Tuesday, September 1, 2015

My 10 Favorite Films Directed by Women

My fervent love and passion for females is a public known fact. I have already said many times that my love for women is so fiery at times that people question if I am queer and I'm totally ok with that! #PussyPower. There are so many films that I absolutely adore directed by women but here I am going to list the films that have inspired and fueled my own work particularly because the 15-day celebration of Directed by Women starts today September 1st to the 15th! The films I am consistently always drawn to are films that tackle themes of identity, sexuality, and friendship. Obviously, some of the films listed below don't fall into these guidelines but are present simply because these films possess vitally important messages and the filmmakers are simply a Badass Femme in her own right! So without further ado, here are my 10 favorite films directed by women! (tbh, no explanation needed! Trust me)

Girlhood

(2014, Cêline Sciamma) 

Marieme joins an all-girl gang in the projects of Paris and is slowly turned out of her shell by her three sassy neighbors. As she falls further under their bravado and volatile energy, she begins making brave and foolish choices.

Fish Tank

(2009, Andrea Arnold)

Mia (Katie Jarvis) is a rebellious teenager on the verge of being kicked out of school. Her hard-partying mother, Joanne (Kierston Wareing), neglects Mia's welfare in favor of her own, and her younger sister (Rebecca Griffiths) hangs out with a much older crowd. Sparks fly between Mia and Connor (Michael Fassbender), Joanne's new boyfriend, and he encourages Mia to pursue her interest in dance. As the boundaries of the relationships become blurred, Mia and Joanne compete for Connor's affection.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night 

(2014, Ana Lily Amipour)

The first Iranian Vampire Western ever made, Ana Lily Amirpour's debut basks in the sheer pleasure of pulp. A joyful mash-up of genre, archetype, and iconography, its prolific influences span spaghetti westerns, graphic novels, horror films, and the Iranian New Wave.  (via. Kino)

Suburbia 

(1983, Penelope Spheeris)

After a suburban Los Angeles development is condemned, a band of rebellious young punk rockers makes the abandoned homes their own in this drama. The residents of the surrounding neighborhoods react by forming a vigilante group to drive the punks away, leading to a number of violent confrontations.

Pariah 

(Certified Badass Femme*)
(2011, Dee Rees)

Teenage Alike (Adepero Oduye) lives in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood with her parents (Charles Parnell, Kim Wayans) and younger sister (Sahra Mellesse). A lesbian, Alike quietly embraces her identity and is looking for her first lover, but she wonders how much she can truly confide in her family, especially with her parents' marriage already strained. When Alike's mother presses her to befriend a colleague's daughter (Aasha Davis), Alike finds the gal to be a pleasant companion.

Palo Alto

(2014, Gia Coppola)

Shy, sensitive April (Emma Roberts) is the class virgin -a popular soccer player and frequent babysitter for her single-dad coach, Mr. B. (James Franco). Teddy (Jack Kilmer) is an introspective artist whose best friend and sidekick Fred (Nat Wolff) is an unpredictable live wire with few filters or boundaries. While April negotiates a dangerous affair with Mr. B., and Teddy performs community service for a DUI - secretly carrying a torch for April, who may or may not share his affection. (Via. Tribeca)

Songs My Brothers Taught Me

(2015, Chloe Zhao)

Songs My Brothers Taught Me is a 2015 American drama film written and directed by Chloé Zhao. It is Zhao's debut feature film. The film, set on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, explores the bond between a brother and his younger sister. 

Selma

(2014, Ava DuVernay)

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Concussion 

(2013, Stacie Passon)

Written and directed by Stacie Passon in an auspicious directing debut effort, and produced by Rose Troche, CONCUSSION is a poignant sexual examination of Abby (Robin Weigert in a star making breakout turn), a forty something married wealthy, lesbian housewife who, after suffering a blow to the head from getting smacked by her son's baseball-walks around every corner of her suburban life to confront a mounting desire for something else. Her newfound desire though is not a take-home item, so Abby inaugurates a double life as a high end escort. Palpably sensual and deliciously contained, CONCUSSION is a keen observation of the complicated contours of midlife crisis. (via. Radius)

Girlfight

(Certified Badass Femme*)
(2000, Karyn Kusama)

Newcomer Michelle Rodriguez in an astounding performance alongside Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderon and Santiago Douglas. Nothing comes easy for Diana Guzman, a troubled girl on the brink of womanhood. Her teachers don't understand her, her father underestimates her and her friends are few. Diana struggles to find respect and dignity every day. Diana is a quick tempered young woman who finds discipline, self-respect and love in the most unlikely place -- a boxing ring.

Other Favs:

The Punk Singer (2013, Sini Anderson)
Stories We Tell (2012, Sarah Polley)
The Crash Reel (2013, Lucy Walker)
Tank Girl (1995, Rachel Talalay)
We Need to Talk about Kevin (2011, Lynne Ramsay)
Fat Girl (2001, Catherine Breillat)
The Wolfpack (2015, Crystal Moselle)
Paris is Burning (1990, Jennie Livingston)
Point Break (1991, Kathryn Bigelow)
Thirteen (2003, Catherine Hardwicke)
Clueless (1995, Amy Heckerling)

Films I Have Yet to See but Probably Will Love <33:

Persepolis (2007, Marjane Satrapi & Vincent Paronnaud)
Take Care of My Cat (2001, Jeong Jae-eun)
Wadjda (2012, Haifaa al-Mansour)
Appropriate Behavior (2014, Desiree Akhavan)
I Will Follow (2010, Ava DuVernay)
Real Women Have Curves (2002, Patricia Cardoso)

Synopsis via. The Internet (duh)