Because there are so many women vying for a best director nod this year, I thought a thread like this is in order.

For me, the best female director ever is Chantal Akerman, no question.

Other good ones... Claire Denis, Marta Meszaros, Vera Chytilova, Ida Lupino, Jane Campion, Agnes Varda, Maya Deren, Lucrecia Martel, Naomi Kawase, Catherine Breillat, Lynne Ramsay...

and other talents: Sofia Coppola, Nicole Holofcener, Samira Makhmalbaf, Hana Makhmalbaf, Marzieh Makhmalbaf, Maren Ade, Iciar Bollain, Lisa Cholodenko, Rebecca Miller, Tamara Jenkins, Kimberly Peirce, Adrienne Shelly, Miranda July, Alicia Scherson, Jessica Hausner, Jasmila Zbanic, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Julie Delpy, Claudia Llosa, Jeong Jae-eun, Isabel Coixet, Lee Suk-gyung, Doris Dorrie, Kathryn Bigelow, Penelope Spheeris, Fiona Gordon, Benedicte Lienard, Mary Harron, Julie Taymor, Leonie Yangba Zowe, Marguerite Duras, Lucile Hadzihalilovic, Kelly Reichardt, Hilary Brougher and tons others...

I think a good sign for female directors is that a lot of popular actresses are starting to move behind the camera - Drew Barrymore, Diane Keaton, Sarah Polley, Anjelica Huston and the aforementioned Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Julie Delpy.

I didn't include Wertmuller or Ephron here because they are both terrible

And then there's people like Riefenstahl who are immensely talented but use it for evil instead of good

Your opinions/your choices?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: puxzkkx,

This one is easy.

Agnes Varda.

Akerman could be second, but her output is very uneven, as great at Jeanne Dielmann is.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: seanflynn,

I can recognize Varda's talent, but I don't LOVE her. IMO her dramatic works are usually half-formed and uneven compared to her documentaries

Akerman hit a high point with Jeanne Dielman but, imo, she's been doing great work all the way thru to this decade. La Captive, for example, is a masterpiece

Forgot to list Catherine Breillat on that list. She's great, too. I will add her

This message has been edited. Last edited by: puxzkkx,

There are actually lots of examples of good or great films by women directors. The big advance in my mind, is when the gender of the director doesnt matter.

Varda's films are half formed like all the other new wave directors films are - would you say the same of Godard and Rivette?

I would say that Godard and Rivette (esp. the latter) often have a far more concrete idea of what they want to achieve with all their whistles and bells. I meant to say that Varda's films seem more like films-in-embryo than fully realized pictures... watching her narrative films, I often feel like I'm watching an artist brainstorming rather than committing to creating a whole piece. With the possible exception of 'Vagabond', though.

All in all her documentaries seem more assured and seem to be the form where she feels most comfortable.

In defense of Wertmuller; she in many ways was a pioneer from an intensely chauvenistic geographical time and place, and from a place where socialism, capitalism, and dictatorial politics were fighting it out.
Some of her films are divisive and jarring, but I would never call her 'terrible'.

I wont comment on Nora Ephron.

On this one I agree with Pux. I hated Wertmueller in the 70s, still do.

Though she made feature films for over 40 years, her international popularity lasted about two years; people grew tired of her very quickly.

Dorothy Arzner certainly should be on the list, as well as Lois Weber.

Yes. I know.

Forgot about Margarethe von Trotta. Weber and especially Arzner are great choices.

Others:
Alice Guy, of course
Shirley Clarke
Larisa Shepitko, who is a master
Kinuyo Tanaka (who directed late in her career)
Barbara Loden made one film but it was an excellent one
Mina Shum, although I don't love all of her movies
Marleen Gorris
Sally Potter
Yvonne Rainer
Clara Law
Amy Heckerling
Deepa Mehta
Su Friedrich
Susanne Bier
Agnieszka Holland, although I'm not a fan
Gillian Armstrong, again not a huge fan
Christine Jeffs
Mira Nair, not a huge fan
Lotte Reiniger
Cherie Nowlan
Kira Muratova
Liliana Cavani
Doris Wishman
Maria Beatty

I'll throw Rachel Talalay's name in the mix. She works tirelessly mostly in television, and I like some of her films.
I think Nancy Oliver will branch out into directing as she's a hands-on producer.

quote:

Originally posted by puxzkkx:
and currently working talents: ... Adrienne Shelly ...

If Adrienne Shelly is currently working, that is quite the accomplishment.

I'll throw out Dorothy Arzner who for the most part was the lone female director in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s.

I adore Jane Campion ............ She should have won the oscar ........

Jane Campion has won an Oscar.

Andrea Arnold's another name to throw into the mix

quote:

Originally posted by Mike:
I adore Jane Campion ............ She should have won the oscar ........

Sweet Baby Jeebus! Mikey actually likes someone! Never thought I'd see the day...

Maya Deren

Well, I'll name my favorite directorial works by women...

The Hitchhiker by Ida Lupino
Real Genius by Martha Coolidge
A Dry White Season by Euzhan Palcy
Children of a Lesser God by Randa Haines
Clueless by Amy Heckerling
Boys Don't Cry by Kimberly Pierce

However, I haven't seen anything else by these ladies in the same ballpark, so I'd be hardpressed to call any of them my favorites.

The Piano and Lost in Translation were both good, but hardly my style. I haven't really liked their other works.

I have never seen a movie by Julie Taymor, Lina Wertmuller, or Leni Riefenstahl. Netfilx time.

I suppose my pick would be Katheryn Bigelow. However, prior to THE HURT LOCKER, I don't think she would have been someone I'd consider great. I loved NEAR DARK, I certainly enjoyed POINT BREAK, I thought BLUE STEEL and STRANGE DAYS were styling but flawed, and K19 was a great story that just didn't work with Harrison Ford as a Russian.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cassius,

Courtney Hunt did a fantastic job with Frozen River last year. The pacing and slow build of the tension particularly strong. Given it's good notices I am hoping she can have the opportunity to do something on a larger scale with a larger budget.