Hey, Cougars! In continuation of our Women’s History Month celebration, we are celebrating five amazing films that were directed by women that you all should check out! As we know, not too long ago, women were barely even able to show their faces on TV screens, let alone put together an entire production, but thankfully now that times have changed, although women still face challenges in movie directing, there has been a constant evolution of women proving that they can direct an Oscar-worthy movie.
Wonder Woman (2017), directed by Patty Jenkins
She is one of the greatest superheroes to have graced the big screen, but behind this magnificent work is an even more talented woman, Patty Jenkins. When Jenkins was directing “Wonder Woman”, it was about more than breaking glass ceilings; she wanted to destroy them, and her 2017 flick did just that. Following the life of Diana Prince, an Amazon warrior set out to stop World War I. Jenkins’ film became the first female-led superhero film and the second film led by a woman to have a budget of $100 million. The film shattered the box office and, to this day, has made a total of $822 million.
Selma (2015), directed by Ava DuVernay
Ava DuVernay’s history-making film, “Selma”, tells the story of one of the most prominent civil rights leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King. The film documents Dr. King and his protestors’ journey from Selma to Montgomery in the wake of giving African Americans the right to vote. DuVernay’s film led her to become the first black woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe for best director. With a star-studded cast, “Selma” is not only a great film but an important piece of history.
Mudbound (2017), Directed by Dee Rees
Based on the novel “Mudbound”, written by Hillary Jordan in 2008, Dee Rees and Virgil Williams created the 2017 film. “Mudbound,” tells the story of a black and a white man who are World War II veterans returning home from combat to work on a farm and navigate a normal life whilst dealing with newly passed Jim Crow laws. The film led Rees to be nominated for an Oscar for best-adapted screenplay.
Daughters of the Dust (1991) directed by Julie Dash
Powerful enough to inspire Beyonce, Julie Dash’s “Daughters of the Dust,” tells the story of three Gullah women from different generations as they prepare to head home up North, where their ancestors were once enslaved. Along the way, they face a generational split when the youngest of the three decides she wants to break tradition and leave the mainland without the support of the other women. The film was the first-ever by a black female director to receive national theatrical distribution, but Beyonce’s visual album “Lemonade” allowed the film to be appreciated and enjoyed by a whole new generation.
There you have it, Cougars. Those are four women who have directed some of the greatest films to ever have been made. If there is any film on this list that you have not seen, it is highly recommended that you check them out!