By Geoff Carter
In commemoration of Women’s History Month, the Couch Potato would like to express his vast appreciation for the epic struggles and hardships encountered by the women of the world as they have strived to earn their rightful place in society. To do so, after careful consideration, the Potato has named his top ten films about women. These heroes deserve to be recognized, saluted, and honored for refusing to submit to the restrictions place on them by a male-dominated society.
Whether their struggles were in the home, the workplace, or in their psyches, these women have fought to be seen, heard, and appreciated. From a Supreme Court Justice to a single mom to an engineer to a mathematician to a soldier to a whistleblower, the following films only scratch the surface of women’s dedication to independence and their determination to have a fair voice in an unfairly balanced society.
While the Potato could have included many more films in this list, including A League of Their Own, Roma, Persepolis, North Country, Wild, and Million Dollar Baby, he had to draw the line somewhere and so attempted to select a cross-section of films that represent feminists’ struggle for a voice from different times and circumstances—even the future. After all, women in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries had completely different battles to fight than those in the twentieth century. The Potato also decided not to include fantasy figures or superheroes in the list (with the exception of Furiosa from Mad Max) because we have more than enough real heroes to celebrate. You won’t find any Wonder Women or Daenerys Targaryens here.
So, raise your glasses. Here’s to the women.
The Couch Potato’s Guide to Women in Film
Hidden Figures: During the early days of the space race, three brilliant African American women have to not only prove their intellectual prowess but also strive to overcome the overt and inherent racism of the NASA establishment. Based on the true-life struggles of Kathrine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson. Notable for phenomenal performances by the three leading women.
Starring Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae, Mahershala Ali, and Kevin Costner. Written by Alison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi. Directed by Theodore Melfi.
Available on Hulu
On the Basis of Sex: A stirring biopic about the early struggles of American judicial icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the formative years of her legal career. The film begins as Bader Ginsburg is attending law school, attending classes and taking notes for herself as well as for her husband who is bedridden with cancer. As she ascends the rungs of her career ladder, RBG realizes that her calling is in the fight to define and defend women’s rights. Notable for a great performance by Felicity Jones in the titular role
Starring: Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston, and Kathy Bates. Written by Daniel Stiepleman. Directed by Mimi Leder.
Available on Hulu
The Color Purple: Torn from her sister, a young woman is forced into a marriage of convenience with an abusive older man. Over the years, and with the help of some unlikely allies, she slowly realizes her self-worth, enabling her to break away from her constrictive marriage, establish her own life and livelihood and to ultimately reunite with her long-lost love—her sister. Notable for the film debuts of both Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.
Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Adolph Cesar, and Rae Dawn Chong. Written by Menno Meyjes. Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Available on Amazon Prime
The Joy Luck Club: After the death of her mother, June, a young Chinese American woman, is invited to replace her mother in the weekly mahjong club meetings with her friends. The women meet to eat and tell stories about their lives as young women in China and the struggles they have faced adjusting to life in America and raising their own daughters according to traditional values. Through meeting with them, June begins to appreciate the special challenges faced by the women and the sacrifices they made to raise their daughters to be strong and independent women. Notable for Wayne Wang’s outstanding direction.
Starring: Tsai Chin, Kieu Chinh, Lisa Lu, France Nuyen, and Rosalind Chao. Written by Amy Tan and Ronald Bass. Directed by Wayne Wang.
Available on Amazon Prime
The Piano: In the 19th century, Ada, a mute Scotswoman is sold by her father into a marriage with a New Zealand landowner. Accompanied by her daughter, who translates for her, she moves to the wilderness. Ada insists on taking her piano with her, but her new husband refuses to move it, leaving it on the beach. Ada, determined to preserve the only voice she has, enlists the help of a neighbor to save her piano. Notable for Holly Hunter’s outstanding performance and for Anna Paquin’s film debut.
Starring; Holly Hunter, Anna Paquin, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Kerry Walker. Written and directed by Jane Campion.
Available on Amazon Prime
Mad Max: Fury Road: An astoundingly gripping and action-packed science fiction thriller about a woman, Furiosa, who flees the clutches of an oppressive warlord, Immortan Joe, in post-apocalyptic Australia, taking his five wives with her. Furiosa drives a supercharged truck—a war rig—through the desert with Joe in hot pursuit, striving to find her the childhood home, the Green Place, from which she was kidnapped. Notable for riveting chase scenes and great special effects.
Starring: Charlize Theron, Thomas Hardy, Zoe Kravitz, Nicholas Hoult, and Hugh Keyes-Byrne. Written and directed by George Miller.
Available on Amazon Prime and Hulu.
Mermaids: A free-spirited single mother moves with her two young daughters to a small New England town after a failed relationship. The older daughter, Charlotte, a neurotic and oversexed 15-year-old, tries to unsuccessfully reconcile her sexuality through religion. The mother finds herself in an unlikely relationship with a local shoe-store owner while Charlotte tries to establish herself as a woman, a daughter, and a sister. Notable for the excellent acting ensemble of Winona Ryder, Cher, and Christina Ricci.
Starring: Cher, Winona Ryder, Christian Ricci, and Bob Hoskins. Written by June Roberts. Directed by Richard Benjamin.
Available on Amazon Prime
The Witch: In 17th century colonial America, a Puritan family is exiled from their settlement because of their father’s heresy. Alone in the wilderness, the family finds itself beset by strange occurrences including abduction, seduction, and demonic possession. Seeking a reason for their misfortunes, the father unfairly accuses Thomasin, the innocent teenage daughter, of being a witch. Eventually, the young woman is able to establish her identity in a world hostile to women and their sexuality. Notable for Anya Taylor-Joy’s outstanding performance.
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, and Ellie Grainger. Written and directed by Robert Eggers.
Available on Hulu
Silkwood: The story of real-life union activist Karen Silkwood who went undercover to expose wrongdoings at the nuclear power plant where she worked. After becoming contaminated with radiation, Silkwood attempts to expose the Kerr-McGee Cimarron Fuel Fabrication Plant for safety violations and concealing faulty fuel rods to a New York Times reporter. Unfortunately, she never makes it to the meeting. Notable for one of Kurt Russell’s finest performances.
Starring: Meryl Streep, Cher, Kurt Russell, Craig T. Nelson, Fred Ward, and M. Emmet Walsh. Written by Nora Ephron and Alice Arlen. Directed by Mike Nichols.
Available on Blu-Ray through Amazon Prime
Little Women: Greta Gerwig’s remake of the Louisa May Alcott classic of four young girls growing up in 19thcentury New England is by far the best. As Jo, the outspoken and independent middle sister of the March clan, Saiorse Ronan shines. Living in a male-dominated society, she finds a vehicle for her aspirations in her writing and refuses to compromise her life as a free-thinker with an unrequited romance with a neighbor boy. Notable for an outstanding supporting performance by Oscar nominee Florence Pugh.
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, and Bob Odenkirk. Written and directed Greta Gerwig.
Available on Amazon Prime and Hulu
Wish there was enough room on the list for Kathryn Hepburn (sp?) in the African Queen, an all time favorite. Loved it for performances of course but also because it showed what love was all about: a tough lady meets a tough man and they both grow softer and more in love as they hurdle literally through each disaster they meet on the river. Beautifully acted and abundantly clear about the importance of accepting gender differences.
She was great in that film and in The Lion in Winter, too. KH was an absolute icon of strength and determination. Maybe I’ll do an addendum later in the month.
Thanks, Neal.