While Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things has garnered widespread critical acclaim since its recent release in the UK, there is a large proportion of viewers that have expressed strong criticism against the film. Granted, Lanthimos pulls off the costumes, sets and gorgeous cinematography but many consider the film as having a limiting cis-male view of womanhood. As one frustrated Letterboxd user summarised: “How can a movie that marketed itself as an exploration of womanhood not be for me? Maybe it’s because my feminism is not stuck in thoughtless 2010s, 3rd wave influenced sexual liberation that deems fucking the most empowering thing a woman can do.” While it’s not to say that cis men can’t make movies about feminism, the outcomes often fall short. Bearing this in mind, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite films about womanhood crafted by women themselves. These films authentically reflect the lived experiences and emotions of real women.
1. How to have sex (2023)
Set during a British teenager’s rite of passage, a ‘girls holiday’ in Malia, sixteen-year-old Tara (Mia Mckenna-Bruce) and her two closest friends embark on a journey of drinking, clubbing and hooking up, anticipating the best summer of their lives. Molly Manning-Walker’s depiction of a coming of age story is a raw and real exploration of consent and the vulnerability that comes with being a teenage girl, navigating first-time experiences and feeling the pressure to engage in adult activities despite not feeling entirely ready. A relatable must-watch for women of all ages.
2. Mustang (2015)
Described by the Guardian as “the virgin suicides in Antolia”, Mustang follows five orphaned sisters in a small Turkish town and how they each navigate life being dictated by their conservative caregivers. After being spotted innocently playing with a group of boys, they are pulled out of school and one by one, arranged marriages are organised against their will. Deniz Gamzes’ debut film is a captivating portrayal of sisterhood, simultaneously celebrating the bonds between the girls while also critiquing the conservatism and misogyny prevalent in rural Turkey. It’s both heartbreaking and wholesome, offering a poignant reflection on the resilience of women in the face of societal oppression.
3. American Honey (2016)
Andrea Arnolds is a British director well renowned for her skillful portrayal of working-class lives. Among her notable neo-realistic works are Wasp (2003) and Fish Tank (2009), both centred around young women living on British council estates. American Honey is Arnold’s first time delving into North American territory in her career. The film follows the main character, Star (Sasha Lane), as she leaves her mundane life in Oklahoma behind to join a gang of rough and ready, door-to-door magazine sellers that drive around all day in a van smoking, drinking and sleeping in motels at night. Whilst not explicitly a film about womanhood, the film is silently filled with undertones of it. Aside from the brilliant soundtrack, Arnolds manages to have so many things going on but at the same time, it all feels cohesive.
4. The Watermelon Woman (1996)
Considered one of the first feature films directed by a Black lesbian filmmaker, director Cheryl Duyne stars as a loose version of herself in a quasi-documentary style film that takes real elements of her own life and film history. Cheryl sets out on a quest to unearth the overlooked history of Black women in the early days of cinema. When she delves into research and interviews, she uncovers the hidden stories of Black actresses and their contributions to Hollywood (where they are often relegated to stereotypical roles). Along the way, she deals with personal issues of race, gender, sexuality and representation, both in the media and in her own life. The Watermelon Woman explores intersectionality particularly through the lens of Black womanhood.
5. Shiva Baby (2020)
Shiva Baby follows an awkward college student at a Jewish shiva with her parents, where she has anxiety-provoking run-ins with her ex girlfriend and sugar daddy. Dubbed a “panic attack as a film” by Lilith magazine, this queer coming-of-age film is certainly not a peaceful watch but definitely a sympathetic one. As Variety Magazine describes it: “This movie shows that being a young woman is a horror movie. When you’re a young woman, there’s all this pressure to be independent and sexually adventurous, but also to have a boyfriend, soon. There’s pressure to be skinny, but not too skinny. All these pressures come from different places, your family, society, your friends. You never even listen to what you want. But Danielle is in this situation where all of these things are butting heads. It’s terrifying.”