Women Directors and Their Films

by Mary G. Hurd

Although women may have found greater film success in the areas of screenwriting, editing, design, and producing, there have been many women whose contributions as directors have been quite significant. In this guide to their careers and films, author Mary Hurd profiles the most noteworthy―from Barbara Kopple and her classic work in the documentary form, to Nora Ephron's insightful retellings of Hollywood's classic stories, to Sophia Coppola's current success in Hollywood. Women Directors and Their Films fills an important gap in the literature on the subject, offering a combination of biographical material and film analysis that effectively summarizes and encapsulates the life's work of these very different, very talented women.

The selection includes women of the studio age (Ida Lupino, Dorothy Arzner), contemporary mainstream directors (Amy Heckerling, Nora Ephron), independents (Mary Harron, Nancy Savoca), documentarians (Barbara Kopple), experimental filmmakers (Maya Deren), and an assortment of acclaimed international filmmakers (Jane Campion, Agnes Varda). Profiles of the directors contain both biographical and critical segments. The first, biographical section provides a basic outline of the subject's life and career; the second offers a discussion of the director's films, featuring comments on the narrative, themes, visual techniques and style, and possible critical approaches to the work. Each chapter also includes a complete filmography and brief bibliography.

Genres: Film

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 2006

Reviews

[Yasmin]

A very enjoyable book about women directors, worthy of three and a half stars. Unfortunately there has not been enough black women and other non white women in this field. However, the book gives a nice slightly detailed look at each director and the films she made. But I have to say from this I am still not any more swayed to watch the teenager film flicks than I was before regardless of a women director or not! Although thanks to this book there are some movies I had not heard of before nor director and I am now interested in watching their films and knowing more about the women that created them. There is an interesting look in this book at the making of each film and the nuances that went into their making. This book I recommend to anyone interested in the history of film and for anyone interested in Women's Studies.

[MM]

Biographical info -- some noteworthy omissions and uneven coverage, but still useful.

[Stephanie Graves]

If all you need is a brief intro to female directors and plot synopses of their major films with no interpretation or critical viewpoint, then this book is for you.