Films and Feminism
It is hard to find modern feminism in the film industry, and one would definitely not expect a red carpet awards show in Hollywood to reflect feminist ideals. However, the 72nd annual Golden Globes, held on Jan 11, encompassed clear feminist overtones, which have been celebrated and applauded by many.
The night of festivities was attended by the film industry’s most respected members. It was also heralded for its success in destroying the idea that the only way for a female character to be interesting or admirable is if she is an honorable, iron-hearted perfectionist while being attractive and affable. This year’s Golden Globe Award recipients marked a new age of equality in the film industry by granting every character the right to be greatly flawed and still loved nevertheless.
"It was also heralded for its success in destroying the idea that the only way for a female character to be interesting or admirable is if she is an honorable, iron-hearted perfectionist while being attractive and affable."
After winning an award for best actress in a miniseries for her role in “The Honorable Woman,” Maggie Gyllenhaal remarked upon Hollywood’s recent capacity to celebrate the complexity of human personality in regards to women. She noted, “It’s not enough to just have more movies about women.” According to Gyllenhaal, Hollywood needs to make room for stories about “women who are sometimes powerful and sometimes not, sometimes sexy, sometimes not, sometimes honorable, sometimes not…That’s what I think is revolutionary and evolutionary—and it’s turning me on.”
In her acceptance speech for best supporting actress, Patricia Arquette of the film “Boyhood” thanked Director Richard Linklater, for “shining a light” on her character, an underappreciated single mother, “and the many women like her, and for allowing [her] to honor [her] own mother with [the] incredible character.” In the film, Arquette’s failures are put under a microscope: she has several relationships that turn violent and end badly but finds the strength every time to extract herself and her children and start anew. “Boyhood” showcases a male writer taking time to spotlight a strong, yet complicated, female character. She is honorable and resilient, but at times also vulnerable and ends up having a difficult time liking the life she has built.
When receiving the award for best actress in a drama, Julianne Moore revealed that her film, “Still Alice,” was initially rejected and that she was told no one wanted to see a film about a middle-aged woman. In the film, Moore plays a well-respected college professor slowly deteriorating as early-onset Alzheimers ravages her life. The movie was a success, and now Moore has been nominated and is anticipated to win an Oscar for best lead actress.
I understand that all previously mentioned examples are of cis-gendered white women and diversity in color, size, nationality, gender identity and ability are deeply lacking in the film industry. We still need more representation from women of color and LGBT in all the fields of Hollywood. But at the same time, Gyllenhaal is correct: things are changing for the better, and women in film are finally being portrayed with more accurate and complex personalities, gradually. The Golden Globes this year might just indicate a better 2015, hopefully full of equal representation in all facets of society.