And then I found it. It was right under my nose. Female directors had made an impact on my life and I didn’t even know they had existed! They shaped my desires, my fears, how I dressed and even how I spoke. I quoted lines from their films, they made me laugh and cry and reminded me that Patrick Swayze was the “Swayziest”.
So in homage to these iconic babes of cinema, here are my Top 10 List of Films, from the 80s and 90s that were directed by women.
1) CLUELESS (1995) + 2) FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)
Amy Hecklering was not a stranger to the trials and errors of high school. This chick director also directed Fast Times at Ridgemont High, 13 years before! That is two coming of age, super popular, and culturally iconic high school films!!!
Not to mention she also directed the whole Look Whose Talking trilogy; don’t get me started on how these films confirmed my superstition that babies DO talk to each other! (Still believe this to this day! Have you SEEN the YouTube video of the infant twins?! It will blow your mind).
3) BIG (1988) + 4) A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (1992)
Big was released when I was 8-9 years old. My parents got divorced around this time as well and life was hard. I was the oldest of 3 at the time (oldest of 5 now:). And life looked…serious. But then I saw this movie. It is about a pre-teen who wishes he were big. And then he becomes a vibrant Tom Hanks who teaches us that you will grow up but that you can’t lose the joy you experience when you are a kid. You have to balance it.
A League of Their Own had a similar path, two sisters finding their way in a world that was just opening up to females outside of the kitchen. Baseball was a man’s sport, until the war that is. In classic Penny style her brother has a cameo, and Tom Hanks as the washed up ball player assigned to help girls play ball. Genna Davis leads this cast. And you have Madonna, what more can you ask for. This story of sisterly love has a special place in my heart, as I am the oldest of 4 girls.
5) WAYNE’S WORLD (1992)
Penelope Spheeris burst on the scene with her documentary about the punk scene in Los Angeles, The Decline of Western Civilization (1979). In 1983 she wrote and directed the film Suburbia. In 1992 she directed Wayne’s World, her first studio film. She then went on to dominate the comedy world again with Black Sheep (long live Chris Farley). This female director is literally the pinnacle of “party on”.
6) POINT BREAK (1991)
7) LITTLE WOMEN (1994)
8) BOYS DON’T CRY (1999)
9) SLEEPLESS IN SEATLE (1993)
10) DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN (1985)
Smithereens, her first feature, was the first American independent feature to be screened in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. She also directed the pilot episode of SEX IN THE CITY!!!! Yes, in this woman’s world, THAT is a big deal!
On a more personal note, I think this industry needs to change. Obviously female directors have made films that have touched me and molded me as a person. They trailblazed so others can do the same. They didn’t see themselves as “women directors”. They saw themselves as…just…. a director. And I think that is the change that really needs to be made here. We need to see people as not their sex, gender or race but just as an artist who has something to say. Instead of pointing out faults or how this percentage says this and that, let’s just do it! Stop talking about it and just do it!! And many are! We need to shine on them now so others will see the example. You show them that it works, it is here and they will build it, they will get behind it. So shine your lights bright on the women and people who inspire you in cinema because the way to make them shine bright on their own is that you shine the way first.
Thank you and good night - Amanda Reed