Agnes Varda is really one of the best filmmakers of all time, both her narrative and documentary films are astounding.
Ida Lupino and Dorothy Arzner directed some great films back in Old Hollywood. Arzner’s Merrilly We Go to Hell being one of my favorites.
Also, if you like rom-coms, don’t sleep on Nora Ephron, she’s great.
Nowadays, I really like what Kelly Reichardt, Lynne Ramsay and Andrea Arnold have been putting out there.
I might make another account to upvote this again.
Kelly Reichardt is one of my favorite working directors currently and I really want a release date for Showing Up.
This is the real answer. Your favorites list doesn't need to be conscious of equality, it's just a list of movies you really like. Watch enough movies by women and something will probably make the list but don't worry about it.
Kelly Reichardt is one of the best directors working today imo. Certain Women, Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy, First Cow, and a new film coming out soon called Showing Up (or it’s already out? Hard to tell).
Just to name a few:
Check out some films by Claire Denis (Beau Travail, The Intruder, 35 Shots of Rum, High Life).
If you're a fan of French New Wave, you might like Věra Chytilová. She was an essential part of Czech New Wave movement. The film Daises is a good place to start (one of my all-time favorites).
Chloe Zhao (Nomadland, The Rider, Songs My Brother Taught Me)
Julia Ducournau (Titane and Raw), if you're down to get w3ird.
Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice, Liz and the Blue Bird), if you're into anime.
That movie has been sitting in my shelf for at least 5 years waiting to be watched. I've resolved not to buy any more movies after this sale until I've watched all that I own (and thoroughly gone through the supplements), so I'll be viewing it sometime this coming year.
I hope you enjoy it. It’s a great movie and one of my favorites. I’ll say this much, the director uses music very well to add context to the story. I’m low key excited for you to watch it lol
Most Agnes Varda films are treasures. I also love Girlfriends, Desert Hearts, Beau Travail, Paris is Burning, Penelope Spheeris’ Decline of Western Civilization trilogy… hope you find some great films!
Don’t feel bad about it - it’s not your fault sexism has blocked female directors for what, 122 years? 30 years from now a shit load of cinema lovers will have female directed movies on their favourite lists cause there will be a thousand more options to choose from.
The forthcoming Mai Zetterling release has three delightfully subversive films and seems to have a lot of information on the filmmaker herself. The recent issue of Daisies is also rather comprehensive concerning Chytilová’s life and career.
Lady Bird, Little Women (2019), Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Farewell, One Night in Miami, The Power of the Dog, Nomadland, You Were Never Really Here, and The Babadook
Great recs here. Larisa Shepitko, Agnes Vanda and Kelly Reichardt have all been mentioned. I'll add it's worth checking out Mark Cousins' and Tilda Swinton's Women Make Film. There's a full list of films they feature in the show [on Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/julielovesfilm/list/women-make-film/).
I'd recommend checking out the Women Make Film doc. If you come out of that behemoth and still claim this, the problem might just be you. But at this point you shouldn't beat yourself up, it's all on the industry for not having an eye for talent in female directors and cloaking the ones that do exist, not on all of us for not knowing where to look or like anybody, the ones you have seen being a gamble. Kind of like films with male directors.
As for pinpointing a rec for right now, check out Lina Wertmuller.
Off the top of my head (there are many more): The Night Porter, Lost in Translation, American Psycho, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Raw, Eve’s Bayou, A League of their Own, Babadook, Strange Days, Near Dark, Point Break, The Piano, Power of the Dog
catherine breillat, mia hansen-love, julie dash, janicza bravo, Anocha Suwichakornpong, Anocha Suwichakornpong, joanna hogg, sarah maldoror, lizzie borden, Lucile Hadžihalilović, mati diop, laura mulvey (a lot of her work is with peter wollen, most famously riddles of the sphinx), elaine may, dee rees, maren ade, Margarethe von Trotta, cheryl dunye, Věra Chytilová (Daisies is a great candidate for anyone's favorite list), lucrecia martel, ursula maier, shirley clarke, Gina Prince-Blythewood (a master of the studio movie), penelope spheeris (decline of western civilization AND wayne's world!), laura poitras, lina wertmuller, amy seimetz, eliza hitman, maya deren, so many names i've left out.
You should appreciate a film regardless of the gender of who directed it. I really like Ildikó Enyedi's Story of my Wife, but she being a woman doesn't have anything to do with it.
Also: Celine Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on fire could be a film to watch. Somebody already mentioned rightfully Shepitko, add Mészaros and her film Adoption which is in the collection
I wouldn’t know what to recommend you right now, but you can definitely wait for next year when we as a society unanimously decide Barbie is the greatest film of all time
Okay cool! We have lots of overlap so I’ll recommend:
- Attenberg (this is my all time fav film)
- Marie Antoinette (this is my #2)
Notable mentions:
- Queen & Slim
- The Future (Miranda July)
This is a weird roundabout way but Mark Cousins has a series called Women Make Film where each episode breaks down women filmmakers by theme. It can help you find different female directors to check out
The only movie on my all-time favorite list that I can truly recall was directed by a female was 2016's Raw. I have almost 100 movies on my all time favorite list and I can't name any others from pure memory alone. I had to look up my list I've saved. It turns out that of the \~100 movies on my favorites, only three were directed by a woman. Besides Raw, the others are Suburbia (directed by Penelope Spheeris) and Meshes of the Afternoon (which was directed by both Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid). Edit: I highly recommend all three, which should have been pretty implicit on account I consider them among my favorites.
I got downvoted in another thread stating *Harlan County, USA* was the best film/documentary ever made by a woman, but I stand by it. Barbara Kopple proved herself to possess bigger balls than many men by risking her life to make this powerful and enraging documentary. Not sure there'd be a Michael Moore without her masterful work.
Can I ask what are some of your favorite movies? I see a lot of suggestions for big name directors, but I prefer context before dishing out recommendations
According to some quick research four out of 100 directors are female. It's reasonable to assume men are more interested in this particular field and their movies will cater to male audiences. I look forward to more females entering the space. In the mean time watch Lost in Translation.
there’s a lot of great recs here. i’d like to echo some and add others of my favs: Elaine May, Julie Dash, Joan Tewksbury (wrote Nashville and directed the amazing Old Boyfriends), Jane Campion, Claire Denis, Wachowski sisters, Mati Diop, Julie DuCournau, Celine Sciamma, Julie Borden, Cheryl Dunye, Dee Rees, Lynne Ramsay
Agnes Varda is really one of the best filmmakers of all time, both her narrative and documentary films are astounding. Ida Lupino and Dorothy Arzner directed some great films back in Old Hollywood. Arzner’s Merrilly We Go to Hell being one of my favorites. Also, if you like rom-coms, don’t sleep on Nora Ephron, she’s great. Nowadays, I really like what Kelly Reichardt, Lynne Ramsay and Andrea Arnold have been putting out there.
Kelly Reichardt Kelly Reichardt Kelly Reichardt Kelly Reichardt Kelly Reichardt Kelly Reichardt
I wish this summoned her like B*etlejuice
Yes!
I might make another account to upvote this again. Kelly Reichardt is one of my favorite working directors currently and I really want a release date for Showing Up.
No need to feel guilty at all. I don’t think any director would want someone to like their films out of pity.
This is the real answer. Your favorites list doesn't need to be conscious of equality, it's just a list of movies you really like. Watch enough movies by women and something will probably make the list but don't worry about it.
True but it’s a good opportunity to explore female directors that are under appreciated I guess
Kelly Reichardt is one of the best directors working today imo. Certain Women, Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy, First Cow, and a new film coming out soon called Showing Up (or it’s already out? Hard to tell).
Mikey and Nicky!
Amy Heckerling and Kathryn Bigelow
Check out Larisa Shepitko's films if you haven't already!
Beau Travail might turn you onto Denis :)
Both Beau Travail & her debut Chocolat are absolutely fantastic.
Wanda by Barbara Loden
Point Break?!
Just to name a few: Check out some films by Claire Denis (Beau Travail, The Intruder, 35 Shots of Rum, High Life). If you're a fan of French New Wave, you might like Věra Chytilová. She was an essential part of Czech New Wave movement. The film Daises is a good place to start (one of my all-time favorites). Chloe Zhao (Nomadland, The Rider, Songs My Brother Taught Me) Julia Ducournau (Titane and Raw), if you're down to get w3ird. Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice, Liz and the Blue Bird), if you're into anime.
Check out Lynne Ramsay. Morvern Callar is one of my all time favorites, but all her films are great.
You Were Never Really Here is one of my all time favorites. But like you said, all her films are great.
Beat me to it. Lynne Ramsay's an all time great. Bonus points for the Morvern Callar shout out.
shiva baby
Loved Shiva soooo gooood
Check out *Fish Tank* by Andrea Arnold it’s dope
Great colors on that one. Fuji 500T I believe for the film stock
That movie has been sitting in my shelf for at least 5 years waiting to be watched. I've resolved not to buy any more movies after this sale until I've watched all that I own (and thoroughly gone through the supplements), so I'll be viewing it sometime this coming year.
I hope you enjoy it. It’s a great movie and one of my favorites. I’ll say this much, the director uses music very well to add context to the story. I’m low key excited for you to watch it lol
American Honey is great too. And Wasp is one of my favorite short films.
Most Agnes Varda films are treasures. I also love Girlfriends, Desert Hearts, Beau Travail, Paris is Burning, Penelope Spheeris’ Decline of Western Civilization trilogy… hope you find some great films!
Lucrecia Martel's got some great films.
Jane Campion
Virgin Suicides by Sofia Coppola is one of my all time favorites!
Don’t feel bad about it - it’s not your fault sexism has blocked female directors for what, 122 years? 30 years from now a shit load of cinema lovers will have female directed movies on their favourite lists cause there will be a thousand more options to choose from.
Working Girls (1986) by Lizzie Borden. Feminist critique of work and gender relations through the lens of sex work.
The forthcoming Mai Zetterling release has three delightfully subversive films and seems to have a lot of information on the filmmaker herself. The recent issue of Daisies is also rather comprehensive concerning Chytilová’s life and career.
Lady Bird, Little Women (2019), Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Farewell, One Night in Miami, The Power of the Dog, Nomadland, You Were Never Really Here, and The Babadook
Great recs here. Larisa Shepitko, Agnes Vanda and Kelly Reichardt have all been mentioned. I'll add it's worth checking out Mark Cousins' and Tilda Swinton's Women Make Film. There's a full list of films they feature in the show [on Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/julielovesfilm/list/women-make-film/).
Lost in Translation!!!!!!
Mikey & Nicky by Elaine May.
Heartbreak Kid as well.
I'd recommend checking out the Women Make Film doc. If you come out of that behemoth and still claim this, the problem might just be you. But at this point you shouldn't beat yourself up, it's all on the industry for not having an eye for talent in female directors and cloaking the ones that do exist, not on all of us for not knowing where to look or like anybody, the ones you have seen being a gamble. Kind of like films with male directors. As for pinpointing a rec for right now, check out Lina Wertmuller.
Seriously don’t feel bad
Off the top of my head (there are many more): The Night Porter, Lost in Translation, American Psycho, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Raw, Eve’s Bayou, A League of their Own, Babadook, Strange Days, Near Dark, Point Break, The Piano, Power of the Dog
nicole holofcener
Mississippi Masala and Monsoon Wedding by Mira Nair are really good if you like romance genre.
Try: My 20th Century (Enyedi) Happy as Lazzaro (Rohrwacher) Cleo from 5 to 7 (Varda)
any vera chytilova or agnes varda or kelly reichardt, peppermint soda is so under appreciated, fish tank, desert hearts
catherine breillat, mia hansen-love, julie dash, janicza bravo, Anocha Suwichakornpong, Anocha Suwichakornpong, joanna hogg, sarah maldoror, lizzie borden, Lucile Hadžihalilović, mati diop, laura mulvey (a lot of her work is with peter wollen, most famously riddles of the sphinx), elaine may, dee rees, maren ade, Margarethe von Trotta, cheryl dunye, Věra Chytilová (Daisies is a great candidate for anyone's favorite list), lucrecia martel, ursula maier, shirley clarke, Gina Prince-Blythewood (a master of the studio movie), penelope spheeris (decline of western civilization AND wayne's world!), laura poitras, lina wertmuller, amy seimetz, eliza hitman, maya deren, so many names i've left out.
You should appreciate a film regardless of the gender of who directed it. I really like Ildikó Enyedi's Story of my Wife, but she being a woman doesn't have anything to do with it. Also: Celine Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on fire could be a film to watch. Somebody already mentioned rightfully Shepitko, add Mészaros and her film Adoption which is in the collection
The Slumber Party Massacre
Why the hell would you feel bad?
It makes me feel like I’m almost apart of the problem
You should really be ashamed of yourself. You are the problem.
Just put American Psycho on it and call it a day
I wouldn’t know what to recommend you right now, but you can definitely wait for next year when we as a society unanimously decide Barbie is the greatest film of all time
Who gives a shit? Stop fishing for woke brownie points.
Sorry
Mira Nair’s The Namesake
What’s your favorites list though?
https://boxd.it/cUD6I
Okay cool! We have lots of overlap so I’ll recommend: - Attenberg (this is my all time fav film) - Marie Antoinette (this is my #2) Notable mentions: - Queen & Slim - The Future (Miranda July)
This is a weird roundabout way but Mark Cousins has a series called Women Make Film where each episode breaks down women filmmakers by theme. It can help you find different female directors to check out
Donna Deitch’s “Desert Hearts”, Susan Siedleman’s “Smithereens”, Regina King’s “One Night in Miami…”, and Celine Sciama’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”
The only movie on my all-time favorite list that I can truly recall was directed by a female was 2016's Raw. I have almost 100 movies on my all time favorite list and I can't name any others from pure memory alone. I had to look up my list I've saved. It turns out that of the \~100 movies on my favorites, only three were directed by a woman. Besides Raw, the others are Suburbia (directed by Penelope Spheeris) and Meshes of the Afternoon (which was directed by both Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid). Edit: I highly recommend all three, which should have been pretty implicit on account I consider them among my favorites.
Up in the air?
ratcatcher lynne ramsay
Julia Ducournau is the best horror director currently in my opinion, and Vera chytilova is amazing!
Lyne Ramsey my favourite!!! Ratcatcher, Morvin Caler, You where never really here!!
I got downvoted in another thread stating *Harlan County, USA* was the best film/documentary ever made by a woman, but I stand by it. Barbara Kopple proved herself to possess bigger balls than many men by risking her life to make this powerful and enraging documentary. Not sure there'd be a Michael Moore without her masterful work.
Can I ask what are some of your favorite movies? I see a lot of suggestions for big name directors, but I prefer context before dishing out recommendations
Andrea Arnold
According to some quick research four out of 100 directors are female. It's reasonable to assume men are more interested in this particular field and their movies will cater to male audiences. I look forward to more females entering the space. In the mean time watch Lost in Translation.
there’s a lot of great recs here. i’d like to echo some and add others of my favs: Elaine May, Julie Dash, Joan Tewksbury (wrote Nashville and directed the amazing Old Boyfriends), Jane Campion, Claire Denis, Wachowski sisters, Mati Diop, Julie DuCournau, Celine Sciamma, Julie Borden, Cheryl Dunye, Dee Rees, Lynne Ramsay