Girls

By Jenna Cato Bass | October 29, 2009 @ 03:37 pm

mika, so I've been doing a lot of thinking on a subject i know you must have an opinion on. When you get down to cape town i look forward to having this discussion. But, namely: women in cinema. Let's start on women's film festivals. I've quite constantly not had much time for these - being semi-outraged at the need for them, considering them as further secluding women from the competitive stage and highlighting the differences surrounding women filmmakers when, really, we all just make movies. I would want my films out there, accepted for what they are, not at all who i am. However, of late I've been wondering if I'm at all right. This debate was begun when The Tunnel was invited to screen at a woman's film festival in India. At first, Grade A Skepticism kicked in, and then I read the curator's note. To cut a long story short, I started to wonder whether the term "women's films" cannot rather more constructively refer to (and excuse me if this is no revelation to some) the portrayal, or the responsibility to portray, of women within films. Hold on a second though, I thought. How backward is society then, that even that should still be important? And then I remembered that last weekend I saw Inglorious Basterds.
OK, let's hang back, one moment, to address all those who don't take anything I say about film seriously because of my so-called analytical perspective (which is a whole 'nother ball game and way too narcissistic to discuss here... not that blogging has much to do with anything besides narcissism. or at least, great platters of ego. with ego gravy. ANYWAY). The film has great, great scenes. It plays to Tarantino's many strengths. Unfortunately, it also shows up the cracks, and one of these cracks appears about  two hours in, accompanied by an edgy soundtrack and even edgier shade of lipstick. Here I'm talking about how women are portrayed in the director's films - up until now, this hasn't particularly bothered me. I've vaguely admired the frequency with which Tarantino writes powerful female characters. Who get to kick ass. Or... do drugs. But on watching IB, it occurred to me how completely and inextricably linked feminine heroism and sexual allure are. Women cannot be powerful without it. And without it they may kick ass, but ultimately they will get their just deserts, along with appropriate amounts of suffering and humiliation, depending on the director and the film. And the fact that this doesn't bother anyone, men or women, really gets to me. I know not everyone is watching a film like IB looking out for such points, but the information is going in somewhere. And it makes me very uncomfortable.
But look. I'll think about this some more - at the least I'll re-watch some Tarantino. So, I'll say this - just got home from watching Fargo (for the, let's see, billionth time) at Jacques house (we are so playing "Frances McDormand, Frances McDormand" when you get here! Or at least refurbishing the shrine) and there I see a great female character. Pure genius. Wonderful. And I compare the part to other films and say, here-is-a-great-example-of-what-female-characters-can-be-like. BUT, on the other hand, it's also a portrayal of the great traditional balance - Yes, ladies can have a career, but not without forgetting their god-given maternal responsibility, no sir. Argh! I can't believe I am even dreaming of critting such a perfect film. I must be staying indoors too much.
Oh no, one more thing - a line from Preminger's "Fallen Angel" which I saw last night - (Anti)Hero asks love-interest (who has since displayed both musical and intellectual prowess. Or at least, she admits to 'reading') if she's considered a career. To which she replies: "Oh no! I know my limitations!" So, I suppose we have come some way since then.

 

Oh - and one last last thing, completely off the topic: If you know anyone who would like to sponsor my ticket to this (click here) well, I may possible go INSANE and then graciously and humbly accept. I'm sorry, but for me this has just got to be the cinema event of the year. 70mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!! Nothing this big has happened to me since I say the redux 35mm print off Ashes of Time. OK, so you must know what it is now....

over and out.