Five must-see films for Women’s History Month
Cultural critic and feminist bell hooks once said at a book event, “If you want to raise a self-loving Black child, turn off the tv.” Representation matters.
As the mother of two Black girls, this statement resonates with me. As the girls grew up and were exposed to increasing amounts of television, film and social media, I would ask, “where are the smart girls?“ or “where are the smart people of color?” I know that these smart, beautiful girls are made in the image of God and I need for them to believe that too. Too often the only girls and people of color in the shows available for their viewing reinforced stereotypes that diminished their agency and dignity.
The first Marvel film with a woman lead was only last year with Gal Gadot staring as Wonder woman. It was a box office hit demonstrating that movies with women at the center have something for everyone and do not have to be denigrated as “chick flicks.”
Similarly, Ryan Coogler’s The Black Panther has dominated the box office and become a cultural phenomenon in 2018 with the Dora Milaje — an all African female guard — protecting the Kingdom of Wakanda. As my friend, Tania Jackson, said to me, “There is collaborative leadership and council, with women of a wide variety of ages not only advising, but commanding. They are respected, valued and integral to the order of community.”
Women and girls are disproportionately underrepresented in film. “In 2017, just 24% of protagonists in the 100 highest grossing films were women…Seventy-nine percent of the 100-grossing films had 10 or more male characters with speaking roles. In contrast, only 32% of the most popular films featured 10 or more female characters with lines to say.”
The good news is that the “percentages of female characters of color reached record levels in 2017 – the number of black women increased from 14% to 16% in 2017; the number of Latinas more than doubled from 3% in 2016 to 7% in 2017, and the percentage of Asian women increased a percentage point to 7% in 2017.”
In addition to The Black Panther and Wonder Woman — the two films that my daughters immediately recommended — below are five more must-see films both historical and fiction that tell stories of women and girls persisting and resisting those who tried to diminish their strength, intelligence, courage and integrity.
The Queen of Katwe (2016)
Recommended for all ages.
“With its empowering message and determined heroine, this sweetly intelligent movie finds real inspiration in a remarkable true story.”
— Alexandra MacAaron, Women’s Voices for Change
“She (Mira Nair) draws wonderful performances from her young, unknown cast, shooting street scenes with powerful authenticity and delivering a heart-warming and refreshingly original story that you’ll be pleased you’ve seen.”
— Matthew Bond, The Mail on Sunday (UK)
Whale Rider (2003)
Recommended for middle, high school and adults.
“Niki Caro roots her characters in a landscape equal parts mundane and boundless, incorporates tantalizing sea photography and Lisa’s Gerrard’s ambient soundtrack, and lifts off into a sublime, Elysian ending.”
— Time Out
“both an effective snapshot of the challenges which modernity brings to indigenous cultures, and a neat illustration of the power of myths to adapt.”
— Anton Bitel, Daily Info
Frida (2002)
Recommended for adults.
“Actress Salma Hayek portrays the famed Mexican surrealist painter in a biopic that neither mythologizes nor decries the artist’s accomplishments on or beyond the canvas.”
— Todd Gilchrist, IGN Movies
“Taymor conveys in imaginative cinematic fashion how for Frida, creating art and living were one and the same.”
— Michael Dequina, TheMOvieReport.com
The Rape of Recy Taylor (2018)
Recommended for high school and adults.
“Planting a flag firmly at the intersection of patriarchy, sexism and White supremacy, “The Rape of Recy Taylor” is a documentary of multiple layers and marvelous gumption. “
— Jeanette Catsoulis, New York Times
“With lucidity and deep feeling, Nancy Buirski’s documentary maps an ugly trail of injustice and then widens its lens to pay tribute to the women of color whose refusal to be silent helped drive the evolution of the Civil rights movement.”
— David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter
Hidden Figures (2017)
Recommended for all ages.
“Here, we right an historical wrong, looking back at the important … contributions that a group of three African-American women made to our nation’s space program.”
— Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Film Festival Today
“Most of this country’s history - like most Hollywood movies - has been written by white men. ‘Hidden Figures’ is a great reminder of the unsung African-American women who contributed to all our accomplishments.”
— Alexandra MacAaron, Women’s Voices for Change
