10 Essential Films Directed by Women
10 Essential Films Directed by Women
International Women’s Day
Sunday 8th March 2020
Today is International Women’s Day and to celebrate we’ve made a list of some essential films directed by women. There’s something here for everyone.
#internationalwomensday
The Decline of Western Civilisation
Documentary, 1981
Penelope Spheeris
Before she went on to direct Mike Myers’ breakthrough comedy Wayne’s World, Penelope Spheeris just so happened to make one of the wildest music documentaries you’re ever likely to see, The Decline of Western Civilisation.
The film jumps right into the blood, sweat and alcohol-drenched pits of the Los Angeles punk scene in the late 70s and early 80s and Spheeris combines electrifying live footage with up close, personal interviews with the bands, the organisers and the audiences themselves.
What results is a film that lives and breathes punk, and you’re along for the ride.
Turbo Kid
Sci-fi/Thriller, 2015
Anouk Whissell
Anouk Whissell co-wrote and co-directed one of the best movies of the last decade.
Turbo Kid is the charming tale of a young loner and a quirky, mysterious girl set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, ruled mercilessly by a brutal dictator. It’s loads of fun.
With a beautifully realised world, an amazing synth-drenched score and practical effects that find the perfect balance between extreme violence and cartoonish gore, Turbo Kid is a stylish and satisfying homage to the action classics of the 80s and 90s.
The Great Hip Hop Hoax
Documentary, 2013
Jeanie Finlay
What do you do when the only way to be taken seriously in hip-hop is to be American?
The answers to that question lie at the heart of Jeanie Finlay’s The Great Hip Hop Hoax which charts the rise and fall of Silibil N’ Brains, a hip-hop group from Dundee. By pretending to be from California, the Scottish duo fooled a legion of fans and secured a lucrative deal with a major music label. But when their secret was finally uncovered, the fabrication of their true origins ultimately secured their downfall.
The story of Silibil N’ Brains is an unbelievable one, laying bare the inner workings of the music industry and providing a fascinating insight into the extreme steps some people will take to become successful. Its got a killer soundtrack too.
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same
Sci-fi/Romance, 2011
Madeleine Olnek
“I’m looking for action. Hot alien on earthling action.” Lesbian space aliens come to Earth to romance the female incumbent in Madeleine Olnek’s unique feature film.
The black and white presentation and lo-fi aesthetics conjure up memories of classic b-movie sci-fi from the 1950s while the strange performances and awkwardly endearing comedy are sure to brighten up your day.
Delightfully off-beat and unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, Codependent Lesbian Alien Seeks Same should not be missed.
American Psycho
Drama/Slasher, 2000
Mary Harron
American Psycho, based on Bret Easton Ellis’ classic novel, is a simmering portrayal of a succesfull businessman transforming into a homicidal maniac.
The cruel and harrowing scenes described in Ellis’ book are reproduced here violently and there’s a real satirical humour that permeates the story. Christian Bale’s intense and manic performance as Patrick Bateman is quite brilliant and there are some really unforgettable moments such as THAT staircase sequence.
Mary Harron’s movie is a slick and stylish adaptation and perhaps shows that the actions of a man can be most effectively scrutinised by a woman.
Near Dark
Western/Horror, 1987
Kathryn Bigelow
Before making this movie, Kathryn Bigelow had set out to make a western movie but it soon became apparent that to secure funding, she’d have to merge her ideas with the most popular genre of the day: the vampire movie. And so Near Dark was born.
It’s your typical 80s action movie, even starring such stalwarts as Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen. The story centres around a recently turned vampire who must prove his worth to the gang that robbed him of his mortality. With the new convert refusing to resort to killing humans, he becomes their target.
The action scenes are violent, pulsating and over the top, the effects are practical and messy and the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream is excellent.
Despite failing at the box office, Near Dark is a film that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as The Lost Boys.
Persepolis
Animation, 2007
Marjane Satrapi
Based on Satrapi’s graphic novel of the same name, Persepolis is an animated coming of age story about rebelling against the life you’ve been given.
Marji is not content with her life in Iran and as she grows up she rebels from what is considered socially acceptable by secretly buying western heavy metal, punk rock and listening to Michael Jackson.
Marji’s rebellious spirit is perfectly captured and the animation is just beautiful, recreating the inky black and white of the graphic novel. Persepolis provides a fascinating and emotional peek at Iranian life during the Islamic Revolution and is well worth your time.
The Sticky Fingers of Time
Sci-fi/Drama, 1997
Hilary Brougher
The Sticky Fingers of Time is a time-travelling noir thriller from director Hilary Brougher. Despite being made on a minuscule budget, the film manages to rise above its budgetary constraints and deliver a clever and engaging story.
A 1950’s author is irradiated and gains the power of time travel. After travelling to 1990’s New York, she meets another woman suffering from the same condition.
If you’re a fan of hard-boiled noir voiceovers and time travel movies that do something a little different then The Sticky Fingers of Time is definitely worth a look.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Horror/Drama, 2014
Ana Lily Amirpour
Shot in startling black and white, Ana Lily Amirpour’s debut feature is described as “the first Iranian vampire western”.
In stark contrast to Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark, the other “vampire western” on this list, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is far more brooding and contemplative in its style and pacing so perhaps Sweden’s Let The Right One In is a closer companion piece.
The black and white aesthetic and use of minimal dialogue harken back to genre classics like Nosferatu but overall is’s more akin to a Sergio Leone style spaghetti-western, featuring a lone a vengeful main character.
A dark and beautiful genre classic.
Seven Beauties
Black Comedy, 1975
Lina Wertmuller
When Seven Beauties was released, Lina Wertmuller became the first woman to ever be nominated for a best director Academy Award and it’s easy to see why.
The film centres around an Italian man who, after deserting from the army during WWII, is captured by the Germans and sent to a prison camp. In prison, he must do anything he can to survive and as his fate plays out we’re shown his backstory through a series of flashbacks.
Darkly humorous, crude, bleak and controversial, Seven Beauties is an essential piece of cinema.
We hope you enjoyed this list for International Women’s Day. Please let us know your own suggestions in the comments.
Peace.
