Articles about Films

 9 Bob Note: ten short films showcasing new queer cinema

Selina Robertson reviews the queer shorts programme shown during this year's London Short Film Festival and finds all the mini-flicks passing her rigorous selection

Selina Robertson // 8 February 2012

Categories: Films, Reviews

 The cultural narratives they are a-changin'?

An unpleasant incident with a fellow cinema-goer notwithstanding, Chrissy D left a screening of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo in high spirits and hopeful for a change of the tide in Hollywood's take on female leads in action movies

Chrissy D // 19 January 2012

Categories: Films, Reviews

 Twilight: Breaking Dawn (Part One)

At pains to defend the latest chaotic and confused installment of The Twilight Saga, Mathilda Gregory reads it as a transgressive anti-fairytale about perils of femininity

Mathilda Gregory // 12 December 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 The skin we live in: the mad, bad world of Pedro Almodóvar

Remaining spooked and preoccupied, Mhairi Guild still appreciates density and creativity of Almodovar's latest grotesque fairytale of not-only-gender identity, desire and power

Mhairi Guild // 30 November 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 Beware the betrayal of women in politics

Taraneh Ghajar Jerven is disappointed with George Clooney's new film which renders women insignificant both on-screen and in politics

Taraneh Ghajar Jerven // 4 November 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 Tyrannosaur

Finding Tyrannosaur an unremittingly upsetting film, Chloe George salutes its ability to avoid clichés in the portrayal of violence against women

Chloe George // 24 October 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 She Monkeys

Hailing the coming-of-age story of adolescent sexuality and fierce competition between female equestrians, Ania Ostrowska has her heart set on the youngest of three heroines

Ania Ostrowska // 13 October 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 I don't know how she does it

This Hollywood blockbuster's heroine is a high-flying finance executive, but Diane Shipley argues that women across classes and careers share parts of her predicament and can applaud her small victories over a lazy husband and an over-demanding boss

Diane Shipley // 2 October 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 Heavenly Creatures

Revisiting the film she loved unconditionally as a teenager, Jess McCabe still finds its portrayal of two young perpetrators of a horrific crime highly compelling

Jess McCabe // 11 September 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 Romcom roundup: the friends with benefits phenomenon

'Friends with benefits' is not such a novelty as a recent series of Hollywood films is trying to present it, says Evelyn Krampf, debunking the phenomenon as a mere plot device serving the usual goals of good ol' heterosexist romcom

Evelyn Krampf // 6 September 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 Break my fall

For those who can appreciate an at times painful study of relationship falling apart set in contemporary Hackney, the latest Harry Potter will be no competitor for Kanchi Wichmann's Break My Fall, suggests Selina Robertson

Selina Robertson // 28 July 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 'Because sex workers shouldn't have to be dead to be on film'

Ania Ostrowska reviews the first ever London Sex Worker Film Festival and argues that sex workers' rights are a feminist issue

Ania Ostrowska // 14 July 2011

Categories: Films, Reviews

 Briseis in Troy and Stockholm syndrome

Far from being a feisty embodiment of female empowerment, Briseis in Wolfgang Petersen's Troy seems more of a victim in a Stockholm syndrome-type relationship. LucindaE traces how the ancient 'war prize' story has been transformed into a consensual romantic arrangement to please contemporary audiences

LucindaE // 29 June 2011

Categories: Films

 Orgasm Inc

Mathilda Gregory reviews a documentary which examines efforts to solve women's sexual disfunction with a pill

Mathilda Gregory // 11 March 2011

Categories: Films

 More to Mills and Boon than this

Guilty Pleasures chronicles three women's relationships with the saucy book production line that is Mills and Boon. But, asks Mathilda Gregory, why did the documentary makers misrepresent the publishing empire by means of one, unrepresentative, male writer?

Mathilda Gregory // 11 March 2011

Categories: Films

 His & Hers

Interviews with 70 women tell the life story of white, Irish, heterosexual women, through their relationships with men. Katherine Wootton has more

Katherine Wootton // 3 March 2011

Categories: Films

 Forget the Dude: this is a woman's story

In an age when girl avengers are preferred to adults, 14-year-old Mattie Ross evolves admirably from ferocious teen to formidable woman, says Taraneh Ghajar Jerven. But why bother creating a 3D character if she's omitted from the previews?

Taraneh Ghajar Jerven // 12 February 2011

Categories: Films

 Burlesque: stripped of authenticity?

Director Steven Antin's attempts to differentiate between wholesome teasing and tawdry stripping have provoked objections from the neo-burlesque community. At stake: the definition of the art, the answer to the empowerment v. misogyny debate and whether or not anyone should see the film, says Taraneh Ghajar Jerven

Taraneh Ghajar Jerven // 6 January 2011

Categories: Films

 Villa Amalia

Composer Ann Hidden discovers her partner cheating on her - uproots her life and moves to Italy. Villa Amalia is refreshingly free of homilies and simple explanations, but Gloria Dawson finds it too enigmatic

Gloria Dawson // 1 December 2010

Categories: Films

 Eat Pray Love: consumerism is not empowerment

By selling her travel experience as a path to wellness, Elizabeth Gilbert's trip becomes part of the predatory self-help industry, marketed specifically toward women, argues Taraneh Ghajar Jerven

Taraneh Ghajar Jerven // 4 November 2010

Categories: Films

 The Heretics

The Heretics charts the story of a feminist art magazine which grew out of the New York art scene in the 1970s. What was it like to work on Heresies? Where are these women today, and what has happened to their legacy? Review by Jess McCabe

Jess McCabe // 28 September 2010

Categories: Films

 Awra Amba

Philippa Willitts reviews a documentary about this community in Northern Ethiopia, grounded in principles of equality between the sexes

Philippa Willitts // 30 August 2010

Categories: Films

Hannah Free

Hannah Free is not a great work of art, says CN Lester, but this love story makes some passionate and timely political points

CN Lester // 11 August 2010

Categories: Films

The real story of The Last Station

Many married women will identify with Helen Mirren's portrayal of Sofya, in a film set during the last months of Leo Tolstoy's life, argues Rosjke Hasseldine

Rosjke Hasseldine // 8 June 2010

Categories: Films

 Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

A film which flirts with issues such as body image, but models a disappointingly passive approach to relationships for teenage girls and reinforces stereotypes, argues Carina Schneider

Carina Schneider // 8 June 2010

Categories: Films

Body of Work

Gemma Sharpe reviews a retrospective of feminist video art

Gemma Sharpe // 20 July 2009

Categories: Films

 Feminism and Peter Pan

JM Barrie's creation Peter Pan has an enduring popularity. Allison McCarthy digs into the sexist and racist history of the play and novel, and how this has been addressed in modern adaptations

Allison McCarthy // 19 April 2009

Categories: Books, Films, Theatre

 'Freedom always has a price'

Cazz Blase considers how Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical story of coming-of-age in Iran and Europe transfers to the big screen

Cazz Blase // 11 August 2008

Categories: Films

 Sex and the City the movie: Having your (wedding) cake and eating it

The Sex and the City movie makes for a disappointing postscript to the more subversive TV series, argues Catherine Redfern

Catherine Redfern // 5 June 2008

Categories: Films

 Haunted?

El Orfanato is a rare example of the 'horror' genre with a strong female lead. Or is it? Lindsey M Sheehan has more

Lindsey M Sheehan // 5 June 2008

Categories: Films

 Lust, Caution

Only a cog in the wheel? Joanna Tocher reviews a thought-provoking film about one woman's role in the Chinese resistance

Joanna Tocher // 9 February 2008

Categories: Films

Is Tarantino really feminist?

Tarantino's latest film, Death Proof, is exploitative not empowering, argues Emma Wood

Emma Wood // 10 November 2007

Categories: Films

Perfume: the Story of a Murderer

The film adaptation of Patrick Süskind's novel Perfume is a stunning indictment of society's attitude towards women, argues Leanne Bibby

Leanne Bibby // 31 October 2007

Categories: Films

300 Spartans and one strong broad

Sword-and-sandles epic 300 is a bit Spartan when it comes to dishing out historical accuracy, but Rosamund Urwin finds plenty to admire in this latest adaptation of a Frank Miller graphic novel

Rosamund Urwin // 2 May 2007

Categories: Films

The Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith's latest film has gained him plaudits and nominations for his role as a single parent. But Dwysan Edwards says we shouldn't forget that thousands of mothers go through the same experiences every day.

Dwysan Edwards // 1 February 2007

Categories: Films

X-Men: The Last Stand

Shelley Rees argues that the final film in the X-Men trilogy is a galling disappointment, involving a systematic disempowerment of all the strong female characters.

Shelley Rees // 13 August 2006

Categories: Films

Munich

Maria Seijo-Richart examines how Steven Spielberg's Munich repeats trends first identified by feminists in the 1970s; that sexually active female characters who deviate from traditional female roles must be punished.

Maria Seijo-Richart // 29 May 2006

Categories: Films

North Country

Jess McCabe reviews North Country, a film with a feminist plotline based on a true story about a woman who brings sexual harassment charges against her workplace; the first of its kind in the U.S.

Jess McCabe // 3 March 2006

Categories: Films

The Descent

An all female cast of adventurers take on the traditionally male role of explorer, with terrifying consequences. Jess McCabe weighs up the pros and cons of this unusual horror film.

Jess McCabe // 5 November 2005

Categories: Films

Sin City

Why did Laura Woodhouse walk out half an hour before the end of this film? As she explains, this so-called "coolest film of the year" brings comic characters to life, but ironically leaves the female characters one-dimensional.

Laura Woodhouse // 18 June 2005

Categories: Films

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

A bottom the size of two bowling balls? Yeah, right. Rachel Bell argues that the casting of Renee Zellweger undermines the premise of the Bridget Jones character.

Rachel Bell // 15 January 2005

Categories: Films

The Incredibles

What messages and assumptions underly this animated movie? Ms Razorblade analyses the "family values", the conformity, the female characters and the incredibly cliched stereotypes. (Yeah, we know it's a cartoon. And?)

Ms Razorblade // 11 January 2005

Categories: Films

King Arthur

Ellery looks at the summer blockbuster King Arthur.

Ellery // 5 November 2004

Categories: Films

Troy

How does this gung-ho Hollywood film tackle questions of war, feminity and masculinity? Cazz Blase reports. Directed by Wolfgang Peterson (2004).

Cazz Blase // 20 July 2004

Categories: Films

The Stepford Wives

The re-make of The Stepford Wives is less feminist than the original, and misses an opportunity to make an interesting statement about contemporary gender relations, says Natasha Forrest. Directed by Frank Oz (2004).

Natasha Forrest // 20 July 2004

Categories: Films

Osama (review 1)

Barmak's loosely fact-based story of a family of women forced to invert the Taliban's strict gender order is a stark reminder that some feminists are more equal than others. Tamlyn Monson reviews Osama.

Tamlyn Monson // 16 March 2004

Categories: Films

Osama (review 2)

Barmak's loosely fact-based story of a family of women forced to invert the Taliban's strict gender order is a stark reminder that some feminists are more equal than others. Laura Wirtz offers her view on Osama.

Laura Wirtz // 16 March 2004

Categories: Films

Kill Bill

Tarantino describes Kill Bill as a "feminist statement" which is "all about girl power". But is it really? Aideen Johnston comments.

Aideen Johnston // 19 November 2003

Categories: Films

Holy Trinity - female characters in The Matrix: Reloaded

Anna Sandfield examines how The Matrix: Reloaded presents its female characters.

Anna Sandfield // 16 June 2003

Categories: Films

Lilya 4-Ever

Lindsay and Francesca Levy discuss the harrowing Lilya-4-Ever, directed by Lukas Moodysson.

Lindsay and Francesca Levy // 16 June 2003

Categories: Films

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

Katherine Lubar finds fault with this drag-queen comedy.

Katherine Lubar // 16 June 2003

Categories: Films

The Hours

Anna Fioravanti isn't sure that 'The Hours' deserves to be considered one of the best films of the year.

Anna Fioravanti // 16 April 2003

Categories: Films

Grease

Grease is still the word, says Lorraine Smith

Lorraine Smith // 16 April 2003

Categories: Films

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Hiiy- Ya! Chinese Protofeminism kicks Ass, says Janet Evans

Janet Evans // 16 October 2001

Categories: Films

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