campion, and starring Harvey Keitel and Holly Hunter. A feminist statement that focuses on the sexual desires of a recently widowed woman who has been mute since birth.
★ The hours
(2002) This film by Stephen Daldry is understood as a great homage to the works of Virginia Woolf as well as a true feminist manifesto, portraying the complexities of the female universe. Mrs. Dalloway's novel will be understood from every possible perspective. Original and moving. On HBO.
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★ Certain Women: Women's Lives
(2016) Three women with different expectations, backgrounds and training share a shot to show us what they share by virtue of being a woman and, also, in what they differ by virtue of being human. Reflection on femininity that leaves us absorbed during the hour and a half of the film.
feminist comedies
And we don't want everything to be drama or pure melancholy. If you are looking for something more lively, take a look at these two titles:
★ The amazing Jessica James
(2017) If you're not looking for anything too profound, and just want to pass the time, this is your comedy. A love story about two young people who meet in the most millennial way possible (Tinder date). It might sound predictable and cliché—which, in a way, it is—but its honesty and premise still manage to surprise us. Can we reconcile our independence and strength as feminists with the romanticism we've been raised with?
You can watch it on Netflix.
★ Dumpling
(2018) Anne Fletcher tells the story of four teenage girls who enter a beauty pageant in a small Texas town. Feminism is explored in the mother-daughter relationships, the film's body-positive message , and the evident sisterhood among the friends. You can watch it on Netflix.
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Animated films to understand feminism
★ Princess Mononoke
(1997) Hayao Miyazaki has left us speechless on more than one occasion by using his livelihood to promote the social changes that are most important to him: gender equality and environmental change are what can be glimpsed in this animated masterpiece. It's on Netflix.
★Mulan
(1998) This isn't the classic love story Disney has been selling us for decades. Mulan is a woman who must disguise herself as a man to enlist in the army and protect her father and all of China. You can watch it on the Disney+ platform.
★ Persepolis
(2007) The adaptation of Marjane Satrapi's novel, directed by Satrapi herself and based on her true story. An irreverent film that, against the backdrop of the Islamic Revolution, shows how she must cope with the intolerance and repression of a culture that doesn't understand her way of thinking. On Amazon Prime Video.
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