Ten incredible films directed by women right now you should watch

In the media world we live in, our team at MarkMeets on the red carpet typically see alot of men in black suits (Agents and press) besides woman (assistants) and this is just not representative of the real world.

The photographers are 95% men and we are all affected by a dearth of representation because it shapes who we empathise with, what roles men and women “should” perform, and, ultimately, who we value.We may not notice how skewed filmmaking is because we’ve only ever known the current quo.
“If you’ve just seen American films in your life, 95 percent of the films you’ve seen have been directed by men.”
Even in the last five years, 55 percent of the time you saw a lady in a movie, she was naked or barely clad.”

By witnessing their work, we can show our support for female directors and recommending it to others and funding.

Women’s viewpoints matter, but Hollywood has long implied differently, with male-dominated casts and crews.

Supporting female filmmakers is one approach to change this.

The good news is that there were more women nominated for Academy Awards this year than in prior years.

The bad news is that there is still a significant gender gap.

Despite efforts to increase female representation, the percentage of female nominations has only slightly increased – in 2018, 23 percent of non-acting category nominees are women, up from 20 percent in 2017.

whenever we watch a movie, we can pay attention to how many female characters there are, what they wear, what they talk about, and how realistically — or not — they’re portrayed. Here, Jones shares 10 of her favorite films by female directors (listed in chronological order).

1. Jesus’ Son (1999)

Directed by Alison Maclean

Set in the early 1970s, this film is a series of linked yet discrete stories that chart the to-hell-and-back journey of a young man. Told in the way you might share a series of anecdotes over a drink, it offers a stunning glimpse into the workings of one man’s heart and mind.And although it’s the story of a man, Jesus’ Son somehow feels like the female answer to all those classic ’70s male-directed films to which so much credit is (rightly) given. Watch this for Billy Crudup’s performance or for nostalgia’s sake — or at the very least, watch it because it’s just a hell of a good film.

Currently available on Hulu, iTunes, Vudu, Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube

2. Brick Lane (2008)

Directed by Sarah Gavron

A young Bangladeshi woman arrives in 1980s London. Trapped within the four walls of her flat and in a loveless marriage, she fears her soul is quietly dying. Her sister, meanwhile, continues to live a carefree life back in Bangladesh. There’s a lushness of imagery and life in this film that lingers in my brain, even though it’s been years since I first watched it. Sarah Gavron deftly unwraps the intimate story of a woman trying to find happiness within the limited structures available to her.

Currently available on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Vudu

3. Take This Waltz (2012)

Directed by Sarah Polley

When a happily married young woman meets the handsome artist across the street, their mutual attraction is undeniable. I think Sarah Polley is one of the great directors of our time, and this film is her at her best — sweet, funny, raw and devastating. Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen give wonderful performances, and together they play out one of the most honest portraits of modern marriage that I’ve seen. The radical nature of a film about a woman acting on her lust — as we have seen men do on film since its inception — also rings all my little feminist bells.

Currently available on Netflix, RedBox, iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Vudu, YouTube

4. Electrick Children (2013)

Directed by Rebecca Thomas

Rachel, a teen born and raised in a Mormon community, believes that she has been impregnated by listening to music and must get to Vegas to find the “father” of her miracle baby. I’m a total sucker for the conceit of this movie. It’s such a delightfully weird and wonderful examination of the ramifications of blind religious belief and “abstinence-only education.” Electrick Children is not a preachy movie at all, though — the larger themes dance lightly beneath the surface — and it’s an unusual story about an unusual girl that every girl and woman (and many boys and men) will relate to. The film is driven by a captivating performance from actress Julia Garner, who you’ll recognize from Netflix’s Ozark.

Currently available on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Vudu

5. It Felt Like Love (2014)

Directed by Eliza Hittman

On the outskirts of Brooklyn, a fourteen-year-old’s sexual explorations take a dangerous turn when she pursues an older man and tests the boundaries between obsession and love. I love the simple and effective, yet unpretentious, nature of the acting, filmmaking and storytelling here. Eliza Hittman explores the impact of the cultural forces that present young girls as sex objects, but does so through the eyes of a young girl herself, who moves through the film as an entirely empowered agent of her own choices. At the same time, the film poses the question of how much her actions are truly her own. It’s well-worn coming-of-age territory but like you’ve never seen it before.

Currently available on Netflix, Fandor, Amazon, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube

6. The Farewell Party (2014)

Directed by Sharon Maymon and Tal Granit (We’re cheating here slightly because it was co-directed by a man)

A resident in a Jerusalem retirement home constructs a machine that will allow a friend to self-administer a fatal dose of tranquilizers. Yet when the resident’s wife begins to face a serious health issue, his feelings about his new contraption become increasingly complicated. This may actually be my favorite film of all time. It got woefully little play in the US (I saw it at a festival), but luckily for us, it’s available on streaming services. This film made me laugh until my ribs ached — and then made me weep while my heart ached. It takes a skillful hand to balance a film so delicately between comedy and drama. Please watch this movie and please tell your friends about it. It’s a crime that it didn’t get more attention outside of Israel, where it won many awards.

Currently available on Amazon, YouTube, GooglePlay

7. Imagine I’m Beautiful (2014)

Directed by Meredith Edwards

In this psychological drama that dissects the fine line between self-invention and destruction, a woman named Lana moves to New York to start anew but ends up moving in with the troubled Kate. The two gradually bond until one of them makes a discovery that will alter their relationship for good. Yep, I’m going to go ahead and select a movie I starred in and wrote, because I think Meredith Edwards is a true visionary and talent who belongs on this list. With a sophistication and craft that is startling for a first-time feature director, Edwards subtly pulls viewers down the rabbit hole until they suddenly look up and realize that they are definitely not in Kansas anymore.

Currently available on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Vimeo-on-Demand, YouTube

8. The Babadook (2014)

Directed by Jennifer Kent

In this terrifying thriller, a mother must protect her son from an evil, supernatural entity that has escaped the pages of a children’s book and is lurking in their home. For anyone who thinks women can only direct chick flicks, check out this gem. Not only is it one of the scariest films I’ve ever seen, it’s also one of the smartest. The central performances from Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman are extraordinary, but it’s the masterful directing that will keep you up at night.

Currently available on Netflix, Amazon, Showtime, Amazon, GooglePlay, iTunes

9. Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2016)

Directed by Chloe Zhao

This movie is a compelling and complex portrait of modern-day life on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation that explores the bond between a brother and his younger sister, who find themselves on separate paths to rediscovering the meaning of home. Chloe Zhao uses a fascinating technique in her work — she uses only non-actors and gets performances that are refreshingly honest and free from the sometimes overly controlled work of “great actors.” What’s even more amazing is the depth that Zhao pulls forward, somehow blending the true-to-life simplicity of a documentary with the craft and structure of a fictional narrative. The result is entrancing and revelatory.

Currently available on iTunes, Netflix, Amazon, GooglePlay, Vudu, YouTube

10. Mudbound (2017)

Directed by Dee Rees

Laura McAllan is trying to raise her children on her husband’s farm in the Mississippi Delta, a place she finds foreign and frightening. In the midst of the family’s struggles, two young men return from the war to work the land. I cannot express how urgent it is that you go watch this movie. I’ve done a fair amount of yelling about the fact that this film has gotten so little play in this year’s awards season [Editor’s note: Mudbound was nominated for four Academy Awards but did not get a nomination in the best director or best picture categories.] Never have I seen such a wrenching, uncomfortable, honest — and at times, laugh-out-loud funny — look at historical (and not-so-historical) tensions between whites and blacks in the US. At this particular moment in our social and political landscape, everyone should go watch this movie immediately, not because it tells you what to think but because it brings our racial history down to the level of people and their families. Dee Rees is an exceptional filmmaker, and the performances are deeply moving. There are moments of great humanity, humor and even fun. I love this movie, but even more than that, it’s important.

Currently available on Netflix