The radical notion that women like good movies
This is a guest post by Anika Guldstrand. At this time of year, it’s only natural that we pull our favorite holiday films down from the shelf as one way to celebrate the season. Whether you prefer old or new classics, the holiday films are, for me, an intrinsic part of the holiday tradition. However, … Continue reading “Where Are the Women in Christmas Movies?”
This review by Megan Kearns previously appeared at her blog The Opinioness of the World. Imagine you walk into your home. An eviction notice awaits you. The government demands you relocate in order to dig up your land. If you choose not to leave, you receive death threats. This is the reality many Colombian civilians … Continue reading “Afro-Colombian Female Leaders Defy Death Threats to Hold Onto Their Land in ‘Women, War & Peace’s ‘The War We Are Living’”
“For the people who used to be ten years old, and the people who are going to be ten years old.” — Director Hayao Miyazaki on Spirited Away The films of Studio Ghibli provide their viewers with a rich variety of female characters from warrior princesses to love-struck adolescents, curious toddlers to powerful witches. These … Continue reading “Animated Children’s Films: Magical Girlhoods in the Films of Studio Ghibli”
This is a guest post by Megan Kearns. She also contributed reviews of Part 1 and Part 2 of Women, War & Peace. For the past year, revolutions swept across North Africa and the Middle East. Despite their vocal presence, the media didn’t initially display women’s involvement in the protests. The same could be said … Continue reading “Afghan Women Fight to Not Have Their Rights Bargained Away in ‘Peace Unveiled’ in ‘Women, War & Peace’ Series”
Written by Megan Kearns. Men often dominate the debate of war, negotiation and even peace. Only one woman had ever won the Nobel Peace Prize. Until now. Last month, three women won the prize, including Leymah Gbowee and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (along with Tawakkul Karman in Yemen) who fought for women’s rights and … Continue reading “‘Pray the Devil Back to Hell’ Portrays How the Women of Liberia, United in Peace, Changed a Nation”
Arabic movie poster for Where Do We Go Now? This is a guest post by Kyna Morgan. Nadine Labaki is a pretty big deal. Following up her directorial debut, the 2007 film Caramel (which she also wrote and starred in), she brought her sophomore directorial effort, Where Do We Go Now? back to the Toronto … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: Where Do We Go Now?”
Deepa Mehta Indian-born and Canadian-based writer and director Deepa Mehta has gained international acclaim and numerous awards and nominations for her films. She is probably most famous for her Elements Trilogy, which includes the films Water, Earth, and Fire. Her latest project is an adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, which she is directing and … Continue reading “Director Spotlight: Deepa Mehta”
I’ve been 100% on board with Occupy Wall Street since it began almost a month ago. I wrote about my experience protesting with them on October 5, and—leading up to the Times Square Occupation—I almost had goose bumps. I was ready to take the square. And then, it happened—I browsed Facebook. In my defense, … Continue reading “Occupy Wall Street and Feminism and Misogyny (Oh My?)”
Leymah Gbowee, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Tawakkul Karman share the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Some happy news came last week when three women were awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for their “non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.” Leymah Gbowee has campaigned against rape and for … Continue reading “3 Women Share 2011 Nobel Peace Prize”
Miss Representation (2011) Back in February of this year, we were fortunate to attend the Athena Film Festival and see the documentary Miss Representation. Since then, the film has traveled to different festivals and been shown at numerous screenings around the country. If you haven’t been able to attend one of these showings, however, you … Continue reading “Preview: Miss Representation”
I Need a Hero: Gus Van Sant’s Milk (2008) “My name is Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you,” yells a nearly unrecognizable Sean Penn in a pivotal scene in Gus Van Sant’s biopic Milk (2008). Wearing a tight red and white shirt and form-fitting slacks highlighting a noticeable bulge, Penn unnervingly inhabits … Continue reading “Best Picture Nominee Review Series: Milk”
Tina Fey as “Liz Lemon” in 30 Rock Liz Lemon, the protagonist created and portrayed by Tina Fey on NBC’s 30 Rock, is one of television’s most recognizable and loved characters for her outlandish antics and so-real-it-hurts single-line commentaries on women and society. On the surface, Liz charms the audience with her awkward girl-next-door looks, … Continue reading “Emmy Week 2011: Liz Lemon: The "Every Woman" of Prime Time”
