When I was 10 years old, I dressed up as Princess Leia for Halloween. I dressed up as her because I admired her, and because I felt like I had no choice. My brother and I were both deep in our Star Wars phases, and I knew I had to match his Darth Vader costume with an iconic character of my own. Of course, as a little girl, there weren’t many iconic female characters to choose from, but I didn’t mind too much at the time. Leia was the first female character that I truly considered a role model, the first one that made me think: I want to be like her.
movie reviews
Movie Reviews: Best to Skip Big Buzz ‘Suicide Squad’
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Harley Quinn, play by Margot Robbie, is the main reason to see this anticipated blockbuster. A better bet opening this week is “Five Nights in Maine,” a somber drama about grief and mourning.
movie reviews
Movie Reviews: ‘Equity’ Steals This Week’s Openers
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Don’t compare this financial thriller to “Wall Street” or “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Invest, instead, in the finely defined female characters and the wonderful performances.
movie reviews
Movie Reviews: ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ Is Absolutely Delightful
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On the serious end of the spectrum, meanwhile, other openings this week include “Hooligan Sparrow,” a stunning, must-see documentary about the harsh reprisal against one Chinese woman’s provocative brand of activism.
indigenous women
Indigenous Women in Canada Reclaim Their Image in Photo Blog
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Tea and Bannock, a photo blog by and for indigenous women, has picked up photographers from across Canada and the United States. Its founder also sees it as an important way to communicate with the larger society.
movie reviews
Movie Reviews: Kate McKinnon Outperforms in ‘Ghostbusters’
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After all the pre-release flap over these proton-gun packing women in their beige jumpsuits, this reboot is bound to be a box office hit. But rewritten male-to-female characters in no way satisfy the clamor for more women’s stories on screen.
movie reviews
Movie Reviews: Magical ‘Our Little Sister’ Leaves You Longing for More
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The film opens the door for us to follow sisterly relationships. Another must-see opening today is “Captain Fantastic,” an exploration of family values, but skip the overly sentimental “Fathers and Daughters.”
movie reviews
Movie Reviews: ‘The Innocents’ is a Devastating Must-See
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The truth-based film looks at the aftermath of Polish nuns who were raped during WWII. Another amazing French film opening July 1 is “Microbe & Gasoline,” a delightful charmer that provides rare insight into the way kids’ minds work.
movie reviews
Movie Reviews: ‘The Neon Demon’ is a Thrilling Tour de Force
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Other must-see films opening June 24 include the femme-centric action thriller “The Shallows” and “Septembers of Shiraz,” a drama about a Jewish family in Iran who must abandon their home.
movie reviews
Movie Reviews: Pixar’s ‘Finding Dory’ Offers Deep-Sea Escape
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Another highly recommended film that opens tomorrow is “Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story),” in French. There’s also moviemaking news this week concerning Geena Davis and competing documentaries about Hollywood’s history of dismissing female filmmakers.
LGBT
Irish Lesbian Recounts Paralyzing Fear of Coming Out to Her Mother
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In “A Day in May,” journalist Charlie Bird interviews those impacted by legalizing same-sex marriage in Ireland. Here, Rebecca Murphy recounts her experience of coming out.