Jennifer Lawrence as Ree in the
movie Winter’s Bone, based on the
novel by Daniel Woodrell
What is the Bechdel test?
Formulated by Alison Bechdel as a test for movies and gender representation, in order for a movie to pass the Bechdel test it must meet these three criteria:
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1) There must be at least two women
2) They must talk to each other
3) And they must talk to each other about something other than a man.
Even though this is a really low bar test for gender representation in movies, a surprising number of movies do not pass, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Pacific Rim, two movies with significant female characters. The Lord of the Rings trilogy also does not pass this test, despite having two strong female characters. (They never talk to each other.)
Some movies technically pass the Bechdel Test, such as Goodfellas and Jurassic Park, but the movies on this list are ones that really exemplify the spirit of the test.
Aliens
“Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?”
“No. Have you?”
A classic horror and action Sci-Fi flick, Aliens took female representation in movies to the next level with battling marines and a tough and resilient main character, buoyed by the supporting character Newt, a little girl made tough and hard by her circumstances. “They’re dead, alright? Can I go now?”
There are several strong women characters in this movie that treated just the same within the story as their male counterparts, a feat that is quite remarkable in modern mainstream cinema! The film culminates in the final battle scene between Ripley and the Alien Queen in a contest no one could ever call a cat fight.
It’s the most mainstream film on this list, and if you haven’t seen it, you definitely should. Game over man!
Alien on IMDB
The Triplets of Belleville
On the Bechdel Test list even though there is virtually no dialogue in this film. The story of a woman trying to find her kidnapped son who gets help from a singing trio in a marvelous animated film that is a must see. The story, the style, and the animation are all top-notch!
One of the most remarkable facets of this film is that the major characters are older, as ageism is another all-too unfortunate component of too many mainstream movies.
The Triplets of Belleville on IMDB
Amelie
A kitschy and clever and classic film about an impish, shy, and adventurous woman and the people in her life, the ones whom she tries to guide and help from a distance as she pursues her own quests and dreams. The strange man who takes photo booth photos and the man who collects ruined bits of pictures from the same photo booths are a central theme in this story.
Amelie on IMDB
Winter’s Bone
The story of a tough-as-nails teenager who goes the extra mile for her family living in the Ozark Mountains, as she confronts police officers, bail bondsmen, rough and rowdy crime families, and drug dealers. She fights the law and the outlaws at the same time so she can save her mother and her young siblings from losing their house and their land. Don’t overlook this unique film about perseverance, heart, courage, and one young woman you do not want to cross. (She WILL shoot you with that shotgun. In fact, she pretty much wants to!)
Winter’s Bone on IMDB
My Neighbor Totoro
If you only see one movie from the famed Studio Ghibli, make it this one. The cult classic about a girl who finds herself in a new home and a new situation, where fantastic characters make themselves known in her new life. A modern fairy tale that has garnered a cult following with Totoro, the Cat Bus, and susuwatari. Anyone who wants to claims they’re in tune with modern culture has to see this film.
My Neighbor Totoro on IMDB
Ghost World
Based on the Daniel Clowes graphic novels, the adventures of Enid, an alienated observer of life and its eccentricities as she deals with her post high school life and future prospects. From eclectic characters to vintage nerds to finding herself become increasingly distant from her high school friends, Enid becomes the wry observer and a force in her friends and family’s lives as she grasps with a new chapter in her life.
Ghost World on IMDB
Persopolis
Based on the graphic novel, an excellent interpretation of one of the more classic and groundbreaking stories out there. About a young woman caught in the Iranian revolution, trying to find her own way in Iran, and later on in Europe. A story that pulls no punches about the personal experience of living a life in the face of discrimination and cultural oppression. The graphic novel and this film is a definite must read and must see story.
Persopolis on IMDB
Daughters of the Dust
A film by Julie Dash, it is a period piece at the dawn of the 20th Century showing a community in the post slavery era on an island off of the coast of South Carolina, where the people struggle with their recent past, their current present, and their potential futures. Many of the characters embrace or disdain their Yoruba traditions and heritage, showing people and a community who struggle with cultural crossroads as much as they struggle with everyday life. A rich film showing a people whose lives are a collision of history, generations, and the calamities of recent struggles, and also a very distinct tale about how history can influence and shape a individual’s very identity. This movie is a gem you might well have missed. It is definitely worth seeking out.
This film was also featured in my Article Seven Black Films you Should See
Daughters of the Dust on IMDB
A League of Their Own
There’s no crying in baseball! Not only one of the best sports movies ever made, Gena Davis heads a fantastic ensemble cast which showcases characters from many different walks of life, from the country roughnecks to city slickers to a dowdy housewife trying to make it through a baseball game without crying. (She fails. The apex scene of the movie!) Based on an actual women’s professional sports league created during world war II, this is a must see movie for anyone interested in sports, women in film, or anyone who wants to simply see an excellent movie.
