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International Women’s Day is upon us and if the thought of attending workshops and talks with dreadfully long titles fills you with dread, we have the answer.
If you suspect a pang of guilt is set to run through you as your feminist plan only amounts to spending the day in your fave onesie, getting up only to top up your supply of crisps. Then this is for you.
Do not fear! Purple Revolver have created the perfect way to honour International Women’s Day and you won’t have to move an inch.
Saturday is movie night for a lot of people, so why not stick to tradition, but choose something with strong female leads, giving us characters that are also well rounded people.
Not content to be a plot-device to further the male protagonist – these women are kick-ass, three-dimensional and definitely worth staying in for. And at least one of them has Jennifer Lawrence in. Yay!
Here are eight films with good female leads that you can watch this March 8 (in no particular order):
Winter’s Bone
She’s not a girl, not yet a woman – but well written she certainly is. This book adaption follows young Ree (Jennifer Lawrence) as she hunts down her meth-addicted father so that she can provide for her younger siblings and mother.
While her world is admittedly surrounded by men, her motivations and actions are in no way dependent on them. Nominated for four Oscars, and giving J-Law her big break, this film is a gritty and amazing watch.
The Silence Of The Lambs
Firstly, we must say – this film would never pass the Bechdel test. Still this is one of the most kick-ass and interesting female characters in film history (that is absolutely a scientific fact), not to mention that the film itself is just so darn good.
Our lead actress is a young Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, a FBI agent in training set to lure information out of the serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to help on another case. Her motivations are so far from romance and love (which Hollywood will tell us is the only thing a woman really needs), she is working in a male dominated field, and she is grounded, believable and actually sweats (gasp!).
Bridesmaids
If you are up for a comedy, but can’t really find any with an actually funny female cast – look no further. Not only does it star the hilarious Melissa McCarthy, it is also written by the wonder team Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig (who also acts in the film).
This high-energy comedy about a not-so-dynamic gang of bridesmaids proves that women are funny, multi talented and, shockingly, enjoy toilet humour.
The Hours
If you are up for something a bit more slow paced and dramatic, this is the film for you. This beautifully directed and scored film tells the tale of three troubled, deep and well rounded women and their strangely intertwining lives.
Set in different times, we meet Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf in 1923, Julianne Moore as Laure Brown in 1951 and Meryl Streep as Clarissa Vaughan in 2001. Virginia is writing Mrs. Dalloway, Laura is reading Mrs. Dalloway, and Clarissa resembles Mrs. Dalloway. They are all beautiful characters and portrayed by amazing performances. Can you tell that this is my favourite film?
Kill Bill
Alright, so the feminism in this movie has been a topic for heated debate for some time. On the action film side though, I am not sure you can get anything better than this. Bloody, over the top and quintessentially Tarantino, this film deserves a spot on this list because it is just so damn awesome – and so is The Bride.
As well as having a gallery of other really fantastically written female characters in Oren – Ishi and Gogo, it is an undeniable fact that after having watched Uma Thurman slay people with a samurai sword for 110 minutes, you will feel like you can conquer the world. And nothing is more fitting for International Women’s Day than empowerment. Revenge on a man at his most brutal, yes we love it!
Million Dollar Baby
Speaking of empowerment, this film features a boxer and her journey towards becoming a professional will make you want to punch the universe in the face. It will also absolutely shatter your heart, through the Oscar winning performances from Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman.
Maggie Fitzgerald had depth and strength, both physically and mentally. Also surrounded by men but ultimately defined by herself, she refuses to give up and should be an inspiration to all genders alike.
Working Girl
The definitive girl power film of the 80s. When Ginger, Posh, Scary, Sporty and Baby Spice were getting their act together, Melanie Griffith’s story of ascending the male dominated business world of New York would have been a firm favourite in their VHS collection.
Donning the most fearsome of shoulder pads, Melanie stars as a secretary who replaces her bitchy boss (Sigourney Weaver) when she gets injured, and then assumes her role and advances lightning fast up the corporate ladder and ditches her loser boyfriend on the way.
Thelma & Louise
You almost thought it hadn’t made the list, didn’t you? And if you have no idea what I am talking about, stop reading this and watch this film right now. The grandest of them all, the jewel in the crown of all films that have well written female characters.
Thelma & Louise is a must watch for anyone. Honestly, I don’t care if it’s March 8 or October 11, please watch this film. It features Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as they take off from their mundane lives in a ’66 Thunderbird – after they shoot a rapist. It is heart-warming, it is terrifying and it was Brad Pitt’s big break. Interested yet? Did I mention it was directed by Ridley Scott?
Needless to say there are a whole lot of other films that could go on this list. As the title was supposed to be clever – here is a cheeky 5 that didn’t quite make it because the list would have been too long: Spirited Away, Mulan, Juno, Pitch Perfect and V for Vendetta.
Please let us know what female empowering films you will be watching in the comments below.