UP WITH WOMEN

Whatever your political persuasion may be, Hillary Clinton’s near miss in a run for the presidency signaled another upsurge in the hopes of women everywhere. And on the heels of that, a woman vice-president!  I humbly offer some personal choices that look kindly on such hopes. 

Waitress (2007) is an absolute joy. Keri Russell is unhappily married to Earl, a dreadful jerk played to the hilt by Jeremy Sisto. She works as a waitress for sour Cal, survives with the help of her waitress pals and the advice of Old Joe, delightfully portrayed by our own Andy Griffith. She bakes heavenly pies and hopes to win a baking contest. A new doctor provides more than medical interest and I’ll not say more. See this!

Whale Rider (2002) garnered an Oscar nomination for Keisha Castle-Hughes as a brave Maori girl who dares to challenge hundreds of years of New Zealand tradition about the roles of the sexes. She wants to be, yearns to be, deserves to be more than just another female fringe character. She is smart, and brave, and an inspiration to us all, whatever our gender. 

A more poisonous tradition is challenged by women in Moolaade (2004). In many African countries, the practice of female genital mutilation is still practiced. In one village, a group of women decide enough is enough and stand up against the terrible custom. It is most interesting that not all the women agree with the rebels. The results are both dreadful and inspiring. 

Hairspray (2007) has lots of cool songs and is a little darker than you might think. Tracy Turnblad (newcomer Nikki Blonsky) doesn’t go along with the existing pattern of race relations in Baltimore and proceeds to make quite a dent in segregation. John Travolta (yes!) is her gravel-voiced Mom, Christopher Walken her clueless Dad, and Michelle Pfeiffer the bigot from Hell. 

The grandmommy of all up-with-women flicks is still Thelma And Louise (1991). Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon turn every road buddy movie convention on its ear and have some fun in the process. I like this film’s tagline: Someone said get a life, so they did. 

Marjane Satrapi is an Iranian girl who just wants to be a real person in the unusual Persepolis (2007). Done in black and white animation, it is a cautionary tale about political changes which aren’t always for the better, and growing up female in a culture that demeans women. This film is very dark, but worth the effort to stick with it. 

All of the films in this column are available on DVD. Only Whale Rider is suitable for children.