As International Women’s Day approaches in mid-March, we're called to celebrate the achievements of women and girls throughout history, to shine a light on the different experiences and identities that women share, and to admire the trailblazing women who have shaped our lives and touched our hearts.
This month, Films We Like is featuring Stories about Women by Women, focusing on female directors, using their powerful voices to tell woman-centric narratives. From the personal, the heartwrenching, the empowering and the witty, we want to celebrate not just women in history, but the very experience of womanhood.
“Women aren’t victims anymore; they’re agents of change.”
— Rubaiyat Hossain
Arab Blues (2019)
Manele Labidi writes and directs Arab Blues, a comedy about Tunisia-born, France-raised psychologist, Selma, as she brings her practice of psychoanalysis back to her hometown of conservative Tunisia. A feel-good tale about self-starting a business and reconnecting to your roots, Arab Blues paints a nuanced, cheeky and culturally-respectful portrait of a modern, independent French-Tunisian woman.
Made In Bangladesh (2018)
In Made in Bangladesh, 23-year-old Shimu works at a garment factory where a worker is killed due to unsafe working conditions. Together with her coworkers, she organizes a union to defend workers' rights. A Bangladeshi director, Rubaiyat Hossain dissects issues of fair wages, working conditions, and the wage gap with a strong female cast. She claims, "Women aren't victims anymore; they're agents of change."
Porcupine Lake (2017)
Ingrid Veninger's Porcupine Lake is set in an idyllic suburban town in Ontario during the muggy summer holidays. Now 13 years old, Bea meets Kate, who encourages her to explore her adolescence and leave her childhood behind. This lovely Canadian indie gem celebrates the secret, sweet, shared moments between two girls who are more than just friends.
The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão (2019)
In Karim Aïnouz's seductive period piece, two sisters in 1950's Rio de Janeiro are separated by fate and kept apart by their oppressive, misogynistic father. The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão tells a dramatic tale of sisterhood and female solidarity, in a time when male oppression and manipulation reigned supreme.
Angels Wear White (2017)
Vivian Qu's harrowing, breathtaking Angels Wear White centres on the lives of two young girls who share a traumatic experience of being sexually assaulted by a high-ranking police official. While delving into potentially triggering themes, Qu's film nevertheless shines a light on an important issue in the lives of women.
Attenberg (2010)
Attenberg, a staple of the Greek weird wave, is written and directed by Greek filmmaker Athina Rachel Tsangari. The drama revolves around misanthropic 23-year-old Marina and her sexual exploration with her best friend, Bella, as well as her isolated relationship with her father who is dying of a terminal illness. A coming-of-age of sorts mired by grief and self-isolation, Tsangari’s film is a story about sex, womanhood and animals.
Things to Come (2016)
Award-winning French director Mia Hansen-Løve brings intellectualism, philosophy and aging in her sophisticated drama, Things to Come. Nathalie, a philosophy professor, comes face-to-face with unexpected freedom and change following a divorce and the death of a loved one. This subtle drama captures the beauty and pain of freedom for a woman who knows nothing but domesticity and stagnation.
The Divine Order (2017)
Written and directed by Swiss filmmaker Petra Volpe, The Divine Order brings us to a significant time in women's liberation of late '60s Switzerland, now introducing a law to allow women to vote for the first time. This feminist flick celebrating independence and liberation is the perfect way to celebrate this very important month.
FWL’s #aboutwomenbywomen COLLECTION
Find out where to watch all of these titles and more documentaries about strong women in history in our #AboutWomenByWomen collection.
About Films We Like
Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Carmine Street Guitars) Films We Like is a boutique distributor of documentary, independent, and international films in Canada. Recent releases include Drive My Car, The Automat, and The Jump.