15 Movies for Cinema Fanatic: A Year with Women

2. The Way We Are (天水圍的日與夜)

I had been exploring Chinese/Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui’s filmography last year, and after watching The Way We Are, I found that I really TRULY loved her work. This film won Hui Best Director at the Hong Kong Film Awards, as well as Best Screenplay for female writer Lou Shiu-Wa, Best Actress for Paw Hee-ching and Best Supporting Actress for Chan Lai Wun.

All in all, the quintessential women-centric film.

Of course, Hui also pulled a similar feat with A Simple Life, while also nabbing Best Film. Other notable recent films of her are All About LoveThe Postmodern Life of My Aunt, and Goddess of Mercy, which are all relatively easier to find.

1. The Elements Trilogy

So this is it~ Indian-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta is my cheat #1 pick because she’s made The Elements Trilogy, which includes the 1996 lesbian Hindu themed Fire with Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi, followed by the religious themed Earth in 1998, and finished with the Hindu widow themed Water in the Oscar nominated film representing Canada, which -imo- should’ve gotten Seema Biswas a Best Supporting Actress nod in 2005. ;P

We’re done!

We can all follow Marya’s journey on Cinema Fanatic.

FYI, I didn’t suggest Marya watches Claudia Llosa’s titles since I’ve seen her listed in Marya’s list of 100 Films Directed by Women You Can Watch (on Netflix) RIGHT NOW, as well as other more common picks like Céline Sciamma (Tomboy, Naissance des Pieuvres) or Catherine Breillat’s À ma Soeur!, which I swear I thought Marya had rated some place in social media.

So who else am I missing?

amy

YAM Magazine editor, photographer, blogger, translator and part-time web designer. Film junkie, music junkie… and lately series (a.k.a. TV) junkie.

6 Responses

  1. Rodrigo says:

    Lucia Puenzo and Celine Sciamma from the top of my head. From the latter, I do want to see Girlhood.

  2. hmm, more to add…I know these titles are at least on DVD or legal streaming services in the US. Excellent: The Night of Truth 2004, Fanta Régina Nacro). Solid: Ratcatcher (1999, Lynne Ramsay), The Apple (1998, Samira Makhmalbaf- her At Five in the Afternoon is ok but not as contained imo), La ciénaga (2001, Lucrecia Martel), Loving Couples (1964) & The Girls (1968, by Mai Zetterling. Also check her 1962 short “The War Game”), Rachida (2002, Yamina Bachir). Pretty good: Sambizanga (Sarah Maldoror, 1972), Death is a Caress (1949, Edith Carlmar, dunno if on DVD but it’s been in film noir festivals), Hollow City (2004, Maria João Ganga), Something Necessary (Judy Kibinge, 2013). Interesting with some qualms: ’49-’17 (1917, Ruth Ann Baldwin), My Dog Killer (Mira Fornay, 2013), Sleepwalking Land (2007, Teresa Prata), In My Skin (2002, Marina de Van, very gory movie), Honeymoon (2014, Leigh Janiak). Claire Denis’ films are probably not too hard to find as well.

  3. reel411 says:

    I’ve gotta put some of these on my to-watch list! And i loooove Wadjda

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