International Women Film Directors

Although female directors are still considered a minority in the international film industry, their contribution is significant. The films that we will screen are not Hollywood studio films and do not cater to predictable conventions and "happy endings." These films are diverse and unique, yet share such themes as female oppression, gender identification, women's roles in everyday life, and female empowerment. We will analyze the director's' narrative and visual storytelling processes and choices, and how their diverse backgrounds influence their films, as well as discuss critics' reviews. Many of these provocative directors have been imprisoned, banned from their countries, are a major influence on their country's New Wave cinema, and/or stirred and international debate because of their films.