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10 Films Directed by Women You Must See Before You Die

A Place to Start for Your Female Director Watch List

By Katie HainesPublished 5 years ago 4 min read
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Female Directors Roundtable for Glamour

With more and more actors pledging to work with female filmmakers to eradicate the lack of top films directed by women, now is the perfect time to get watching some great movies directed by women. So here’s a list of 10 films to get you started.

Directed by Sofia Coppola, this film tells the story of Bob Harris, played by Bill Murray, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), two people both lonely in Tokyo, who are brought together and develop a bond through their shared melancholia. As with any Sofia Coppola film, expect a lot of soft tones, lens flares, and an interesting female lead.

Based on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and the events of the civil rights movement, Ava DuVernay proves she’s a powerhouse in the directing world with this moving film. DuVernay really deserved a Best Director nomination for her work, alas that did not happen. After Selma, she went on to direct an Oscar nominated documentary about the US prison system and its racial inequality, as well as the TV show Queen Sugar.

Although Gerwig is most recognised for her acting, this is her first go at directing, and for a directorial debut it’s up there with the best. The story follows Christine, played by Saoirse Ronan, as she navigates her last year in high school and heads off to college. It’s a nuanced portrayal of a mother-daughter bond, not afraid to shy away from the realities of this often-difficult relationship.

Another amazing coming-of-age film, this time focussing on the relationship between five sisters. The film is set in Turkey and explores the sisters’ lives as they struggle to express themselves within the confines of their conservative family. In my opinion, it should have won best foreign language film at the Oscars in 2015.

The first film from Arnold, not to be set in the cold climate of her native England, American Honey, she takes a look at the American hustle and the terrain of the Midwest through the eyes of a teenage girl trying to find herself in this landscape. The sun-drenched cinematography will leave you wanting more.

You cannot have a female director list without Agnes Varda, considering she’s been making waves in the film industry since the 1960s, she’s earned her spot. I first watched this documentary for a university module and fell in love with her sense of humour displayed in her voiceover. She explores the term ‘gleaner’ and what it means personally to her, everything is shown to the audience in relation to her thoughts and gives a personal touch to documentary unlike others I have seen.

I went to see The Party in cinemas, not really knowing what the film was about before I went, and it was a real treat to see this in the cinema. The film plays out like a play, the story unfolds in one house, in one party. The dialogue is full of humour, wit, and tragedy, and delivered with amazing performances. And I’ll never remember the ending, it was so good that the audience in the cinema clapped at it. A real underrated gem.

This film offers an original take on race relations in the South, examining the way African American men were treated serving in the American army and then having to come back to the Jim Crow South. This allows for a complex narrative with layers of the exploration of PTSD, race relations and masculinity. It’s a shame to think that a film like this does not win an Oscar, and Green Book wins Best Picture.

This film as a warm place in my heart, having picked it apart during my later high school years for my Film Studies exam, I feel like I know every scene of this movie. The film is a visual treat, as well as an interesting study of mourning and loss. There’re many moments when Morvern feels completely isolated and this is portrayed so well through the use of the camera. The soundtrack is also pretty amazing.

Although not everyone loves a biopic, I do have a soft spot for Frida. The film portrays the life of the artist, Frida Kahlo, and various important events throughout her life that influenced her work. I like how the film does not shy away from her bisexuality, and even features the Chavela, a singer who is rumoured to have had an affair with Frida. The film gives a sense of passion behind the artist and attempts to, at points, create surrealism like in Kahlo’s paintings.

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About the Creator

Katie Haines

I'm a recent English and Film Studies graduate, writing about things I like, including films, books, TV and queer content.

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