Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
This whole thing started with a mission: support female led films on opening weekend whenever possible.* If you want to read more about why, you can read that post here.
This is one of those depressing months that reminds me how much more work there is to do in terms of getting more women in leading roles. There is only ONE, ONE movie this entire month that stars a woman in the leading role and that woman is Meryl Streep. While I’m happy for Meryl, I’m a little depressed that this is the state of our cinema. The Intervention comes close, but ultimately, it’s an ensemble cast full of amazing women (and dudes) so it doesn’t reach the same threshold.
So let me make a plug for a movie I saw last weekend that had many great women in supporting roles: The Hunt for the Wilderpeople. While there was not a female lead, the women that served as supporting characters were funny, thoroughly thought out and talented beyond belief in their roles. So, if this list depresses you, go check that one out.
AUGUST 5TH:
Five Nights in Maine (Written and Directed by Maris Curran)
A young African American man, reeling from the tragic loss of his wife, travels to rural Maine to seek answers from his estranged mother-in-law, who is herself confronting guilt and grief over her daughter’s death.
AUGUST 12TH:
Florence Foster Jenkins (Starring Meryl Streep)
The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.
Disorder (Written and Directed by Alice Winocour)
Vincent is an ex-soldier with PTSD who is hired to protect the wife and child of a wealthy Lebanese businessman while he’s out of town. Despite the apparent tranquility on Maryland, Vincent perceives an external threat
AUGUST 26TH:
The Intervention (Written and Directed by Clea DuVall)
A weekend getaway for four couples takes a sharp turn when one of the couples discovers the entire trip was orchestrated to host an intervention on their marriage.
Black Songbird (Written by Raquel Deloatch)
Blinded by ambition to find the killers of her childhood friends and advance her career, rookie journalist Knight Daye is recruited by the FBI to go undercover as a party hostess at a club that fronts for organize crime. Knight enters there glamorous world, but learns that there is something more sinister lurking behind all the glamour.
—–
One additional note before I go: I am not able to tell you if these movies are objectively good or feminist friendly, as I have not seen all of them. The point of this list is to give you a place to start. The truth is that we don’t have a lot to choose from, but part of the battle is giving you the information. Information is power. However, shared knowledge is also key. So if you see one of these films or have seen an early screening, please let us know if you recommend it or not in the comments.
