Reviewed by Cat for TeensReadToo.com
Throughout history, women have struggled to make their way in a world where wealth and power is often dominated by men. As Suzanne Simoni details the lives and careers of ten filmmakers, it's clear the film industry is no exception. Even in this, the twenty-first century, less than fifteen percent of directors (in and outside of Hollywood) are female.
FANTASTIC FEMALE FILMMAKERS isn't about bemoaning one's fate, though. Rather, it is a testament to the strength, determination, and not to mention creative and technical advancements that women have made in movie-making over the last one hundred years; a template for incoming and future generations; and an inspiration for following one's own instincts.
Starting with the first female director/producer/writer/actress, Nell Shipman, Simoni highlights a wide array of influential women from across the world. Among Ms. Simoni's subjects are Berlin-born Margarethe von Trotta, who aims to create thought-provoking films about women's internal conflicts; Mira Nair, who went against conventional Indian tastes by filming street scenes in Bombay; and Euzhan Palcy, the first filmmaker (male or female) to create a picture depicting the lives of black people on the French-speaking island of Martinique.
FANTASTIC FEMALE FILMMAKERS is an entertaining and informative primer on women and movie-making. This is a fantastic book for the aspiring filmmaker, or anyone who just wants to know a bit more about the history of celluloid.
Throughout history, women have struggled to make their way in a world where wealth and power is often dominated by men. As Suzanne Simoni details the lives and careers of ten filmmakers, it's clear the film industry is no exception. Even in this, the twenty-first century, less than fifteen percent of directors (in and outside of Hollywood) are female.
FANTASTIC FEMALE FILMMAKERS isn't about bemoaning one's fate, though. Rather, it is a testament to the strength, determination, and not to mention creative and technical advancements that women have made in movie-making over the last one hundred years; a template for incoming and future generations; and an inspiration for following one's own instincts.
Starting with the first female director/producer/writer/actress, Nell Shipman, Simoni highlights a wide array of influential women from across the world. Among Ms. Simoni's subjects are Berlin-born Margarethe von Trotta, who aims to create thought-provoking films about women's internal conflicts; Mira Nair, who went against conventional Indian tastes by filming street scenes in Bombay; and Euzhan Palcy, the first filmmaker (male or female) to create a picture depicting the lives of black people on the French-speaking island of Martinique.
FANTASTIC FEMALE FILMMAKERS is an entertaining and informative primer on women and movie-making. This is a fantastic book for the aspiring filmmaker, or anyone who just wants to know a bit more about the history of celluloid.
