5 Films with strong female leads every girl should SEE
Films with strong female leads are absolutely vital. I'm not talking about super hero (or heroine) films, although those are cool – I like to see girls kicking #butt as much as anybody. But it's those every day female driven films with real lead characters who represent real women that I most admire.
Some of them are based on real women, others on females who seem real. They could be your friends, your mothers, your sisters, or your wives. In recent years, there have been many more strong, inspirational, and admiral characters; chronicling all of them would be impossible. So, here are some of my favorite films led by strong female characters. Take a look and then please feel free to email info@sheq.co.nz to add your favorites too.
Steel Magnolias
Steel Magnolias is one of my favorite movies of all time. A lot of people are tempted to pass it off as just another chick flick, but it's also one of the best films with strong female leads you'll ever watch. M'Lynn has to go through probably the hardest thing any mother can ever experience, and she comes through it with grace and strength. She is beautiful in her grief, and her speech about Southern women – which is appropriate for strong women from anywhere – always resonates. However, Shelby has her moments as well, and as for Clairee and Ouiser, they are both embodiments of strength.
The Color Purple
The Color Purple is unquestionably a film with a strong female lead. In fact, it's inundated with strong women, and in this case they're just as amazing on screen as they are in the book. Celie is amazing, and watching her grow is like a revelation. The support she receives from Sofia and Shug is beautiful, and to me it defines the way women should treat each other. We're always so eager to tear each other apart, whether we're gossiping about people we know or even taking the #time to put down and tear people apart on websites! Look at these relationships, though: who wouldn't want to exhibit this kind of strength?
Fried Green Tomatoes
Here's another fantastic film that was a movie first. I like it for several reasons. For starters, like The Color Purple, it represents lesbian relationships in a time where showing your true feelings was dangerous. The movies themselves emerged at a time when it wasn't trendy to depict gay couples in films, and certainly not women. The novel (actually titled Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle stop Cafe, if you're interested!) details the relationship between Idgie and Ruth much more fully, but even the friendship between them in the movie is amazing to see. Idgie was practically my go-to movie role model growing up, but don't discount Evelyn and Ninny, either.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
I think Tyler Perry gets a bad rap. I mean, he writes many plays and films with strong female leads. Diary of a Mad Black Woman marks my introduction to Mr. Perry, and what an introduction! There are morbid elements to the story, but who didn't root for Helen? She needed to get mad, and it felt like she got mad for every woman, everywhere, who's ever been done dirty – by a lover, a spouse, a friend, a family member, or even a coworker. And even though “she's” not technically a woman, Madea kicked some serious butt as well. That chainsaw? I wish she was MY grandma!
The Help
The Help is another one of my favorite female driven films and, of course, it's relatively knew. The women in the movie are strong in different ways, but all of them are inspiring. I thought it stayed admirably true to the novel, although if you haven't read it yet, you should. Skeeter is a wonderful little rebel, not only taking a stand against the segregationist South but also taking a stand against the racism exhibited by her friends. Sometimes, standing up to your friends is even harder than taking a political stand. I can't say enough about Aibileen, whose bravery and grace know no bounds, and Minnie is a fireball. We could all use a little Minnie in our lives.
Lyndsie will be back next month with another five, why not email info@sheq.co.nz with your favourites.
Review by Lyndsie Robinson All Womens Talk
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