5FFF: Female Directors

​Daisies
The color! The editing! The FOOD!
But for real, this was really weird and fun. I don't really know what else to say about it, but it's cool for sure.

Cléo from 5 to 7
“I’m afraid of everything… birds, storms, lifts, needles… and now, this great fear of death.”
The French New Wave is generally something I appreciate rather than enjoy, but I really enjoyed this! It was slow to grab me, but the second half held my attention and then some. Corinne Marchand’s performance and Varda’s direction are both fantastic, but I think the best thing about this movie is its script. The dialogue hits the perfect balance of simplicity and profundity. I will definitely be returning to this one in the future.

Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce 1080 Bruxelles
Honestly, I was dreading watching this. I knew it was supposed to be great, but I also knew it was a three hour (and twenty-three minute) portrait of domestic mundanity. To my surprise, I actually liked it! Or maybe like isn’t the word— at the end of the day, I found Jeanne Dielman very interesting. Oh, and when I say end of the day, I mean end of the day. I started this watching this film when I woke up and finished it before I went to bed. I watched a bit in the morning, a bit while I ate lunch, a bit while I was on the treadmill, a bit while I ate dinner, and a bit before falling asleep. But I did watch it. Though I was often tempted to check my phone (a feeling many can relate to I’m sure), I resisted. I tried to let Jeanne’s day be a part of my day, so when I was watching, I was really watching. I would strongly recommend this to fans of international, experimental, or feminist cinema— but be warned! It is a long watch that requires your full attention. Though it will probably be a long time before I rewatch Jeanne Dielman, I can’t wait to check out Chantal Akerman’s other work!

The Watermelon Woman
Despite some obvious technical flaws, The Watermelon Woman succeeds at being an endearing and unique film. Though Dunye is clearly a novice filmmaker, she has good instincts and a very poetic sensibility. I know she hasn't done a whole lot since this film, but I hope that she gets more opportunities in the future, as more people go back and discover it.

A League of Their Own
So glad I finally got around to watching this one! I do think there are some rough patches, but this movie has enough heart and humor to make up for them. Apart from the good writing and direction, this movie has great performances. Geena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna, and Tom Hanks all bring their A-game to knock this one out of the park!

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What is 5 Film Film Festival (5FFF)?
In short, 5 Film Film Festival is an ongoing personal project to help me watch more classic films. For each mini “festival,” I will choose a random theme (be it a genre, actor, director, etc.) and curate five movies that fit that theme to watch for the first time. When I started this journey, I posted my brief, unpolished thoughts on Letterboxd. I like this more informal, less pretentious mode of watching older movies, so as I begin documenting the project here on the site, don’t expect a lot of in-depth analysis— every “review” will read more like a “first reaction.”

If you’re like me, and you have more than a few blind spots in your cinematic knowledge, then consider joining me on this lifelong endeavor. Watch along, recommend themes, and organize some mini festivals of your own!