Entertainment: 5 Best Films Directed by Women in the Past Decade

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While women played a massive role in the beginnings of cinema, over the years they have been pushed out of the limelight. This is largely due to the fact that moviemaking has gradually turned into a lucrative business. As such, it is not surprising that women only directed around 15 percent of the top 200 movies made in 2018 and 2019. This, however, does not mean that women’s input into the movie making industry has been insignificant. Quite the contrary. Here are some of the best films directed by women in the past decade.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu)

Directed by Céline Sciamma (2019)

Marianne is commissioned to paint a wedding portrait of Héloïse in 1770 France. Héloïse, who has just left the convent, is not overly pleased about her impending nuptials. Since Marianne’s task is to pain Héloïse without her knowing, she follows the bride to be in secret. Set on a remote shores of Brittany, this historical drama gradually turns into a love story between the two women.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Directed by Marielle Heller (2018)

This biographical drama tells the story of Lee Israel, a celebrity biographer that falls on hard times. An alcoholic and a con artist, Lee spends her time forging and selling letters by famous personalities. The film is based on a 2008 memoir of the same name by Lee Israel. According to theGOODESTATE, Can You Ever Forgive Me? was embroiled in a minor controversy when it failed to score Heller an Oscar nomination in the Best Director category. “The film scored nominations for co-stars Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant, and the film’s screenwriters Jeff Whitty and Nicole Holofcener, but Heller was overlooked for a nomination.”

In Search of Silence (Namdev Bhau)

Directed by Dar Gai (2018)

Shot amid the scenic landscapes of Ladakh in India, In Search of Silence is Gai’s second feature film. The film follows Namdev, an aging chauffeur who becomes disillusioned with the noise of modern life and sets out on a journey to the mythical “Silent Valley,” or the most silent place in the world. Powerful and deeply moving, In Search of Silence reflects on our struggle to find peace in an increasingly more chaotic world.

Lady Bird

Directed by Greta Gerwig (2017)

The directorial debut of Greta Gerwing, Lady Bird is a coming-of-age comedy-drama that follows the trials of tribulations of Christine “Lady Bird.” The film focuses on the outspoken teenager’s hot/cold relationship with her mother, her small circle of friends and her deep desire to explore new horizons.

The Babadook

Jennifer Kent (2014)

Blending elements of a psychological thriller and a horror film, the Babadook is multi-layered and complex. The film tells the story of a widow and her six-year old son. When the boy finds a pop-up book after which the film is named, his mother starts experiencing paranoid delusions. But is her distress ill-founded or is the monster real?

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