There is a new important documentary directed by filmmaker Mary Dore called She's Beautiful When She's Angry currently playing in New York City at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema and opens in Los Angeles December 12 at the Landmark Nuart Theatre. There will soon be a national release. The film recently screened to a positive reception at DOC NYC (where it was one of the first films at the Festival to sell out.) She's Beautiful When She's Angry chronicles the History of the Women's Movement from 1966-1971, the beginning of NOW when women wore hats and gloves, to the more extreme examples of women's liberation such as WITCH (Women's International Conspiracy From Hell.)
It's the first theatrical documentary of its kind, and it will no doubt open the door for other films on the subject of feminism and women's liberation. I spoke to Mary Dore about her journey getting her film made. "Believe it or not it has taken a long time" Dore explained. "You think there would be interest in this subject, and there has never been a definitive film made about the women's movement, but I had trouble getting grants. I started writing it before my children were born."
Why was it such a struggle? "I think because for some reason, the Women's movement is not a cool topic," according to Dore. "I believe it was the biggest social movement of its time."
This unique documentary mixes historical footage with interviews ranging from Kate Millett, Rita Mae Brown, to Vivien Rothstein, Chude Pamela Allen,and Nona Willis Aronowitz among others.It took at least five years to finish. "I didn't want to focus so much on stars for the interviews, but needed women who had their voices heard" explained Dore. This groundbreaking documentary was also co-produced and edited by Nancy Kennedy. There was a team of editors. "Because I had the passion but no budget, I got great discounts and many supported my efforts. I just persevered and did 90 percent of the work myself because I'm very persistent."
I have noticed the subject of Feminism in other recent films. For example in 2013 Paul Weitz film Admission starring Tina Fey featured Lily Tomlin as Fey's mother and she portrayed a "Feminist" character named Susannah. In the current awards contender Wild starring Reese Witherspoon, the lead character is a self-proclaimed "feminist." Witherspoon stars as the real life American author Cheryl Strayed who detailed in her book Wild her personal empowering journey as she embarked on a 1,1000 mile hike on the Pacific Coast Trail from the Mojave Desert to the Oregon-Washington border.
There is a new documentary in the works called Feminism: What Were They Thinking directed by acclaimed filmmaker Johanna Demetrakas (Womanhouse) and Executive Produced by Cheryl Swannack, Produced by Gretchen B. Landau and numerous other supporters.
This documentary focuses on a book from thirty seven years ago called Emergence by actress turned photographer Cynthia MacAdams which features Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Gloris Steinem, Judy Chicago,Kate Millett, Laurie Anderson, Ann Waldman, Michelle Phillips, Patti Smith, Mariel Escobar and Meredith Monk. It captures a "moment" in history.
I am proud to announce I will be presenting Feminists: What Were They Thinking for my Cinema Series Kat Kramer's Films That Change The World in 2015.
It seems that there is a need in our culture bridge the gap between the second wave Feminists and future generations of emerging feminists.
It's the first theatrical documentary of its kind, and it will no doubt open the door for other films on the subject of feminism and women's liberation. I spoke to Mary Dore about her journey getting her film made. "Believe it or not it has taken a long time" Dore explained. "You think there would be interest in this subject, and there has never been a definitive film made about the women's movement, but I had trouble getting grants. I started writing it before my children were born."
Why was it such a struggle? "I think because for some reason, the Women's movement is not a cool topic," according to Dore. "I believe it was the biggest social movement of its time."
This unique documentary mixes historical footage with interviews ranging from Kate Millett, Rita Mae Brown, to Vivien Rothstein, Chude Pamela Allen,and Nona Willis Aronowitz among others.It took at least five years to finish. "I didn't want to focus so much on stars for the interviews, but needed women who had their voices heard" explained Dore. This groundbreaking documentary was also co-produced and edited by Nancy Kennedy. There was a team of editors. "Because I had the passion but no budget, I got great discounts and many supported my efforts. I just persevered and did 90 percent of the work myself because I'm very persistent."
I have noticed the subject of Feminism in other recent films. For example in 2013 Paul Weitz film Admission starring Tina Fey featured Lily Tomlin as Fey's mother and she portrayed a "Feminist" character named Susannah. In the current awards contender Wild starring Reese Witherspoon, the lead character is a self-proclaimed "feminist." Witherspoon stars as the real life American author Cheryl Strayed who detailed in her book Wild her personal empowering journey as she embarked on a 1,1000 mile hike on the Pacific Coast Trail from the Mojave Desert to the Oregon-Washington border.
There is a new documentary in the works called Feminism: What Were They Thinking directed by acclaimed filmmaker Johanna Demetrakas (Womanhouse) and Executive Produced by Cheryl Swannack, Produced by Gretchen B. Landau and numerous other supporters.
This documentary focuses on a book from thirty seven years ago called Emergence by actress turned photographer Cynthia MacAdams which features Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Gloris Steinem, Judy Chicago,Kate Millett, Laurie Anderson, Ann Waldman, Michelle Phillips, Patti Smith, Mariel Escobar and Meredith Monk. It captures a "moment" in history.
I am proud to announce I will be presenting Feminists: What Were They Thinking for my Cinema Series Kat Kramer's Films That Change The World in 2015.
It seems that there is a need in our culture bridge the gap between the second wave Feminists and future generations of emerging feminists.