Take the Lead by Alice Robinson

D A E L E H T E K TA

Take the

LEAD Women on top

Take the

LEAD Women on top

The roles women have played in cinema over the years has been as varied and captivating as women are in the real world. It is time we remind ourselves of the characteristics women have represented and shown themselves to be capable of more than just being a wife or girlfriend. As with the words of Reese Witherspoon "We need to see things because we as human beings learn from art and what can you do if you never see it reflected?" With female characters often being stereotyped as the damsel in distress, the love interest for the male lead, the sidekick. But women have been taking the lead and representing characteristics associated with male leads since the beginning of cinema. Yes, there are less of those films made but they are there and both women and men have seen them. This book will show a selection of the range of women we have seen to date on screen and will begin a conversation about what has changed in the types of roles for women and what hasn't changed. There is also opportunity to discuss how women took the lead in male dominated genres in the past but has since become a rarity. I hope that the book can be an inspiring read for women wanting to see strong female characters and a reminder of how diverse the female gender is. All images are not owned by myself. The majority of the written content is not my original work.

THE WOMEN WHO TOOK THE LEAD • 1952 - Kathy Selden - Singin' In The Rain CHARISMA

p. 8 - 23

• 1965 - Maria Von Trapp - The Sound of Music • 1995 - Cher Horowitz - Clueless

Women with

• 1998 - Mary Jensen - There's Something About Mary

• 2006 - Georgia Byrd - Last Holiday

• 1977 - Princess Leia - The Star Wars films

FIGHT

p. 24 - 39

• 2001 - Bridget Jones - The Bridget Jones films

• 1979 - Ellen Ripley - The Alien films • 2000 - Alex, Dylan, Natalie - The Charlie's Angels films

Women with

• 2002 - Eowyn - The Lord of the Rings films

• 2012 - Katniss Everdeen - The Hunger Games films

• 1939 - Scarlett O'Hara - Gone With The Wind FIERCENESS

p. 40 - 55

• 2003 - The Bride - The Kill Bill films

• 1961 - Holly Golightly - Breakfast at Tiffany's • 1977 - Annie Hall - Annie Hall

Women with

• 1991 - Thelma Dickenson, Louise Sawyer - Thelma and Louise • 1999 - Kat Stratford - 10 Things I Hate About You • 2002 - Frida Kahlo - Frida

THE WOMEN WHO TOOK THE LEAD • 1991 - Clarice Starling - Silence of the Lambs INTUITION

p. 56 - 71

• 1996 - Marge Gunderson - Fargo • 2005 - Carmen, Lena, Tibby, Bridget - The Sisterhood of

Women with

the Travelling Pants

• 2012 - Maya - Zero Dark Thirty • 2016 - Moana Waialiki - Moana

• 2000 - Erin Brockovich - Erin Brockovich DETERMINATION

p. 72 - 87

• 2007 - Juno MacDuff - Juno

• 2001 - Elle Woods - The Legally Blonde films • 2004 - Maggie Fitzgerald - Million Dollar Baby

Women with

• 2006 - Olive Hoover - Little Miss Sunshine

• 2010 - Nina Sayers - Black Swan

• 1939 - The Wicked Witch of the West - The Wizard of Oz WICKED

p. 88 - 103

• 2009 - Leigh Anne Tuohy - The Blind Side

• 1970 - Nurse Ratched - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest • 1990 - Annie Wilkes - Misery

Women who are

• 1996 - Cruella De Vil - 101 & 102 Dalmatians • 2004 - Regina George - Mean Girls • 2006 - Miranda Priestly - The Devil Wears Prada

THE WOMEN WHO TOOK THE LEAD • 1986 - Andie Walsh - Pretty In Pink BRAVERY

p. 104 - 119

• 1998 - Mulan - Mulan • 2002 - Lilo, Nani - Lilo and Stitch

Women with

• 2011 - Aibileen, Eugenia, Minny - The Help

• 2017 - Diana Prince - Wonder Woman

• 1991 - Belle - Beauty and the Beast INTELLECT

p. 120 - 135

• 2012 - Princess Merida - Brave

• 1996 - Matilda Wormwood - Matilda • 2001 - Hermione Granger - The Harry Potter films

Women with

• 2003 - Katherine Watson - Mona Lisa Smile

• 2016 - Katherine, Mary, Dorothy - Hidden Figures

• 1987 - Frances "Baby" Houseman - Dirty Dancing

SEXUAL

p. 136 - 151

• 2013 - Dr. Ryan Stone - Gravity

• 1989 - Sally Albright - When Harry Met Sally • 1997 - Rose Dawson - Titanic

Women who are

• 2014 - Donna Stern - Obvious Child • 2015 - Amy Townsend - Trainwreck • 2015 - Carol, Therese - Carol

Women with CHARISMA The word comes from the Greek “gift”, befitting the notion that allure is something you’re born with, and can’t earn. It’s the “It” that differentiated Baroness Thatcher from John Major, George W Bush from John Kerry, Lady Gaga at the O2 from her hundreds of imitators performing to tiny audiences in bar back rooms. It was also the difference between Marilyn Monroe and her alter-ego Norma Jean Baker. In 1955, the film star rode the New York subway, unnoticed by her fellow passengers because, she explained, she had chosen to adopt “Baker” mode. But when she emerged onto the city pavements, she asked an accompanying journalist: “Do you want to see her?” She fluffed her hair, struck a pose. It’s often said of Obama that he makes people feel like the only one in the room – he isn’t distracted, he’s truly present. That is what charisma is all about, exuding a warm and friendly nature and showing that you are present and listening to the person you are with.

THE RULES OF CHARISMA Accept introversion. Many shy people are very charismatic

because they tend to want deeper conversations and are great listeners. Although Kathy Selden in Singin' In The Rain wants to be a star and has all the talent and charisma to do so. She lacks the boldness that can give someone instant fame. Instead her good nature and talent wins over the right people to make her a genuine star.

Be present. Give people your full attention. When

Maria arrives at the Von Trapp family home in The Sound of Music she shows love and joy to the children who perhaps hadn't experienced much of it before. Her musicality and attention to their needs and personalities of each child eventually changes the attitude of their father.

Exude power and warmth. Cher Horowitz in Clueless does

just that. She is the most popular girl in school which comes from her confidence and warm personality. This gives her the power to persuade others to let her adapt their lives.

Be unique. Mary Jensen in There's Something About Mary has that x factor that makes every man who meets her infatuated. We see her beauty and charm but it is her undeniable good essence that makes her so irresistible.

Be vulnerable. Bridget Jones may not be able to charm everyone

she meets but she certainly charms the audience. She is vulnerable and shows her embarrassing moments that we all women relate to which is what makes her charismatic.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all in the voice. Georgia Byrd in Last Holiday is played by the always charming, Queen Latifah. Audiences love her voice and warm personality in everything she does but it is in this film where her character is faced with the end of her life that we join her on the luxury trip of a lifetime.

THE HISTORY OF CHARISMA AND CINEMA Charisma was likely the main characteristic for female characters when cinema began. However, this was more often so to be an irresistible love interest for the male lead. Charisma today takes that form the majority of the time still but with many exceptions where the woman is charismatic in a way where the audience goes along for the ride. We root for her to get the job, survive an adventure or just make it through the struggles of daily life. Women are often swayed away from playing unlikeable women or women with faults but this is beginning to change as actresses are craving roles that represent the diversity of real women. But charisma will likely be the top characteristic for women to possess in cinema but their other personality traits may vary to make each woman unique and different to represent the complexity of real women.

Kathy Selden: "This California dew's a little heavier than usual tonight." Don Lockwood: "Oh really? From where I stand, the sun is shining all over the place..."

CHARISMA Women with

KATHY SELDEN IN SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

1952

Fortunately, there's way more to Kathy than her movie star dreams and fondness for fibbing. For starters, she's selfless. When Don and Cosmo's hope for saving The Duelling Cavalier by turning it into a musical is momentarily thwarted by the memory of Lina's terrible voice, Kathy saves the day, the movie, and Don's whole darn career by generously agreeing to dub Lina's vocal track.

Don Lockwood is a popular silent film star who barely tolerates his shallow leading lady, Lina Lamont. To escape from fans, Don jumps into a passing car driven by Kathy Selden, who claims to be a stage actress and sneers at his undignified accomplishments as a cinema actor. The head of Don's studio, R.F. Simpson, shows a short talking picture, but his guests are unimpressed. Don runs into Kathy again at the party. To his amusement and her embarrassment, he discovers that Kathy is only a chorus girl. Later, Don makes up with Kathy and they begin falling in love. R.F. decides to convert Don and Lina's new film into a talkie but a test screening is a disaster because of Lina's comically grating voice. Cosmo comes up with the idea to overdub Lina's voice with Kathy's and turn it into a musical.

When Lina finds out that Kathy is dubbing her voice, she is furious and sabotages Don and Kathy's romance. She blackmails R.F. into withholding Kathy's credit for the voice. The premier is a tremendous success. When the audience clamours for Lina to sing live, so they get Lina to lip-sync while Kathy sings behind the curtain. Unbeknownst to Lina, as she starts "singing", the guys open the curtain behind her, revealing the deception Lina flees in embarrassment. When Kathy tries to run away as well, Don has her stopped and introduces the audience to "the real star of the film". Dan and Kathy start singing a love song. They are seen kissing in front of a huge billboard advertising their new film "Singin' in the Rain" with Don Lockwood and Kathy Selden.

Take the Lead - Women On Top

MARIA VON TRAPP IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC 16

"Oh, please, Captain, love them! Love them all."

Take the Lead - Women On Top

CHARISMA Women with

MARIA VON TRAPP IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC

1965

Maria is a woman who is seemingly unsure of who she wants to be in life but is actually a strong woman with a sense for how people should love one another in a family. She goes to work for the Von Trapp family and ultimately becomes a part of it after showing the children love and charming their hard, veteran father into experiencing happiness.

The widowed, retired Austrian naval officer, Captain Von Trapp has made his home one of overly restrictive and harshly enforced discipline, one that, most unintentionally, causes his seven children to be underfed when it comes to joy and love. Being a nun living in a convent is similarly restrictive and unfulfilling for Maria, who breaks rules to try to change it. The reverend mother decides that Maria, who is not cutting it as a nun, should leave and take on a job as governess at the nearby Von Trapp household in Salzburg. Through music and various outings, Maria gives the children a taste of a more fulfilling, joyous, life than they have ever known, and they come to love her very dearly.

The Captain grows closer to his children, too, coming to understand the value and beauty of the freedoms that Maria has given them. The freedom of all Austrians is in danger, for it is 1938, and Germany is marching into Austria. The Captain is a patriot, passionate about the fulfilling life that Austria has always offered its citizens. He is becoming more and more captivated by Maria, and is falling in love with her, and she, too, feels growing affection for him. Frightened by the developments, Maria runs back to the convent, where the reverend mother convinces her that she must face, rather than run from, the situation, causing Maria to return to the Captain's home. The Captain and Maria marry, but the Captain has been summoned, in a telegram, by the Third Reich to serve in its navy. Due to the Captain 's unwillingness to serve the Third Reich, the Captain and Maria resolve to leave Austria, and, after escaping â&#x20AC;ł[Shows] the children the pursuit of some Nazi officers, they set love and [charms] their out, with the children, for the mountains of hard, veteran father.â&#x20AC;ł Switzerland on foot.

Take the Lead - Women On Top

"Ugh, as if." 18

Take the Lead - Women On Top

CHARISMA Women with

CHER HOROWITZ IN CLUELESS

1995

Cheryl "Cher" Horowitz is a well-intentioned but superficial girl, who is attractive, popular and extremely wealthy. She sets out to improve those who aren't presenting themselves to the best they can be. This can backfire sometimes but it ultimately leads Cher to be the best version of herself in the end.

Cher has risen to the top of the high school social scene. She lives in a Beverly Hills mansion with her father, a ferocious litigator. Cher's best friend is Dionne, is also rich, pretty, and hip, and understands what it's like to be envied. Though Dionne has a longterm relationship with Murray, Cher claims that this is a pointless endeavour. Among the few people to find fault with Cher is Josh, her socially conscious ex-stepbrother. She mocks his scruffy idealism, while he teases her for being selfish, vain, and superficial, and says that her only direction in life is "toward the mall".

Cher plays matchmaker for two lonely, hard-grading teachers. She achieves her superficial purpose, to make them relax their grading standards so she can renegotiate a bad report card; but realizes she enjoys doing good deeds. Cher decides to give back by adopting a "tragically unhip" new girl at school, Tai. Cher and Dionne give Tai a makeover and initiate her into the mysteries of popularity. Cher takes a shine to a handsome new student, Christian, and attempts to secure him as her boyfriend. Eventually, it is spelled out to her that Christian is gay. Cher's "project" works too well as Tai's popularity surpasses her own. Cher fails her driver's test and can't "renegotiate" the result. Tai confides that she's fancies Josh and Cher says she doesn't think Josh is right for Tai. They quarrel, and Tai calls Cher a "virgin who can't drive". Cher reflects on her priorities and repeated failures to appreciate the people in her life. Cher realizes she loves Josh and begins making sincere efforts to live a more purposeful life, including captaining the school's disaster relief effort. Cher and Josh eventually admit their feelings for one another. In the end, Mr. Hall and Miss Geist wed; Cher's friendâ&#x20AC;łUltimately leads Cher ships with Tai and Dionne are solidified and to be the best version of Cher embraces Josh, and they kiss. herself in the end.â&#x20AC;ł

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MARY JENSEN IN THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY 20

"Who needs him? I've got a vibrator!"

Take the Lead - Women On Top

CHARISMA Women with

MARY JENSEN IN THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

1998

Mary is the subject of at least five men's adoration. Although we don't get to see how Mary lives her life as much, we see her charming, intelligent and forgiving nature that proves why she is so popular. Mary is comical in her positive energy towards all of her suitors. Mistaking his, erm, issue for hair gel is an iconic moment in the grossout comedy genre.

16-year-old Ted is about to go to prom with his dream girl, Mary Jensen, when he gets his scrotum stuck in a zipper, which cancels their date. Ted loses contact with Mary. Thirteen years later, Ted is still in love with Mary. He hires a private detective named Pat to track her down. Pat discovers that she is an orthopaedic surgeon living in Miami, and instantly falls in love with Mary as well. He lies to Ted about her, saying she is overweight with four children and confined to a wheelchair, to discourage him from having any contact with her. Pat resorts to lying, cheating and stalking to win Mary over, but is exposed by Mary's British architect friend, Tucker, who is heavily reliant on crutches.

Enraged after overhearing Tucker subsequently slander him as a murderer, Pat tails Tucker and discovers him to be a fraud himself: he is an able-bodied, entirely American pizza delivery boy named Norm who is also in love with Mary. For years, Norm has been driving away potential rivals, including one oft-mentioned suitor referred to only as "Brett." Meanwhile, Ted decides he still wants to reconnect with Mary and, assisted by Dom, drives down to Florida and discovers the truth about her. Ted seems to have won Mary's love, until an anonymous letter exposes his connection with Pat, and she breaks up with him. Ted confronts Pat and Norm, and Mary is accosted by Dom, ex-boyfriend that she has a restraining order against. He wants to reconnect with her as well, which she quickly refuses. When Mary is finally together with all of her deceitful suitors, Ted realizes that the only one who did not resort to lying or manipulation to win over Mary was Brett. Ted leaves tearfully until Mary catches up to Ted, saying that "I'd be happiest â&#x20AC;ł...her charming, intelligent with you" and they kiss. and forgiving nature.â&#x20AC;ł

Take the Lead - Women On Top

BRIDGET JONES 22

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces."

Take the Lead - Women On Top

CHARISMA Women with

BRIDGET JONES

2001 2016

Does Renee Zellweger's Bridget want a career, a thin figure, love, or marriage? Dear reader, she wants it all. Bridget is hailed as a realistic representation of women who crave the perfect body, career and romance but miss the mark more often than they would like. We laugh and we cry with Bridget and can all identify with her embarrassing moments and romantic short comings.

Bridget Jones is an alcoholic binger, smoker, overweight thirty-something British woman who tries to keep things in order and while also dealing with her job as a publisher. Her parents, try to set her up with their neighbours' son, Mark. After being snubbed by Mark, she starts to fall for her boss Daniel, a handsome man with a reputation for his playboy behaviour. Daniel reveals that he and Mark attended college together, he lies and says that Mark had an affair with his fiancée. Bridget decides to get a new job as a TV presenter after finding Daniel being frisky with a colleague. At a dinner party, she runs into Mark who expresses his affection for her, Daniel claims he wants Bridget back, the two fight over her and Bridget must make a decision who she wants to be with.

Three years later, Bridget lives a happy life with her lawyer boyfriend Mark Darcy, however she starts to become threatened and jealous of Mark's new young intern. With so many issues already at hand, things get worse for Bridget as her ex-lover, Daniel Cleaver, re-enters her life; the only help she has are her friends and her reliable diary. Bridget even manages to get arrested for drug smuggling abroad and has to use her connections with Mark to be released. Now in her forties, Bridget is struggling with her current state of life, including her break up with Mark. Faced with a competitive career with a young, trendy new boss and working out how to get fulfilment from her life. She meets a dashing and handsome American named Jack. Things from then on go great, until she discovers ″We laugh and we cry that she is pregnant but she does not know with Bridget and can if Mark or Jack is the father of her child. all identify with her.″

Take the Lead - Women On Top

"I didn't come here to make an impression on anybody, I just came here to blow every last cent I had."

CHARISMA Women with

GEORGIA BYRD IN LAST HOLIDAY

2006

Georgia is an ordinary woman with ambitions she has yet to achieve. Her life is abruptly changed when she thinks she has weeks to live and so she sets out to enjoy her life while she can. Georgia disregards the opinions of those with higher status and ultimately charms and encourages them to be more joyful and carefree in their lives.

Georgia Byrd, an employee in the cookware department at Kragen's Department Store in New Orleans, is a shy, unassuming woman who longs to cook professionally, and who records her dreams of a better life in a journal labelled "Possibilities". While flirting with a co-worker named Sean, she bumps her head and is taken for a scan. There she is told by Dr. Gupta she has several brain tumours. Since her HMO plan will not cover the exorbitant cost of an operation, Georgia resigns herself to the fact she has only a few weeks to live, quits her job, liquidates her assets, and sets off on a dream vacation at a deluxe hotel in the Czech Republic.

Determined to live life to the fullest, Georgia checks into the Presidential Suite, buys a designer wardrobe, makes extensive use of the spa facilities, attempts snowboarding, enjoys meals prepared by world-renowned Chef Didier, and wins a small fortune in the casino. One of the hotel guests is sceptical about Georgia's origins and suspects her of trying to sabotage his business, but the rest are charmed by her free spirit. When he bribes Miss Gunther to dig up information about Georgia, she finds a letter providing instructions for after her death. Miss Gunther realizes Georgia's self-confidence and sunny optimism have touched everyone who has met her since her arrival. Sean, having learned of her diagnosis and ready to acknowledge his feelings for her, arrives at the hotel and Miss Gunther finds a fax from Dr. Gupta, in which he tells Georgia she was misdiagnosed due to a broken CAT scanner. She rushes to announce the good news. Georgia and Sean return home, they get married and open a restaurant, which is visited by Chef Didier. Georâ&#x20AC;ł[Georgia] charms and gia changes her Book of Possibilities into encourages them to be the Book of Realities. more joyful and carefree.â&#x20AC;ł

Take the Lead - Women On Top

Women with FIGHT Movies with the most kick-ass women rank among the greatest action movies of all time along with some of the best sci-fi films ever, mostly because the badass female characters in these movies really know how to bring on the pain. Falling primarily in the action and sci-fi genres, these movies with badass women put the heroines in unfathomable situations they have to kick, punch, blow up, and shoot their way out of. While many would argue that women don't get enough powerful roles in modern movies, don't tell that to these badass female movie characters! These are not women you'd want to come face to face with in a dark alley. These hard hitting female characters are the stuff that movie legends are made of; the kick-ass films you hear about years down the road. It is no surprise that all of the women discussed in this chapter had multiple sequels because they were so greatly received by audiences. They each represented true persistence in survival and protection.

THE RULES OF FIGHT Be a leader. Princess Leia in the Star Wars films was one of the

Rebel Alliance's greatest leaders, fearless on the battlefield and dedicated to ending the tyranny of the Empire. She didn't need any man to rescue her and could hold her own when it came to repartee. Princess Leia is a character audiences got to see both as a young woman and later in life as a General for her people.

Be relentless. Ellen Ripley in the Alien films will be remembered

as one of the few female leads of the Sci-Fi genre. Nearly 40 years ago, Ellen was the sole survivor of an alien attack where she single-handedly defeated them with both her physical and mental strength. Her contribution to women in film is one that shows women can take care of themselves and be a leader for others.

Be physically superior. Alex, Dylan and Natalie in the Char-

lie's Angels films are professional private investigators and therefore skilled in fighting techniques. They each have their own individual fighting style but work together to track down their targets and defeat them (even if it is them against 8 burly men).

Be sure in your abilities. Eowyn in the Lord of the Rings is a lesser celebrated character compared to her predominately male cast mates. However, Eowyn shows that you don't need to be a man or an experienced warrior to play your part in the fight for your kingdom and kill the most feared creature.

Be hard and unemotional. The Bride in Kill Bill is by no

means someone you would want as a friend but she represents a no nonsense, vicious character that is usually exclusive to male characters. Her vengeance is based on revenge that the audience agrees with and so we join her on her quest to kill anyone who crossed her.

Be a hero. Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games is the teen who

is forced to step up to protect her sister but in the process becomes a leader for the oppressed people in her world. She uses her mental and physical capabilities to gather people on her side and defeat those who are causing pain to others.

THE HISTORY OF FIGHT & CINEMA Women in action films are less common than we would like as it is still a male dominated role. Perhaps this could be because it is largely, men who watch the genre. However, seeing as women will happily watch male centric films shouldn't men be shown that a woman can carry an action film just as well as men. The role of Ellen Ripley isn't clearly a woman, she doesn't have any plot points or character traits that could only be assigned to a woman which makes her identifiable to both men and women. With the genre of super hero movies still dominated with male superheroes, it might be up to audiences to demand women are given equal footing in this genre in order for movies to take note.

″Carrie Fisher's Leia Organa exemplifies moxy, ...she's calling the shots.″

FIGHT Women with

1977 2017

PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA IN THE STAR WARS FILMS

Carrie Fisher’s Leia Organa exemplifies moxy, and from the second she’s broken out of her prison aboard the Death Star she’s calling the shots. She eventually goes on to lead the Rebellion against the Empire and later becomes a General in the Resistance against the First Order.

In two periods of time we were presented with the character of Princess Leia. In the original Star Wars trilogy from 1973 to 1983, played by the iconic Carrie Fisher, Leia is princess of the planet Alderaan, a member of the Imperial Senate and an agent of the Rebel Alliance. She thwarts the sinister Sith Lord Darth Vader and helps bring about the destruction of the Death Star. In The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Leia commands a Rebel base and evades Vader as she falls in love with the smuggler, Han Solo. In Return of the Jedi (1983), Leia leads the operation to rescue Han from Jabba the Hutt, and is revealed to be Vader's daughter and the twin sister of Luke Skywalker. In the recent revival series of films in 2015 and 2017, Leia returned to our screens as the founder and General of the Resistance against the First Order. Princess Leia will be remembered as the badass princess who saved millions and didn't shy away from danger or the unknown. We were fortunate to see this strong character as both a young woman and later in life.

Take the Lead - Women On Top

ELLEN RIPLEY IN THE ALIEN FILMS 32

"This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off."

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FIGHT Women with

1979 1997

ELLEN RIPLEY IN THE ALIEN FILMS

Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley remains one of the most iconic women in film to date. Starring in four of the Alien movies as the lead role in the sci-fi action blockbusters. It was and still is uncommon for a woman to lead that genre and so the character is even more of an icon. Ripley was the only survivor of the xenomorph attack on the Nostromo and became even more of a bada** in the sequel “Aliens.”

Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley is on board the spaceship Nostromo on it's way back to Earth. It is diverted to a desolate planetoid and while exploring the alien ship, one of the crew discovers a large chamber that contains thousands of egg-like objects. One of the eggs releases a creature that attaches itself to his face and renders him unconscious. An alien organism bursts from his chest and grows extremely rapidly into a terrifying creature that starts killing off the crew. Ripley is the only one to survive and fights off all the alien creatures single handedly. But Ripley isn't afraid to show her softer side. Call her kind or call her crazy, but for all her spikiness Ripley does risk her life to save the ship’s cat, Jones. Not that he ever seems particularly grateful…

In the sequel, after 57 years in hypersleep, Ripley awakens aboard a medical space station orbiting Earth. Her story is disbelieved and she learns that the planetoid is now home to a terraforming colony. When contact with the colony is lost, Ripley hesitantly accompanies a squad of Marines aboard the spaceship to investigate. They discover the colonists have been wiped out. All of the marines are then killed off leaving only Ripley and a surviving young girl who had been living on the planetoid. Ripley not only saves the girl but destroys the alien creatures. Ellen Ripley featured in two further Alien movies, each time seeming to emerge as the sole survivor. Coincidence or not, Ripley plants herself in the history of leading roles as a fighter, a hero and a strong woman who ″A strong woman who uses uses her intellect as well as her physical her intellect as well as her strength to survive where others did not. physical strength.″

Take the Lead - Women On Top

ALEX MUNDAY, DYLAN SANDERS, NATALIE COOK IN CHARLIE'S ANGLES 34

Charlie: "Once upon a time there were three very different little girls who grew up to be three very different women with three things in common: they're brilliant, they're beautiful, and they work for me. My name is Charlie."

Take the Lead - Women On Top

FIGHT Women with

2000 2003

ALEX MUNDAY, DYLAN SANDERS, NATALIE COOK IN CHARLIE'S ANGELS

The captivating crime-fighting trio who are the masters of disguise, espionage and martial arts. When a devious mastermind embroils them in a plot to destroy privacy the Angels, aided by their loyal sidekick Bosley, set out to bring down the bad guys. These ladies may be hot but they aren't about to lose a fight.

Natalie, Dylan and Alex are the angels; they are talented, tough, attractive private investigators for an unseen millionaire named Charlie. Charlie assigns the Angels to find Eric Knox, a software genius, who was kidnapped by Roger Corwin, who runs a communications-satellite company called Redstar. The Angels infiltrate a party held by Corwin and spot a suspicious-looking man, dubbing him the "Thin Man", he gets away but the Angels find Knox, safely held nearby. They must determine whether the Thin Man has stolen Knox's software. The Angels infiltrate Redstar headquarters and plant a device that will enable them to explore it remotely. Dylan spend the night with Knox. Afterwards, he betrays her; attacks are made on Natalie and Alex, Bosley is captured by Vivian, and Corwin is murdered by the Thin Man.

Knox's kidnapping was all faked to get the Angels to help him access the Redstar satellite network. He plans to use it to find and kill Charlie for killing his father. Dylan escapes and reunites with Natalie and Alex. Bosley provides enough information of his place of captive to allow Natalie to deduce its location, an abandoned lighthouse. They are too late to stop Knox from determining Charlie's location, but they rescue Bosley and defeat Vivian and the Thin Man before Knox blows up the lighthouse. Knox flies an attack helicopter towards Charlie's house Alex reprograms the missile to have it shoot backwards, which blows up the helâ&#x20AC;łThese ladies may be hot icopter and kills Knox while all of the Anbut they aren't about to gels land safely together on the beach. lose a fight.â&#x20AC;ł

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Witch King: "No living man may hinder me." Eowyn: "I am no man."

FIGHT Women with

2002 2003

EOWYN IN THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Eowyn, played by Miranda Otto, a noblewoman of Rohan with dreams of being a warrior, gets her wish in the final “Lord of the Rings” film when she participates in the Battle of Pelennor Fields. More than fight, Eowyn slays the Witch-king, who no living man can kill, uttering the famous line “I am no man.” Although she doesn't win the affections of the man she admires; she successfully proves herself to be a strong, capable fighter that can out-do even the most experienced warrior.

In the original novel and Jackson's adaptation, it is implied that Saruman promised her to Gríma as payment for his services as a spy. In one scene, while mourning for her dead cousin, she is subjected to Gríma's obnoxious affections, which she spurns. This, even in the fantasy world, would have been out of order for a woman to refuse a suitor's affections. But she is not immune to love, we see her fall for Aragorn only to be left broken-hearted when he reveals he is in love with someone else. Tired of being seen as a woman that should not fight; she disguises herself as a man to ride into battle. She must fight with the Witch-king who is known to be impossible to kill, as many men have died trying. She succeeds in killing him and exclaims "I am no man." Éowyn is near death following her fight with the Witch-King; her brother finds her and screams in anguish because he fears that she is dead. She is later seen being healed by Aragorn. Éowyn survives the battle, shows her family that she does not need protection and proves herself as an immense woman with power.

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'THE BRIDE' IN KILL BILL (VOL. 1 & 2) 38

"It's mercy, compassion and forgiveness I lack, not rationality." Take the Lead - Women On Top

FIGHT Women with

2003 2004

'THE BRIDE' IN KILL BILL (VOL. 1 & 2)

After her groom and wedding party are killed by her ex-lover, Uma Thurman’s Bride goes on a revengefueled murder spree. Described as “the deadliest woman in the world” she is a character that packs a punch and strikes fear into anyone not quick enough with a knife. No she is not a good citizen but this was an important role for the woman to play the strong, action star, lacking in movies.

A woman in a wedding dress lies wounded having been attacked by the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. She tells their leader, Bill, that she is pregnant with his baby. Bill shoots her, putting her into a coma. When she wakes, she believes she lost the baby. Four years later, having survived the attack, the Bride goes to the home of Vernita Green; both women were members of the assassination squad. They engage in a knife fight, but Vernita tries to surprise the Bride with a pistol but the Bride dodges the shot and kills her with a knife. Resolving to kill Bill and all members of the D.V.A Squad. Her first target, O-Ren Ishii's parents were murdered by the yakuza when she was a child; she took vengeance on the yakuza boss and replaced him.

The Bride obtains a sword from legendary swordsmith Hattori Hanzō, tracks down O-Ren, and defeats her yakuza army. She duels with O-Ren and slices the top of her head off with a sword stroke. She tortures O-Ren's assistant, Sofie for information about Bill. Bill asks Sofie if the Bride knows her daughter is alive. Bill had taken the Bride to train with Mei years earlier, where he taught her a death blow that supposedly kills any opponent after they have taken five steps. In the present, the Bride uses Mei's martial arts techniques to break out of the coffin she had been buried alive in. She tracks down Bill and discovers that her baby, B.B. is still alive and spends the evening with them. She strikes Bill with Mei's death blow technique, killing him. ″Described as the deadliest She leaves with B.B. for a new life. woman in the world.″

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â&#x20AC;łNo one will forget me. Not my look, not my name. Katniss. The girl who was on fire.â&#x20AC;ł

FIGHT Women with

2012 2015

KATNISS EVERDEEN IN THE HUNGER GAMES

Originally offering herself up in place of her sister for the annual Hunger Games, Katniss, the archer from District 12, survived multiple games and became the spark of rebellion through the Districts against President Snow. Played by Jennifer Lawrence, this character already had a fan following from the books the movies are based on. She inspired a generation of young girls to take up archery and have the courage to stand up and protect others. She represents a young woman who could lead people into an uprising for what is right.

Katniss and her family come from District 12, a coal-mining district that is the poorest and least populated district in the dystopian fictional autocratic nation of Panem. Katniss volunteers to replace her sister, Prim, after she is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death. Katniss is a highly skilled archer, hunter, and trapper, having learned these from her father and Gale, honed to keep her family from starving. She uses her archery skills during the pre-games judging and receives a score of an 11 (out of a possible 12). She has been well educated on edible, medicinal, and poisonous plant life of District 12. Additionally, she has a singing voice that is so beautiful birds stay quiet to listen, also from her father, although she has been reluctant to sing since his death.

Katniss is a skilled tree-climber, which has benefited her in hunting and the Games. She is usually very logical except for times when her emotions get in the way. Peeta mentions that she has an effect on people around her, the image she projects, and he admires her for it. Katniss, following an alliance with Rue, a young tribute from District 11 who reminded Katniss of Prim but died in the arena, joins up with fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark. The pair compete in the Games together. Katniss uses her knowledge of hunting and archery to survive, and the two become the victors after defying the Capitol's attempt to force one to kill the other. Throughout the next three films, Katniss becomes a galâ&#x20AC;łKatniss is a highly vanizing symbol of rebellion against the skilled archer, hunter, oppressive Capitol. and trapper.â&#x20AC;ł

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Women with FIERCENESS To possess fierceness you need to be forceful, have your own sense of the world, and refusal to conform to any standards set by others. The women in this chapter all represent a persistence to be who they are even when faced with contentious. These women tend to represent the trailblazer showing that there is no cookie cutter for what a woman should be. Fierceness may take many forms whether it is physical or mental but the main thread carried throughout is their refusal to change for a man or anyone for that matter. Each woman in this chapter are different in who they are in the world and the challenges they face but they all are able to be true to themselves, protecting what they value and how they choose to live their lives. It is an important role for women to play as we see male characters able to remain themselves with minimal contention as to how they should be conducting themselves.

THE RULES OF FIERCENESS Be audacious. Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind is recklessly bold in defiance of convention. During the late 1800's when this story is set, women were supposed to be docile and marry the men their families chose for them and they were not supposed to contradict this. Scarlett doesn't let anyone tell her what to do and when she doesn't get what she wants she makes it known. She is a strong woman who takes care of herself when times get tough and is able to charm a man without changing who she is.

Be reckless. Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's is a woman

who does want to be taken care of by a man with money but she won't alter her personality for them. For the time, her misbehaviour was refreshing and reflected the changing attitudes of women feeling liberated to live their lives the way they choose.

Be witty. Annie Hall is just that. As a counterpart to Woody Allen's

character she doesn't fall straight into his arms and plays hard to get throughout the film. She is a woman who doesn't need a partner to complete her life, but a lover could make it more fun.

Be spontaneous. Thelma and Louise are women who have been

oppressed by their partners and abused by strangers so when Thelma is attacked they say f*ck it and hit the road. Yes, they are running from the police for killing her attacker, but the film is about female friendship and looking out for your best interest.

Be true to yourself. Kat Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You

is an ordinary girl who doesn't want to be like everyone else. She made mistakes when she changed who she was and has vowed never to change for other people's ideals again. This can make her lonely, but it ultimately leads her to the right person who truly understands her.

Be stubborn. Frida Kahlo was a real woman who lived a physi-

cally painful and mentally draining life. She may have had a tumultuous love life but her painting was her escape, to be bold, to take risks, to refuse to be bedridden because of her injuries. Frida was a woman who knew how she wanted to live her life and no one was going to stop her.

THE HISTORY OF FIERCENESS & CINEMA Fierceness is a niche characteristic that is probably not sought after as much as being in charge or being physically tough. But it is something that can take many forms in who a woman is. It is the part of a female character that defends their right to be who they want to be and to live their lives how they choose. In the past it has been more about women saying to men that they can behave how they want but in the future it should be about where that woman wants to take herself personally or professional (regardless of her love life). Perhaps showing more stories of real women as biopics about women are much less common than those about real men.

SCARLETT O'HARA IN GONE WITH THE WIND 46

â&#x20AC;łAs God is my witness, as God is my witness they're are not going to lick me. I'm going to live through this and when its all over, I'll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat, or kill, as God is my witness I'll never be hungry again."

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FIERCENESS Women with

SCARLETT O'HARA IN GONE WITH THE WIND

1939

Scarlett O'Hara is an atypical protagonist, she is vain, selfcentred, and very spoiled by her wealthy parents. She is somewhat unusual among Southern women, whom society preferred to act as dainty creatures who needed protection from their men. Scarlett is aware that she is only acting empty-headed, and resents the fashionable "necessity" of it, unlike most other girls.

Scarlett O'Hara is the picture of southern charm and is popular with the all the men. Ashley Wilkes is the one man she can't have but truly wants as he is promised to his cousin, Melanie. When he refuses her advances (as women would rarely make), she takes refuge in childish rage, and spitefully accepts the proposal of Charles, Melanie's brother, as revenge. Later, Rhett Butler, admires Scarlett's departure from accepted propriety. He pursues Scarlett, but is aware of her childish spite, and her fixation on Ashley. He assists Scarlett in defiance of proper Victorian mourning customs when her husband, Charles dies. Scarlett, finds her friendship with Rhett liberating.

During the civil war, Southern society falls into ruin. Scarlett, left destitute, hardens as her relatives look to her for protection. Scarlett becomes money-conscious and more materialistic in her motivation to ensure that her family survives, while other Georgia planters are losing their homes. She goes into business herself (well-bred ladies never worked outside the home) and engages in dubious business practices. Her conduct results in the accidental death of her second husband, and shortly after she marries Rhett Butler for "fun". With the death of Melanie, she realizes her pursuit of Ashley was a childish romance. She realises she never really loved Ashley and that she has loved Rhett Butler for some time. After telling him she loves him, he refuses to stay with her, which leads to the famous line, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." â&#x20AC;łOnly acts empty-headed, She decides to give him some space and and resents the fashionable try again another time. 'necessity' of it.â&#x20AC;ł

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HOLLY GOLIGHTY IN BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S 48

Paul: I love you. Holly: So what. Paul: So what? So plenty! I love you, you belong to me! Holly: No. People don't belong to people. Paul: Of course they do! Holly: I'll never let anybody put me in a cage.

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FIERCENESS Women with

HOLLY GOLIGHTY IN BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S

1961

Everybody knows the iconic image of the ever-graceful Hepburn standing in front of the Tiffany's store on 5th Avenue, quietly indulging in a croissant, dressed in a floor length gown with black gloves and a tiara to crown her messy yet elegant bun. Yes, she may have a habit of latching on to the nearest rich fella she sees, but Holly is a free spirit. In a manner quite different from the culture at the time.

Holly Golightly is the epitome of New York chic, roaming around in her cute apartment (which, her many male suitors pay for), wearing gorgeous outfits and throwing lavish parties. Holly (Audrey Hepburn) is living a dream life in New York City that many young women around the world would envy. Grabbing breakfast and turning down dates with perfectly decent men, she is one of the first, on screen 'manic pixie dream girl' characters that requires an experienced, sophisticated male companion to put her life in order. That man is Paul, an aspiring writer who grows close to Holly and learns about her transformation from country girl to Manhattan socialite. Holly's ex-husband arrives, hoping to take her back to Texas with him but she refuses.

Holly tells Paul about each wealthy man she plans to marry, which frustrates him. At Tiffany's, Paul has a ring engraved as a present for Holly. After spending the night together, he awakens to find her gone. Paul confronts Holly about his love and her behaviour, then gets out of the cab in the pouring rain and leaves, tossing the ring into her lap and telling her to examine her life. She thinks for a moment, puts on the ring, and runs after Paul, who has gone looking for her cat. She searches the alley and finally finds the cat. Paul and Holly stand in the rain, look into each other's eyes and share a kiss. Granted this character doesn't inspire independence â&#x20AC;łFor the time, it was a from needing men but for the time, it was a stand-out moment for stand-out moment for women to live their women to live their lives lives as they so wish. as they so wish.â&#x20AC;ł

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ANNIE HALL 50

â&#x20AC;³God, I hope he doesn't turn out to be a shmuck like the others."

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FIERCENESS Women with

ANNIE HALL

1977

The shiksa of Jewish New Yorkers' dreams, Diane Keaton's Annie reveals that Connecticut Wasps have their tsuris, too. Annie represents the perfect counterpoint to Alvy’s neurotic and nervous personality. Where Alvy tends to worry and think about things too much, Annie is more spontaneous and free-spirited. She lives her life through feeling and isn’t afraid to try something new and different.

Comedian Alvy Singer is trying to understand why his relationship with Annie Hall ended a year ago. Growing up in New York, precocious about his innocent sexual curiosity. After spending the day together, Annie shows no interest in sex with Alvy. Instead, they discuss his first wife, who was unable to reach orgasm. With Annie, it is different. The two of them have fun making a meal together. He teases her about the unusual men in her past. When they met, awkward small talk led her to offer him a ride up town and then a glass of wine on her balcony. There, what seemed a mild exchange of trivial personal data is revealed as an escalating flirtation. He suggests they kiss first to get it out of the way.

After they have sex that night, Alvy is "a wreck", while she relaxes with a joint. Soon Annie admits she loves him, while he buys her books on death and says that his feelings for her are more than just love. When she moves in with him, things become very tense. Eventually, he finds her arm in arm with one of her college professors and the two begin to argue whether this is the "flexibility" they had discussed. They eventually break up. He unsuccessfully tries rekindling the flame with a marriage proposal. Back in New York, he stages a play of their relationship but changes the ending: now she accepts. The last meeting for them is after both have moved on to someone new. Alvy's voice ″Annie represents the returns with a summation: love is essenperfect counterpoint to tial, especially if it is neurotic. Annie sings Alvy ...she is spontaneous "Seems Like Old Times". and free-spirited..″

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THELMA DICKINSON, LOUISE SAWYER IN THELMA & LOUISE 52

Thelma: "Let's keep goin'!" Louise: "What d'you mean?" Thelma: "...Go."

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FIERCENESS Women with

THELMA DICKINSON, LOUISE SAWYER IN THELMA & LOUISE

1991

Two best friends set out on an adventure, but it soon turns around to a terrifying escape from being hunted by the police, as these two girls escape for the crimes they committed. It exposes the traditional stereotyping of male– female relationships while rescripting the typical gender roles of the road movie genre.

Thelma, a ditzy housewife, is married to a disrespectful and controlling man, Darryl, while sharp-tongued Louise works as a waitress in a diner, and is on-off dating a musician, Jimmy. They decide to escape for the weekend and go on a road trip. Thelma meets a dude named Harlan who charms her, gets her drunk, and assaults her in the bar's parking lot. Louise finds a crazed Harlan and a battered Thelma in the parking lot. She points a gun at him and shoots him in the chest. Thelma and Louise hit the road and try to figure out what they're going to do. They decide not to go to the police, because Louise says the cops won't believe them. Meanwhile, the cops have found Harlan's body, and detectives connect the dots.

Louise: "You've always been crazy, this is just the first chance you've had to express yourself." They need money, so Louise calls Jimmy and asks him to wire them some money. The girls hit the road, picking up a sexy cowboy along the way, and are surprised to find Jimmy waiting for them. That night, Louise breaks up with Jimmy after he proposes to her. After Thelma sleeps with the cowboy, she finds out he is a thief, and he ends up stealing all their money. To make up for lost cash, Thelma uses the cowboy's tactics to hold up a corner store. When Thelma calls home, the FBI, who've tapped her phone, figure out where they are. Their plans come abruptly to an end when they hit the Grand Canyon. Surrounded by cops, Thelma and Louise decide to "keep going." They kiss, ″This is just the first chance then Louise steps on the accelerator, and you've had to express they plunge to their deaths. yourself.″ - Louise Sawyer

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KAT STRATFORD IN 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU 54

″Why should I live up to other people's expectations instead of my own?″

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FIERCENESS Women with

KAT STRATFORD IN 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU

1999

Kat is a feminist's dream, wrapped up in a sarcasm. Played by Julia Stiles, she doesn't conform to anyone's standards, going from being the most popular girl in school to being a social recluse and in the end she proves that time old rule that you don't have to be anything other than yourself to be accepted.

Cameron, becomes instantly smitten with popular girl, Bianca. Geeky Michael warns him that she is vapid and her overprotective father, Walter, an obstetrician worrisome of teenage pregnancy, will not let his daughters date until they graduate. Walter declares that Bianca may date only when, shrewish Kat does, knowing that Kat's antisocial attitude makes this unlikely. When Cameron asks Bianca out, she suggests that he find someone willing to date Kat. "Bad boy" Patrick, agrees to the deal, but Kat rebuffs his advances. Armed with information on her likes and dislikes, Patrick begins to win her over. He helps her when she gets drunk at a party, and she starts to open up about her interest in starting a band. She tries to kiss him, but he pulls away, leaving Kat angry. Joey offers to pay Patrick to take Kat to the prom so he can take Bianca. Kat becomes suspicious and angry when Patrick insists they go to the prom, an event she is adamantly against.

Kat confesses to Bianca that she dated Joey and, caving to peer pressure, had sex with him. Regretting it, she vowed never to do anything just because everyone else was. Bianca insists that she makes her own choices, so Kat agrees to go to the prom, and Bianca goes with Cameron instead of Joey. Angry that Bianca has spurned him for Cameron, Joey reveals his deal with Patrick and Kat leaves heartbroken. Kat reads aloud an emotional poem in class, revealing that she still loves Patrick. He surprises her with a guitar bought with the money Joey paid him, â&#x20AC;łVowed never to do and confesses he had fallen for her. Kat foranything just because gives him, and the two reconcile. everyone else was.â&#x20AC;ł

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FRIDA KAHLO IN FRIDA 56

[Carried in her bed, arriving at her exhibition in Mexico] "Shut up Panzone. Who died? Where is the music? You see doctor, I followed your orders. I didn't leave my bed.â&#x20AC;ł

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FIERCENESS Women with

FRIDA KAHLO IN FRIDA

2002

The film tells about her outstanding professional achievements and reveals her true life story. Kahlo was mainly known as Rivera's wife until the late 1970s, when her work was rediscovered by art historians and political activists. By the 1990s, she had become not only a recognized figure in art history, but also regarded as an icon for Chicanos, the Feminism movement, and the LGBTQ movement.

Frida Kahlo suffered a traumatic accident at the age of 18 when the bus she was riding crashed. She was impaled by a metal pole and the injuries she sustained plague her for the rest of her life. To help her through convalescence, her father brings her a canvas upon which to start painting. Frida was only twenty when she married rich and depraved Diego Rivera, Mexico’s most famous artist. She had a dysfunctional relationship with Diego. When he proposes to Kahlo, she tells him she expects loyalty ,if not fidelity. Diego's appraisal of her painting ability is one of the reasons that she continues to paint. Throughout the marriage, both of them are repeatedly unfaithful. Bisexual Kahlo even had an affair with the same woman as Rivera.

While in the United States, Kahlo suffers a miscarriage, and her mother dies in Mexico. The pair return to Mexico, with Kahlo's sister Cristina moves in with the two at their studio home to work as Rivera's assistant. Kahlo discovers that Rivera is having an affair with her sister. She leaves him, and subsequently sinks into alcoholism. Kahlo has an affair with Rivera's friend, Leon Trotsky, this angers him despite his own infidelities. Trotsky is later discovered murdered,both are arrested on suspicion of his murder, they are released without charge. Kahlo has her toes removed when they become gangrenous. Rivera and Kahlo remarry. Her health continues to ″She is regarded as an worsen, including the amputation of a leg, icon for the Feminism and she ultimately dies after finally having movement, and the a solo exhibition of her paintings. LGBTQ movement.″

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Women with INTUITION Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard the term intuition before. A gut feeling, a sixth sense, a hunch, a premonition, a third eye astral projection, psychic awareness, guiding force, inner voice and instinct. Your intuition is a repository of your entire life experiences. However, it extends beyond objective facts, reasoning and logic. It is more powerful than emotions. Somewhere between a learned and impulsive reaction. Intuition is there to guide your decisions. Picture a scene in a horror film where a character has a seemingly illogical response when a trip to a cabin in the woods is planned. That gut feeling; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s their intuition warning them of impending danger. Intuition is about listening to all of the information you have gathered and making a conclusion based on how you as an individual feel about the situation. The women discussed in this chapter possess intuition in ways that help them overcome professional and personal problems that can't always be solved just from the facts.

THE RULES OF INTUITION Be collected. Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs is a rookie FBI

agent tasked with speaking to a notorious cannibal. As frightening as he and the investigation is, Clarice stays focused, she listens to the information she has and makes the right judgement calls to track down the killer and solve the case. She trusts her skills and her intuition even though it is her first case.

Be persistent. Marge Gunderson in Fargo is also in law enforce-

ment as a police detective. She uses her intuition to join all of the pieces of her investigation together and takes down the criminals; all whilst seven months pregnant. That is a woman in control, who listens to her gut, and won't be lied to.

Be open. Carmen, Lena, Tibby and Bridget in The Sisterhood of the

Travelling Pants are ordinary teenage girls who are each at a turning point in their young lives. Carmen has to accept her father's new family and that they are good people if she can make an effort. Lena has fallen in love for the first time and although her family initially contest their romance due to a family feud, she trusts her feelings and admits her love for him. Tibby is a rather cold and cynical person until she meets a young girl who changes her perspective on life. Bridget is grieving the loss of her mother and struggling with her feelings of losing her virginity, with the advice of her friends, she trusts that she will work her life out. All of the girls believe that the jeans they found will help to keep them connected but in the end they realise that their bond is strong enough on its own.

Be real. Juno MacDuff in Juno is young, pregnant and faced with a decision. She knows that she is unable to give the child the best life and seeks out the best parent, the right choice for both of them.

Be decisive. Maya in Zero Dark Thirty is a woman tasked with

hunting down the world's most wanted man, Osama bin Laden. In a mission that takes almost ten years, Maya is ultimately faced with trusting her intelligence information to send in her troops.

Be faithful. Moana Waialiki in Moana is chosen to restore her island to it's original beauty and learns that it is with her intuition and understanding that saves the island and not through fighting.

THE HISTORY OF INTUITION & CINEMA Intuition is a valuable asset for any character but for a woman it takes her character to a deeper, mental level than a physical performance. It is a characteristic that has existed throughout cinema as women have played characters that choose how to live their lives, which decision to make and yes, who to fall in love with. Hopefully women will continue to be shown to use their intuition to save lives, solve crimes and navigate their personal lives as well.

CLARICE STARLING IN THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 62

"You see a lot, Doctor. But are you strong enough to point that highpowered perception at yourself? What about it? Why don't you why don't you look at yourself and write down what you see? Or maybe you're afraid to."

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INTUITION Women with

CLARICE STARLING IN THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

1991

This film is not for the faint of heart, but Jodie Foster shines as FBI agent Clarice Starling, brought in to work with the notorious Dr. Hannibal Lecter to help solve a gruesome crime. Clarice overcomes Lecter's sinister voice and chilling recounts of his killings to decode his riddles and solve the case.

FBI trainee and UVA graduate, Clarice Starling, is pulled from her training at the FBI Academy by the Behavioural Science Unit. She is assigned to interview Hannibal Lecter, a former psychiatrist and incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer, whose insight might prove useful in the pursuit of a serial killer nicknamed "Buffalo Bill", who skins his female victims' corpses. He offers to profile Buffalo Bill on the condition that he may be transferred away from Chilton, whom he detests.

Starling notices that "Louis Friend" is an anagram of "iron sulfide" — fool's gold. She visits Lecter, who is now being held in a cagelike cell in a Tennessee courthouse, and asks for the truth. Lecter tells her that all the information she needs is contained in the case file. Lecter gives her back the case files on Buffalo Bill after their conversation is interrupted by Chilton and the police, who escort her from the building. Later that evening, Lecter kills his guards, escapes from his cell, and disappears. Starling analyses Lecter's annotations to the case files and finds a break in the case. She pursues the suspect into his basement, where she discovers that Catherine is still alive, but trapped in a dry well. Starling reacts just in time and fires all of her rounds at the murderer, killing him. Unfortunately, Lecter escapes but Starling cracked a case almost single handedly, overcame the fears of the criminals and physically took them on to come out alive. She retains her feminine personality to the ″She overcame the fears point that she becomes the subject of Lectof the criminals and er's dark fantasies. physically took them on.″

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"I'm just doin' my 64

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INTUITION Women with

MARGE GUNDERSON IN FARGO

1996

By virtue of brains, determination, and patience, Frances McDormand's Gunderson unravels a crime without letting its darkness rub off on her. McDormand portrays Marge in a stereotypical "Minnesota nice" fashion. She is very friendly towards the people she meets, even while she's interrogating suspects. She is also very intelligent when it comes to her police work, often picking up on the criminal clues before other officers.

Marge receives a phone call about a homicide by Gaear Grimsrud and Carl Showalter, which left three people dead including a State Patrolman. Marge quickly, and accurately, concludes that the murders happened after the trooper pulled over a car, with dealer plates, resulting in the driver killing the officer and two witnesses after a high-speed pursuit. Records from the murdered state trooper's last traffic stop, placed at a local truck stop by two suspicious men, lead her to Jerry's dealership in Minneapolis, where she questions him. Former classmate, Mike Yanagita, tells her that he was married to a former classmate of theirs who died. Marge learns that his dead wife was never his wife, nor is she dead, and that he is the perpetrator behind a long series of anonymous harassments. Reflecting on Yanagita's treachery and lies, Marge re-questions Lundegaard, who refuses to cooperate. When she asks to speak to Gustafson, Jerry panics and flees. Marge drives to Moose Lake, where she recognizes the dealership car from the description. She finds Gaear feeding the last of Carl's body into a wood chipper. He tries to escape, but Gunderson shoots him in the leg and arrests him.

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Carmen: It would be easy to say that the pants changed everything that summer. But looking back now I feel like our lives changed because they had to, and that the real magic of the pants was in bearing witness to all of this and in somehow holding us together when it felt like nothing would ever be the same again.

INTUITION Women with

2005

CARMEN, LENA, TIBBY, BRIDGET IN THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELLING PANTS

Four teenage girls are best friends, who will spend their summers apart for the first time in their lives. Whilst shopping together, the girls find a seemingly ordinary pair of jeans that fit them all perfectly, despite their very different measurements. The girls dub them the Traveling Pants and decide to share them equally over the course of the summer.

Carmen is shocked when her dad introduces her to his new family; they're blonde White Protestants, unlike Carmen who was raised by her Puerto Rican mother. During her visit, they neglect her emotionally, driving her to throw a stone through their window, and leave. Tibby convinces her to confront her father. Carmen calls and tells him how she feels and he apologizes. She attends his wedding, where he makes a public apology for having snubbed her. Lena meets a local Greek boy named Kostas, but learns that their families are sworn enemies. Despite this, the two develop feelings for each other. Lena holds back, as she admits to herself that she is afraid of love. Kostas tells Lena that he loves her. Before Lena can answer, her family pulls her away. Lena confronts her grandfather and he agrees to let her see him. Lena confesses to Kostas that she loves him.

Tibby finds a young girl, Bailey, who has fainted, she calls for help, and an ambulance takes her away. Bailey becomes Tibby's self-appointed assistant on a movie she's making, which annoys her at first, but gradually grows to accept Bailey. She learns that Bailey has leukaemia and pleads with her to take the travelling pants so that they can help her. Bailey says that the pants were already magic by bringing her and Tibby together. Bailey dies a couple of days later. Tibby changes in her outlook on life due to her time with Bailey. Bridget develops a crush on her soccer coach, Eric. When Bridget's turn with the Traveling Pants finally comes, she puts them on that night and walks around outside Eric's cabin, Bridget loses her virginity, which leaves her feeling empty, even after she returns home. She tells Carmen and Tibby she is worried she is like her mother, who had severe mood swings, eventually resulting in deep depression and suicide. They comfort Bridget by reassuring her that she is stronger than her mother. Take the Lead - Women On Top

JUNO MACDUFF IN JUNO 68

"In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with."

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INTUITION Women with

JUNO MACGUFF IN JUNO

2007

Sixteen-year-old Minnesota high-schooler Juno MacGuff discovers she is pregnant by her friend and long-time admirer, Paulie. She initially considers an abortion. Going to a clinic run by a women's group, she encounters a peer outside who is holding a one-person protest for pro-life vigil. Once inside, however, a variety of factors lead Juno to leave. She decides against abortion, and she decides to give the baby up for adoption and finds a wealthy couple, Mark and Vanessa that she grows close to.

Juno, played by Ellen Page is a high school student who discovers that she’s pregnant. Being so young, she must find answers to difficult questions: what should she do, what will be better for her child, and how can she find herself? Juno isn't a typical high school girl, she's a proud tom-boy, is into grunge fashion and music and feels more mature than her peers. She still makes mistakes that she's not proud of but it is her reaction to these mistakes where she takes responsibility that makes her such a stand-out female character.

As the pregnancy progresses, Juno struggles with the emotions she feels for the baby's father, Paulie, who is clearly in love with Juno. Juno has an indifferent attitude toward Paulie, but when she learns he asked another girl to the prom, she angrily confronts him. Paulie reminds Juno that she broke his heart. Through her visits to the adoptive couple's home she has grown close to Mark. He confesses that he is not ready to become a father and has developed feelings for Juno. Juno makes decisions for herself and her baby for both of their best interest. She refuses Mark's affections and is upset that the couple's marriage is over. Juno then tells Paulie she loves him. He rushes to the hospital, finds Juno has given birth to their son, and comforts Juno as she cries. Vanessa comes to the hospital after Juno had made clear that she still wanted her to adopt her baby. She has ″Juno makes decisions for framed Juno's note, which reads: " Vanessa: herself and her baby for If you're still in, I'm still in. — Juno. " both of their best interest.″

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MAYA IN ZERO DARK THIRTY 70

"100% he's there. OK, 95%, 'cause I know certainty freaks you guys out, but it's 100." Take the Lead - Women On Top

INTUITION Women with

MAYA IN ZERO DARK THIRTY

2012

A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L.s Team 6 in May 2011. The film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow who became the first female Oscar winner for Best Director. It is a stand out role representing women in positions of leadership and in the war zone in what is a far from the traditional 'lady-like' role for a woman to play.

Recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1999 immediately following her high school graduation, Maya, who has been solely working on the Al Qaeda file, gets her first field assignment in 2003 in Pakistan as an analyst working with an interrogation team. The assignment is following the Al Qaeda attacks against the U.S. on the 11th September 2001. She is a reluctant participant in extreme duress applied to the detainees, but believes that the truth may only be obtained through such tactics. For several years, she is single-minded in her pursuit of leads to uncover the whereabouts of Al Qaeda's leader, Osama Bin Laden.

Finally, in 2011, it appears that her work will pay off, and a U.S. Navy SEAL team is sent to kill or capture Bin Laden. Before briefing President Barack Obama, the CIA Director holds a meeting of his senior officers, who assess that bin Laden being in the location identified, is a chance of 60–80%, rather than another high-value target. Maya, also in attendance, uses the "habits" intelligence to shore-up her conclusion to 100% that bin Laden is there. But only Maya is confident bin Laden is where she says he is. The raid is approved and is executed on May 2, 2011. A helicopter crashes, the SEALs gain entry and kill a number of people within the compound—among them a man in the building who is believed to be bin Laden. At a U.S. ″Recruited by the CIA base in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Maya visimmediately following her ually confirms the identity of the corpse. high school graduation.″

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...it calls me."

"See the line where the sky meets the sea...

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INTUITION Women with

MOANA WAIALIKI IN MOANA

2016

The Disney Princess we finally deserve arrives in the form of a fearless 16-year-old who hates being called a princess. Instead of learning to screw the haters and let it all go, Moana Waialiki, a teenage girl born into a long lineage of Polynesian leaders, learns to never accept limits in how far she can go.

Maui, a demigod, steals the mystical heart of goddess Te Fiti. The heart is a small luminous stone which has the power to create life. Maui steals it to gift it to humanity, but as he flees the island with the stone, he is attacked by a lava monster, Te Ka, causing the stone to fall from his hand and disappear into oblivion. Centuries later, we meet Moana, the princess of a small island in Polynesia, who has a special connection with the ocean. The ocean calls out to her but her family prevents her from ever venturing out beyond the reef, for the fear of losing her. As Moana grows up, she is told that a life of being the village’s chieftain awaits her. But her heart is set on venturing out into the ocean. The islands around them slowly begin to fade away and fall into disrepair because of the curse caused by Maui when he stole the heart. Several stories and secrets are revealed to Moana by her grandmother, which convince her that she has been chosen by the ocean to find Maui and restore the heart of Te Fiti.

She sets out on the ocean to search for Maui. When she finds him, she realizes that he’s an extremely self-absorbed, egomaniac. She has to get inventive and treat him with utmost respect in order to get him to find the lost heart of Te Fiti. Maui and Moana form a special bond; she teaches him to think about others and be generous, and he teaches her how to navigate and survive the waters. When they go to replace the heart of Te Fiti into the mother island, the lava demon Te Ka strikes again, breaking Maui’s magical hook in the battle, robbing him of all his powers. Maui loses hope but Moana trusts that she can fix Te Fiti, and replaces the heart of Te Fiti. Goddess Te Fiti returns in full bloom and the islands around Polynesia are rid of the curse that was causing them to perish and ″[She] learns to never accept restores Maui's powers. limits in how far she can go.″

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Women with DETERMINATION Determination is consistently doing what you need to do to succeed, with total focus and resolve, which can be incredibly difficult. And that's why the ability to work hard and respond positively to failure and adversity is so crucial. Resolve, willpower, and determination help successful people work hard and stick to their long-term goals. The women in this chapter all live different lives with different goals for themselves but they all possess a level of determination where no challenge or set back can stop them from continuing to strive for their goal. Determination often takes the form of the main plot of a film, with the main character/s striving to achieve something and encountering difficulties along the way. The audience watch how they deal with these challenges and continue forward anyway. Quite often they will face opposition from an opponent working towards the same goal, or there is someone that doesn't believe they can achieve that goal and make them feel unworthy. However, our focus is always on how the main character will overcome that in order to win or at least try their absolute best.

THE RULES OF DETERMINATION Be ballsy. Erin Brockovich is the woman who single-handedly brought down the energy corporation Pacific Gas and Electric Company to their knees and saved a lot of lives from chromium poisoning. It is quite a feat for an individual to fight against such a giant. She shows us not to back away from a fight if it is for the right reasons.

Be hard to intimidate. Elle Woods in Legally Blonde feels

that she has to prove herself to the man she loves but ultimately shows herself to be a credible lawyer in the making. She doesn't let those who are comfortable in that academic field intimidate her as she has belief in her abilities and stays true to her positive attitude.

Be good at delayed gratification. Maggie Fitzgerald in

Million Dollar Baby is older than most female boxers but she doesn't let that hinder her chances to compete. Boxing requires countless hours of training, failure and pain before getting the chance to attempt success. This requires the ability to keep going when you're only experiencing difficulties.

Be committed. Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine is one of

the youngest women featured in this book but she has big dreams just the same. Wanting to compete in a beauty pageant and she works hard at showing herself at her best. Olive doesn't care about looking like the traditional image of a beauty pageant contestant and has created her own goal for competing.

Be independent in your values. Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side is a woman with a big heart and a pushy attitude. Her determination takes the form of wanting to make a young black man's life better by helping him to achieve his own dreams. She ignores the rude comments made by her snobbish friends.

Be overtaken by the goal. Nina Sayers in Black Swan perhaps takes her determination too far and ends up driving herself mad out of fear she wouldn't achieve it. It is a warning to make sure you are strong enough mentally to handle the ups and downs that arise.

THE HISTORY OF DETERMINATION & CINEMA Determination has always been a common plot line in cinema as stories need to have that up and down premise that makes for an interesting ride for the audience. Women possess determination as much as men do in the real life and it does feel that it has been fairly equal in how it has been shown in films. However, what should change is that women's goals should vary more and be about more professional goals rather than meeting Mr. Right. These types of films should also tell the stories of real women and their accomplishments, especially those of women of colour.

ERIN BROCKOVICH

"I'm smart, I'm hardworking and I'll do anything. And I'm not leaving here without a job."

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DETERMINATION Women with

ERIN BROCKOVICH

2000

Brockovich is a real person, which makes this film all the more gratifying. Julia Roberts is on fire as the single mum and paralegal who ends up almost single-handedly taking down a corrupt California power company that was polluting city waters. Erin Brockovich represents the idea that women can do and be anything they set their minds to, even if it is in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Erin is an unemployed single mother of three children who was injured in a traffic accident with a doctor and is suing him. Her lawyer, Ed, expects to win, but Erin's explosive courtroom behaviour loses her the case. Her lawyer arrives at work to find her in the office, working. She says that he told her things would work out and they didn't; Ed takes pity on Erin, and hires her in the office. Erin is given a real estate case where the Pacific Gas and Electric Company is offering to purchase the home of a resident of Hinkley. Erin is surprised to see medical records in the file and visits Donna, who is being treated for tumours along with her husband, paid for by PG&E.

Erin begins digging into the case and finds evidence that the groundwater in Hinkley is seriously contaminated, but PG&E has been telling the residents that they use a safer form of the chemical. She visits many Hinkley residents and finds many cases of tumours and other medical problems, everyone has been treated by PG&E's doctors. Knowing that PG&E could slow any settlement, Erin returns to Hinkley and persuades all 634 plaintiffs to go along. While she is there, a man approaches her to say that he was a PG&E employee. He gives Erin documents, which include a memo proving they knew the water was contaminated, but did nothing about it, and advised to keep it secret. The judge orders PG&E to pay a settlement amount of $333 million. Ed hands Erin her bonus for the case but says he has changed the amount. She demands that she deserves more respect, but is shocked to find that he had inâ&#x20AC;ł[Erin] persuades all 634 creased it to $2 million. plaintiffs to go along.â&#x20AC;ł

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ELLE WOODS IN LEGALLY BLONDE 80

"On our very first day at Harvard, a very wise Professor quoted Aristotle: "The law is reason free from passion." Well, no offense to Aristotle, but in my three years at Harvard I have come to find that passion is a key ingredient to the study and practice of law -- and of life. It is with passion, courage of conviction, and strong sense of self that we take our next steps into the world, remembering that first impressions are not always correct. You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself. Congratulations class of 2004, we did it!"

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DETERMINATION Women with

ELLE WOODS IN LEGALLY BLONDE

2001

She's blonde, she likes wearing pink, she has a chihuahua named Bruiser—oh yeah, and she's a Harvard law student who can shake it with the big dogs. Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon, may seem inane to her peers, but that's all the more reason for their shock when she breaks all their expectations every single time— fabulously, of course.

Elle Woods is expecting her boyfriend to propose to her but instead is dumped. His reasoning that she is not serious enough for his political aspirations. Her sorority sisters encourage her to pursue him. Elle scores a 179 out of 180 on the Law School Admission Test and gains her admission into Harvard Law School, where Warner has enrolled. Upon arriving, Elle's contrasting personality frustrates her peers. She discovers Warner is engaged to another classmate, Vivian. Elle tells Warner that she intends to apply for Professor Callahan's prestigious internship, but Warner tells her that she is wasting her time. Elle realizes that he will never take her back and finds motivation to prove herself.

After several months of dramatic improvement, Elle is given the internship at Callahan's law office. They are defending a fitness instructor, who is one of Elle's role models. Accused of murdering her husband, Brooke is unwilling to produce an alibi. The defending team tries to persuade Elle to reveal Brooke's alibi, which she refuses to do. Vivian approaches Elle's dorm to compliment her integrity during the trial and reveals that Warner was put on the wait list when he first applied to Harvard much to Elle's surprise. After finding a break in the case Professor Callahan makes an inappropriate move towards Elle, which she is shocked by and quits the internship. Brooke then fires Callahan and hires Elle instead. Elle deducts, masterfully that Chutney, Brooke's step-daughter was in fact the killer. Elle won her first case and proved that everyone should take ″[Elle] proved that everyone her seriously. should take her seriously.″

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"I'm 32, Mr. Dunn, and I'm here celebrating the fact that I spent another year scraping dishes and waitressing which is what I've been doing since 13, and according to you, I'll be 37 before I can even throw a decent punch ...Problem is, this the only thing I ever felt good doing. If I'm too old for this, then I got nothing. That enough truth to suit you?"

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MAGGIE FITZGERALD IN MILLION DOLLAR BABY

2004

Maggie, played by Hillary Swank represents the word determination in every ounce of who she is. Not only does she master a skill at an older age than most, but her commitment to improving her quality of life and her contribution to the world shows how much you can accomplish if you persevere. Unfortunately it has a sad ending but she was a strong woman that achieved her dreams.

Maggie Fitzgerald, a poor thirty-one year old waitress from the very lower classes and with a dysfunctional loser family. Frankie Dunn has trained and managed some incredible fighters during a lifetime spent in the ring. The most important lesson he teaches his boxers is the one that rules life: above all, always protect yourself. In the wake of a painful estrangement from his daughter, Frankie has been unwilling to let himself get close to anyone for a long time. His only friend, Scrap, an ex-boxer, knows that beneath his gruff exterior is a man who has been seeking, for 25 years, the forgiveness that somehow continues to elude him.

Maggie decides to pursue her dream of becoming a boxer once she realizes she's in a real dead-end situation. Frankie is sceptical about women fighters, tells Maggie she's too old to start training, and tells her he won't train her. Undeterred, Maggie joins his gym, hoping that he'll notice her and train. He is equally persevering, knocking back all her requests to train her. However, eventually she wears him down and he trains her and manages her fight career. Her career goes very well and her relationship with Frankie grows strong. She now has a shot at the WBA title. Her opponent, the champion, does not play fair though and in her final fight, Maggie suffers spinal neck injury that leaves her paralyzed for life and in a great deal of pain. Frank must eventually fulfil her wishes to end her life

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"Yup,

fabul Take the Lead - Women On Top

DETERMINATION Women with

OLIVE HOOVER IN LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

2006

A little girl with a lot of talent and charisma. Olive's family have enough issues to break any person's resilience but she is a literal miss sunshine and brings the family together. She shows commitment to the pageant and being true to herself in-spite of the high standards set by others. Olive, played by a nineyear old Abigail Breslin, shows just how little you can be to achieve big dreams for yourself.

Olive, the youngest of the Hoover family learns she has qualified for the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty pageant, held in California in two days time. Her parents and Edwin; her foul-mouthed grandfather who coaches her, want to support her, but Frank, her suicidal uncle and troubled brother, Dwayne, cannot be left alone. So the whole family goes on an 800-mile road trip in their yellow camper van. Throughout the road trip, they suffer numerous personal setbacks and discover they need each other's support, especially after Edwin dies from a heroin overdose.

After a frantic race against the clock the family arrives at the pageant. As Olive prepares, the family sees Olive's competition: slim, hyper-sexualized pre-teen girls wearing lip gloss, adult-like swimsuits, and glamorous evening wear while performing highly elaborate dance numbers. It quickly becomes apparent that Olive (plain, chubby, wearing large glasses, and untrained in beauty pageant conventions) is a mere amateur. Olive horrifies most of the audience and pageant judges with a burlesque performance, choreographed by her Grandpa, that she joyfully performs while oblivious to their reactions. The pageant organizers demand her parents remove Olive from the stage. But instead the Hoover family join Olive on stage, dancing with her to show their support.

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LEIGH ANNE TUOHY IN THE BLIND SIDE

"You're changin' that boy's life."

"No, he's changin' mine." 86

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DETERMINATION Women with

LEIGH ANNE TUOHY IN THE BLIND SIDE

2009

Leigh Ann might be a petite southern housewife, but make no mistake, she is tough as nails and never gives up on anyone she loves, making her not only admirable but easy to love as well. Ignoring what people were thinking of her actions, she persevered with Mike in order for everyone to see his talents and his exceptionally good nature.

17 year old Michael has been in foster care with different families, due to his mother's drug addiction. Impressed by Mike's size and athleticism, the football coach gets him admitted to the school despite his poor academic record. Later, Michael is befriended by Sean Jr whose mother, Leigh Anne, is a strong-minded interior designer and the wife of wealthy businessman Sean Tuohy. Later, Leigh Anne notices Michael walking alone, shivering in the cold. Leigh Anne offers to let him sleep on her couch and asks him to spend Thanksgiving with her family. Slowly, Michael becomes a member of the family.

Leigh Anne's friends wonder what she is doing; but she rebukes them. Michael scores poorly in a career aptitude test, he has high "protective instincts". When he appears to be hesitant to use his strength and size while learning to play football, Leigh Anne tells him, as an offensive lineman, he must protect his quarterback. From that moment, Michael improves to play at college level. However, to do that, he must meet the minimum grade point average to get in, so the Tuohys hire a private tutor for him. Michael's mother seems unresponsive in the beginning, but she finally wishes Michael the best and allows Leigh Anne to adopt him. Michael improves his grades and is heavily recruited by many prestigious schools, he chooses the same one that Leigh Anne and Sean went to and says he chose that school because "it's where my family goes to school". Michael is accepted into college and says farewell to the Tuohy family.

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Erica - "What happened to my sweet girl."

"She's go 88

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DETERMINATION Women with

NINA SAYERS IN BLACK SWAN

The psychological struggle of a mentally delicate and innocent woman that obtains the lead role in the play "Swan Lake". We see her far descent into madness from the pressure of perfecting everything from the toxic people that surround her. Nina, played by Natalie Portman represents the dark side of achieving your dreams no matter the consequences.

2010

Swan Lake is the New York City Ballet company's next production. Many of the ballerinas aspire for the lead, which would have previously gone to the company's former principle dancer Beth before her forced retirement. No one wants the role more than Nina Sayers, who lives to dance, so much so that she wants to be exactly like Beth. Nina lives with her overbearing mother, Erica, a former ballerina who lives vicariously through her daughter. Nina is a technically proficient and hard working dancer who can easily capture the essence of the innocent white swan, but Thomas, the artistic director doesn't believe she has the dark passion required to portray the black swan. Nina convinces him and he gives her the lead. Nina feels that her place in the company is threatened by Lily, who encompasses the essence of the black swan. Nina, in doing whatever it takes to be perfect, descends into madness. When Lily transforms into Nina's doppelgĂ¤nger, the two engage in a fight that ends with Nina stabbing her with a shard of glass. Realizing that the fight never occurred, and she had stabbed herself, Nina returns to the stage. The theatre erupts in thunderous applause, the cast gather to congratulate Nina, only to discover that she is bleeding profusely. Nina loses consciousness, but not before telling Thomas that her performance was perfect.

ne."

- Nina

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Women who are WICKED I love a good female villain, because they shock or frighten a audience by violently bucking the gender stereotypes of women as fragile, maternal or compliant. A kick-ass female villain often has intense desires, a searing intellect and an intriguing glamour or mesmerising repulsiveness. Whether as femme fatales preying upon noir losers and suckers, supernatural vixens bent on consuming innocent prey, or conniving tyrants driven to achieve their ends at all costs, women have always proven fantastic villains. Melding wicked cunning, sexual magnetism, and hard-hearted cruelty to form chilling visions of malice and iniquity, they remain every bit as formidable and frightening as their male counterparts. Women are just as capable of being terrifying villains, and there are a lot more of them than you may expect. Women can be seriously scary, and they've been freaking us out since the early days of cinema. The women in this chapter range in the severity of the harm they cause but they all contribute to the conversation that female characters don't have to be likeable, but if you like them being evil that's just fine as well.

THE RULES OF BEING WICKED Be chilling. The nose. The hat. The cackle. The desire to kill pup-

pies. When it comes to giving children (and adults) sleepless nights, no woman has ever been more terrifying than Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.

Be heartless. Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

is a domineering maternal figure driven to control and punish in equal measure. Disciplining via doping, enfeebling through lobotomy treatments, and generally making life a living hell for the patients, Ratched continues to give nightmares to anyone considering an extended stay in a mental health facility.

Be un-hinged. Annie Wilkes in Misery is the embodiment of

stalker-esque craziness. A super-fan who finds herself in the enviable position of aiding her idol, novelist Paul Sheldon, the seemingly cheery Wilkes turns out to be a raging lunatic intent on never letting go of her new house guest, even if that means crippling him with a few solid blows to the leg with a sledgehammer.

Be cruel Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians. Her name an amalgama-

tion of Cruel and Devil, she is a rich, glamorous, heiress, married to a furrier, with no children. “If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will!” When the wealthy, fashion-obsessed heiress decides she wants to use the skins of 99 Dalmatian puppies for a fur coat. She is even more petrifying when she doesn't get it.

Be bitchy. Is there anything more terrifying in the life of a teen than being on the wrong side of the popular gang? Regina George is the ultimate bully and queen of the plastics in Mean Girls, where all it takes is a flick of her perfectly-coiffed mane for a fellow student to be relegated to the realms of social pariah.

Be ruthless. Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. You’ve un-

doubtedly heard of her, even if you’ve never met her. Her reputation precedes her, so much so that people can actually feel her icy presence before she’s entered the room. Miranda Priestly is the ultimate lady boss; it’s the “devil” part we’re not so sure about as you could ask whether she would be considered such a villain if she were a man.

THE HISTORY OF BEING WICKED & CINEMA Women have often had the opportunity to be evil, to play witches, conniving and ruthless women that hinder the hero or heroine's chances of success. However, too often these women either have to be deeply ugly so that the audience wants them destroyed, or they are the most beautiful women that use their looks to distract and deceive people. Hopefully there will be more films in the future that focus on how the women are mentally wicked regardless of their look.

THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST IN THE WIZARD OF OZ

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Which road leads to the Wicked Witch of the West?" asked Dorothy. "There is no road," answered the Guardian of the Gates. "No one ever wishes to go that way."

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WICKED Women who are

1939

THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST / MISS ALMIRA GULTCH IN THE WIZARD OF OZ

Margaret Hamilton plays the Wicked Witch of the West as a greenskinned witch dressed in a long black dress with a black pointed hat. This representation of the Wicked Witch has become a standard for what witches resemble and an archetype of human wickedness. Before Dorothy arrives in Oz however, Hamilton also plays her cruel neighbour Miss Gultch who wants Dorothy's dog Toto killed.

She is the sister of the Wicked Witch of the East who is killed by Dorothy's house when it lands in Oz. She demands the Munchkins reveal who killed her sister, not long after Dorothy's arrival in Oz. She is described by Glinda the Good Witch of the North, as "worse than the other one". She actively seeks revenge against Dorothy for killing her sister, even though it was "accidental". However, as soon as the Witch is reminded of the ruby slippers, all interest in her sister's death vanishes and all she cares about are obtaining "her" slippers, which will enable her to conquer Oz. She makes sure that Dorothy knows her power when Dorothy meets the Scarecrow by throwing a ball of fire at them.

Before Dorothy and her friends get to the city, the Witch casts a sleeping spell over a field of poppies through which the group must pass. Glinda remotely counteracts the spell with a snowfall. The Wicked Witch then flies on her broom over the Emerald City, demanding that the citizens of the Emerald City surrender Dorothy to her, and the Wizard demands the destruction of the Witch, with her broom as proof, in exchange for granting the wishes of Dorothy and her companions. The Wicked Witch sends the Winged Monkeys as the first wave of attack. She is killed when Dorothy throws a bucket of water on her, in attempt to put out a fire the witch bestowed on the Scarecrow. The character ranks No. 4 in the American Film Institute's list of the 50 Best Movie Villains of All Time, making her the highest ranking female villain. Take the Lead - Women On Top

â&#x20AC;łA cold, heartless tyrant, Nurse Ratched became the stereotype of the nurse as a battleaxe.â&#x20AC;ł

WICKED Women who are

NURSE RATCHED IN ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

1970

A cold, heartless tyrant, Nurse Ratched became the stereotype of the nurse as a battleaxe. She has also become a popular metaphor for the corrupting influence of power and authority in bureaucracies such as the mental institution in which the film is set. She may not be likeable, well-mannered or gorgeous but when was that ever an issue for male characters.

Nurse Ratched, "Big Nurse" is the head administrative nurse at the Salem State Hospital, a mental institution where she exercises near-absolute power over the patients' access to their medications, privileges, and basic necessities such as food and toiletries. She capriciously revokes these privileges whenever a patient displeases her. Her superiors turn a blind eye because she maintains order and keeps the patients from acting out, either through drugs or her own brand of psychotherapy, of humiliating patients into doing her bidding.

When Randle McMurphy arrives at the hospital, however, he flouts her rules with impunity, and inspires other patients to follow. Her attempts to cow him into submission with threats, mild punishments, and then with shock therapy, are unsuccessful, serving only to fuel his defiance. Eventually McMurphy sneaks his prostitute girlfriend into the asylum to relieve fellow patient Billy of his virginity. Ratched threatens to tell Billy's mother about the transgression. Frightened, Billy commits suicide. Enraged, McMurphy attacks her and very nearly chokes her to death. In retribution, Ratched has Randle McMurphy lobotomised. Chief Bromden, another patients mothers McMurphy as a mercy killing. With Randle McMurphy gone, Ratched's order is restored, but her power has vanished; the patients no longer fear her, and she communicates through writâ&#x20AC;łShe may not be likeable ing in a notepad as she can no longer but when was that ever an speak due to the strangulation attempt. issue for male characters.â&#x20AC;ł

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ANNIE WILKES IN MISERY

"I'm your number one fan." 98

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WICKED Women who are

ANNIE WILKES IN MISERY

1990

Kathy Bates plays a writer's nightmare, willing to make the novelist who killed off her favourite character, Misery Chastain, wish he were dead. When seeking a Bateslevel thriller, tread lightly. There are spine-chilling scenes in this one to haunt your dreams forever. But Kathy Bates delivers as always in a psychopathic role for the ages.

Famed novelist Paul Sheldon is the author of a successful series of romance novels featuring a character named Misery. Wanting to launch his post-Misery career, he writes a more serious manuscript. Paul is caught in a blizzard and crashes his car, rendering him unconscious. Nurse, Annie Wilkes finds Paul and brings him to her remote home. He wakes up, bedridden with a dislocated shoulder and broken legs. Annie claims to be his "number one fan" so Paul lets her read his new book. She is angered by the profanity in it and spills soup on him but apologizes. Soon after, Annie reads the latest Misery novel, discovers that Misery dies at the end of the book and flies into a rage. She reveals that nobody knows where Paul is, and locks him in his room.

Annie forces Paul to burn his new manuscript. Believing Annie might kill him, he complies to write a new novel, where Misery is brought back to life. When Annie is away, Paul finds a scrapbook of newspaper clippings about how she was tried for the deaths of several infants, but the trial collapsed. Annie drugs Paul and straps him to the bed after finding out he has been out of his room and breaks his ankles with a sledgehammer. A shopkeeper informs the sheriff that he has sold Annie a lot of typing paper, so he pays Annie a visit. She shoots him after finding Paul in the basement and tells Paul that they must die together. He reasons with her that he must finish the novel in order to "give Misery back to the world". When the manuscript is done, Paul asks for a cigarette to celebrate and Annie complies, but "Willing to make her Paul use the match to burn the manuscript favourite novelist wish instead. They fight and Annie is killed. he were dead.

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CRUELLA DE VIL IN 101 & 102 DALMATIANS

"We lose more women to marriage than war, famine, and disease."

100

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WICKED Women who are

1996 2000

CRUELLA DE VIL IN 101 & 102 DALMATIANS

Glenn Close portrayed Cruella de Vil in the 1996 film 101 Dalmatians and its 2000 sequel 102 Dalmatians. The film reinvented Cruella as the vindictive, snobbish and very glamorous magnate of a haute couture fashion house, "House of DeVil", which specialised in fur couture. Close's performance was universally well-received and her sex appeal as the character was also credited.

It is revealed that Cruella has secretly had her henchmen slaughter a white Siberian tiger at London Zoo for its pelt. When Cruella learns of her former employees new dalmatian puppies she plots to kidnap them and make a coat from their fur. The puppies escape while her henchmen are preparing to do the work. Cruella is subsequently thrown into a vat of molasses and a pig pen when she tries to track them to a farm. She is arrested and sent to prison, with the Dearlys taking over her house after Roger's latest video game proves a success when he makes a villain based on Cruella.

In 102 Dalmatians, Cruella was cured of her fur addiction and released from prison on parole. She insisted on being called "Ella" because "Cruella sounds so... cruel". Reformed, completely devoted to saving animals, she was scared by even the smallest sight of fur fashion. Unfortunately, this new persona was not to last for long. Once Big Ben's chimes jolted her brain waves back into Cruella, her old habits returned, with Cruella redesigning the sketch of the original Dalmatian coat to include a hood specifically so that she can use three more puppies (the children of Dipstick, one of the Dearlys' original fifteen puppies) to make the coat on top of the original ninety-nine puppies required. However, despite her efforts to distract attention from herself by framing the owner of the Second Chance Dog Shelter for her crimes, her plans are discovered by her parole officer, Dipstick's owner. Cruella is lured into a trap where she is literally baked into â&#x20AC;łVindictive, snobbish and a massive cake and arrested and sentenced very glamorous magnate to life in prison for her actions. of haute couture.â&#x20AC;ł

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Miss Norbury: "Raise your hand if you've ever felt personally victimised by Regina George." [Entire sports hall raises their hands, including teachers.]

WICKED Women who are

REGINA GEORGE IN MEAN GIRLS

2004

Regina George, played by Rachel McAdams, is the main antagonist of the movie Mean Girls, and leader of The Plastics. Regina is a highly intelligent, calculating, ruthless, narcissistic, manipulative, and vindictively vengeful socio-path, capable of doing anything to get what she wants. Regina only had followers because she mastered making girls feel inferior next to her for her attractiveness, and used guys to feel superior out of their attention.

'Plain Jane', Cady Heron moves from the bush country of Africa. She goes to a new school where she meets Janis and Damian. Her new friends warn her to stay away from the Plastics: the A-list, popular, crude, and beautiful clique headed by Regina George who is followed around everywhere by her best friends, Karen and Gretchen, who according to Damian are "just her little workers." The special ingredient behind Regina's control was two things – sex appeal and the insecurity of others. "She's fabulous but evil," said Damian. When Cady falls for Aaron Samuels, Regina's ex, but when Regina discovers this, she seeks revenge by taking and dangling Aaron in front of her.

Now Cady, Janis, and Damian plot to bring Regina's status down, they make her gain weight, expose her cheating on Aaron and ultimately looses her top dog position in the school to Cady who has morphed into an image obsessed, mean girl just like them. Regina takes 'the burn book' full of mean comments about all of the girls in the school and distributes thousands of photocopies throughout the hallways, blaming this on Cady, Karen and Gretchen. A huge physical fight between all of the girls forces the teachers to intervene. After an emotional confessional between all the girls, it is revealed just how manipulative Cady's plot to take down the plastics was. Regina storms out of the school but is hit by a bus. Later, at the school dance, Cady wins Homecoming queen and dedicates part of the award to Regina and they appear to resolve their feud. In her Senior year, after her spine healed, she played for the Lacrosse team to use her aggression positively. She still maintained a mutual respect with Cady Heron, but her ″She's fabulous appearance didn't change. - Damian

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but evil.″

103

MIRANDA PRIESTLY IN THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

"Everybody wants to be us." - Miranda 104

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WICKED Women who are

MIRANDA PRIESTLY IN THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

2006

Andy Sachs is a do-gooder fresh from college who just wants to journalize. Unfortunately the only job interview she can snag is with the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most influential fashion magazine, run by icy doyenne Miranda Priestly. As Priestly, Meryl Streep conveys a dry, breakneck elitism tempered by wounded pride and family dysfunction. Presumably Andy is the hero, but you find yourself siding with Miranda and appreciating her frustration with the parade of fools before her.

Despite her disdain for the fashion industry, Andy lands a job as personal assistant to Miranda Priestly, editor-in-chief of Runway magazine. Andy plans to put up with her excessive demands for a year in the hopes of getting a job as a writer somewhere else. At first, Andy fits in poorly with her gossipy, fashion-conscious co-workers, especially Miranda's senior assistant, Emily. However, she finds an ally in art director Nigel, learns her responsibilities and begins to dress more stylishly to show her commitment. As she spends increasing amounts of time at Miranda's beck and call, problems arise in her relationships with her friends and boyfriend.

Later on, she accomplished Miranda's "impossible" task, thus saving her job. Andy begins to outperform Emily, and aligns herself to the Runway philosophy. Miranda rewards her by offering to take her to the fashion shows in Paris instead of Emily. Andy hesitates but accepts the offer fearing she will lose her job if she declines. Once there, Miranda, without makeup, opens up to Andy about the effects another divorce will have on her daughters. Andy learns about a plan to replace Miranda as editor of Runway and attempts to warn Miranda. She already knew and managed to alter the plans, but in the process looses Nigel his dream job. She tells Andy that she reminds her of herself but Andy says she would never do what Miranda did to Nigel. Miranda says by stepping over Emily to go to Paris, she already had. Andy leaves Miranda, Runway, and fashion behind.

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Women with BRAVERY Bravery isn't always a characteristic reserved for the battlefield but when it does women have played their part there as well. However, we as people know, bravery is something we all must possess in order to do certain tasks or challenges that we consider scary or the unknown. From superheroes to animated adventures to true stories of overcoming adversity, many great films feature courageous characters standing up for what they believe in. But courage isn't only about fighting monsters and bad guys. It can be demonstrated by stepping up for someone, sharing work with others, or simply being yourself. There are those women out there in the world who are capable of inspiring others to achieve great deeds, and they’re capable of accomplishing even the most difficult tasks in life by themselves, too. They’re strong and independent, wise and successful, talented and brave and can teach all of us a lot.

THE RULES OF BRAVERY Be proud of who you are. Andie Walsh in Pretty In Pink

modernized the “rags to riches” fairy tale with “working class versus wealthy” social dynamics unfolding in high school. Andie is a fashion-forward self-styled music head working at a record shop. Andie shows bravery in her handling of the bullies at her school and her unwillingness to conform. Being an adolescent is so much about exploring one’s own identity and Andie is a great example.

Be resilient. Whoever said Disney princesses are frail and deli-

cate haven’t watched Mulan. Disney's attempt to break its own stereotypes met with a successful end with this fierce heroine who fought along with the men to save the kingdom from the Huns.

Be strong. Lilo and Nani in Lilo and Stitch. An outcast orphan with

a will of her own, Lilo goes from dance school misfit to saviour of the world, and mainly by just being herself. Nani is faced with taking care of her young sister and unique pet while trying to secure a job as well. Both young women are brave enough to cope with the loss of their parents and survive an alien attack!

Be able to stand up for what is right. Aibileen, Eu-

genia and Minny in The Help. Set during the Civil Rights era in 1963. The educated Eugenia sees what everyone combined fails to see. And she increasingly gets averse to the attitude of her friends towards their helps, who are people of colour. But it is the bravery of the African-American maids who show true bravery in the face of prejudice.

Be able to make the right decision. Princess Merida in

Brave is a skilled archer named Merida chooses her own path in life, defying the powerful Scottish clans and their leaders. She goes to a recluse for advice, who not only refuses to help but imposes on a dangerous spell on Merida. This young princess has to rely on her own bravery to break the curse.

Be a warrior. Diana Prince in Wonder Woman is heroic. She is brilliant but unsophisticated; brave but sometimes reckless; compassionate yet stubborn; idealistic yet capable of deadly force when there’s no other choice; endowed with astounding powers but as yet unsure of how to harness and master all her gifts.

THE HISTORY OF BRAVERY & CINEMA In the past, women in film have been successful in showing bravery for every reason that real women have experienced (except maybe in circumstances involving aliens).Actress Jessica Chastain, said that she hopes “when we include female storytellers they will be more like the women I know in real life. They are proactive, have their own point of view and don’t just react to men around them.” In the future, films should tell more stories of women who were brave in ways that saved lives, showed leadership or survival.

"they didn't break

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BRAVERY Women with

ANDIE WALSH IN PRETTY IN PINK

1986

Andie, played by Brat Pack alum Molly Ringwald, doesn't fall into any of the classic stereotypes of an '80s teen flick. She's not popular or blonde, an athlete or a dancer. She's a smart kid from the poor side of town who designs all her own outfits, doesn't let anyone bully her, and even snags the heart of the handsome and popular Blane in the end. Andie never conformed to be like the popular crowd, she represents the ordinary girl who embraced her individuality.

Andie is juggling her senior year of high school and her unemployed father who has always wanted the best for her. Her best friend, Duckie is secretly in love with her and both are bullied by the arrogant rich kids, specifically Steff, who is secretly interested in her. On a date with popular guy, Blane, he takes her to a house party where she feels completely out of place. She tells him that she wants to go home, but doesn't want him to see where she lives. She eventually allows him to drop her off and he asks her to the prom. Blane, pressured by Steff, begins distancing himself from Andie. At school, she confronts Blane for avoiding her and when asked about prom, he claims that he forgot he had already asked somebody else. Using the fabric from two different dresses, Andie creates a new pink prom dress, completely unique but jaw dropping to everyone when she arrives at prom. Blane confronts Steff and finally realises that he resents Andie because she had turned him down. Blane apologises to her, telling her that he always believed in her and will always love her. Duckie concedes that Blane is not like the other rich kids at school and tells Andie to go after him, she catches up with Blane in the parking lot and they kiss.

me." Take the Lead - Women On Top

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MULAN 112

"When will my reflection show, who I am inside."

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BRAVERY Women with

MULAN

1998

Refusing to sit on the sidelines in the war against the Huns, Mulan, voiced by Ming-Na Wen, joins the army (disguised as a man) and quickly proves herself to be the creme of the crop. Mulan's decision to commit this deception was not just to protect her father but to live out the version of herself that was strong and capable of fighting just like a man could. She represents women that won't be limited by the stereotypes of their gender.

Mulan is a young woman who isn't happy with how she is being trained to be a "good woman" wearing makeup and neat hairstyles. Conscription notices require one man from each family to join the Chinese army. When Mulan hears that her elderly father Fa Zhou, is once more to go to war, she becomes anxious due to his weakening health. Taking her father's old armour, she disguises herself as a man, so that she can enlist instead. Reporting to the training camp, Mulan is able to pass as a man, although her military skills are initially lacking. Under the command of Captain Li Shang, she and her fellow recruits, gradually become trained warriors. They are ambushed by the Huns, but Mulan cleverly uses a cannon to cause an avalanche, which buries most of the invaders.

An enraged Shan slashes her in the chest, and her deception is revealed. Instead of executing Mulan as the law requires, Shang spares her life, but expels her from the army. Mulan follows as the recruits depart. However, it is revealed that several Hun warriors, including Shan Yu have survived the avalanche, and Mulan catches sight of them. The Huns capture the Emperor, then seize the palace. Mulan lures the Hun leader onto the roof where she engages him in single combat. Mulan is praised by the Emperor and the inhabitants of the city. While she accepts the crest of the Emperor and the sword of Shan Yu, she declines his offer to be his advisor, and reâ&#x20AC;łShe represents women turns to her family. Mulan returns home that won't be limited and presents the gifts to her father, who is by the stereotypes of more overjoyed to have Mulan back. their gender.â&#x20AC;ł

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LILO AND NANI IN LILO AND STITCH

Nani: "Sometimes you try your hardest, but things don't work out the way you want them to."

114

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BRAVERY Women with

LILO AND NANI IN LILO AND STITCH

2002

The heart of the film is the relationship Lilo has with her sister. The film realistically shows Nani’s frustrations with taking care of Lilo and her fear of losing her to child services. Together they overcome the fight to protect Stitch and to stay together as a family because of course Ohana means family. Family means nobody is left behind.

Nani became Lilo's sole guardian after their parents' death. Nani is visited by a social worker named Cobra Bubbles who is concerned that Nani cannot adequately take care of Lilo. He warns that she could be put in foster care, but Nani refutes this by citing that she is the only relative that Lilo has left and vice versa. Nani will have to prove that she is capable of caring for Lilo in order to prevent Lilo from going to a foster home, a task that proves to be a difficult one. After realizing that Lilo has no friends, Nani allows Lilo to get a pet from the pound. Lilo chooses Stitch, who, unknown to either girl, is actually an alien.

Later, Nani is forced to take Lilo and Stitch with her as she tries to find a new job. Unfortunately, Stitch's attempts to evade capture by Jumba and Pleakley keep ruining her chances. Nani's friend David, encourages her to take Lilo surfing with them to improve their mood. However, Jumba makes an attempt to capture Stitch from underwater. To everyone, it appears that Stitch had tried to drown Lilo. Mr. Bubbles sees the whole thing and tells Nani that he will come for Lilo in the morning. While waiting for Mr. Bubbles the next morning, Nani is informed of a job offer by David. While she is gone, a fight between Stitch and Jumba results in the house being destroyed and Lilo calls Mr. Bubbles for help. Nani returns at the same time as Mr. Bubbles arrives and the two have a brief argument over Lilo's well-being. When Lilo is kidnapped by Gantu, Nani accompanies Stitch, who has revealed his alien origins, in Lilo's rescue. At the end, Nani and Lilo are appointed as Stitch's wardens by the Grand Councilwoman while Cobra Bubbles, who is revealed ″Realistically shows Nani's to be a former CIA agent, is enlisted to frustrations with taking supervise the new family. care of Lilo.″ Take the Lead - Women On Top

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AIBILEEN CLARK, EUGENIA "SKEETER" PHELAN, MINNY JACKSON IN THE HELP 116

"You is kind, you is smart, you is beautiful."

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BRAVERY Women with

2011

AIBILEEN CLARK, EUGENIA "SKEETER" PHELAN, MINNY JACKSON IN THE HELP

The Help tells of a young, naive writer who returns to her home town to write about the stories of African-American maids serving white households. Her own family had a maid growing up who disappeared; along with finding out the truth from her mother she bonds with the maids and helps them to find their voices.

In 1963, Aibileen Clark is an African-American maid in Jackson, Mississippi, who tells her "career" story to the aspiring writer Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan. Aibileen cares for the Leefolt's daughter, Mae Mobley. Aibileen's best friend is the plain-spoken Minny Jackson, who works the leader of the women's socialite group. Skeeter is uncomfortable with the racist attitudes of her socialite friends towards their maids. During a terrible storm, Minny refuses to go out to use the help's toilet and uses the guest's bathroom and she is fired. She finds a job with Celia, the two become friends through Minny's cooking lessons but Celia suffers a miscarriage and reveals to her that she suffered three miscarriages.

Following the arrest of one of their friends and the assassination of another black woman, more maids come forward with their stories, believing it could put an end to the brutality against African-Americans. The book is published anonymously, and is a success. Celia's husband reveals how appreciative he is about Minny's friendship with Celia, how it saved her life, and that she has permanent job security. This gives Minny the courage to take her children away from her abusive husband and never look back. Aibileen stands up to Hilly, Elizabeth orders her to leave, she bids farewell to Elizabeth's daughter and pleads with Elizabeth to give her daughter a chance. She looks to the future of becoming a writer. The Help, is a story of how women need to help one another â&#x20AC;łA story of how women to make each voice heard, respected and to need to help one another strive for equality. to make each voice heard.â&#x20AC;ł

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PRINCESS MERIDA IN BRAVE 118

Merida: "I want my freedom!" Queen Elinor: "But are you willing to pay the price your freedom will cost?" Merida: "Our fate lives in us. You only have to be brave enough to see it."

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BRAVERY Women with

PRINCESS MERIDA IN BRAVE

2012

Headstrong and free-spirited, Merida would rather hone her archery and sword skills than live the life of a princess. However, when her family are put under a dangerous spell she must show how her strength should be used to help others. She saves the day and the kingdom and still maintains her freedom and right to be the princess she wants to be.

Merida lives in a mystical Scottish kingdom with her mother, Queen Elinor, her father, King Fergus, and her mischievous brothers. Elinor attempts to convince Merida to be a perfect princess. However, Merida prefers riding through the Highlands on her horse and practicing archery and swordplay. The lords arrive with their sons as her potential suitors, who are not her type. Merida chooses archery to win her freedom. After she wins the competition herself, Elinor forewarns that feuding among the clans would occur if it is not set right. Merida asks the witch for a spell to change her fate.

A witch gives Merida a spell cake and she gives it to Elinor, but it transforms her into a black bear. The witch leaves a message in her cauldron, saying that the spell will be permanent unless she "mends the bond torn by pride." Merida gets attacked by a bear that turns out to be her mother, she'll become a wild bear forever. Merida realizes that "mend the bond torn by pride" would mean fixing the family tapestry, which she had damaged during their arguments. The two of them rush back to the castle, where Merida makes a moving speech, convincing the clans that she must restore their bond. Merida and Elinor climb up into the tapestry room to fix the torn tapestry. After the others mistake Elinor for a real bear and try to kill her, they too are transformed into bears, leaving Merida to save them all. Merida places the fixed tapestry over Elinor who is suddenly transformed back into a â&#x20AC;łMerida prefers riding human along with the triplets and the famher horse and practicing ily is happily reunited. archery and swordplay.â&#x20AC;ł

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DIANA PRINCE IN WONDER WOMAN

"I will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves." 120

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BRAVERY Women with

DIANA PRINCE IN WONDER WOMAN

2017

In the time where superhero movies and television series are coming at us thick and fast, we can count on one hand how many of them are women as the lead character. Gal Gadot delivered a performance that showed super-humans can be women too, and they can take on the Gods that may try to destroy the world. It ignited a new meaning of the word girl power amongst viewers.

Daughter of Queen Hippolyta, Diana was raised on a hidden island, home to the Amazonian warrior women created by Zeus to protect mankind. Diana learns how Ares, Zeus's son, became jealous of humanity and orchestrated its destruction. When the other gods attempted to stop him, Ares killed all but Zeus, who used the last of his power to wound Ares and force his retreat (thus dying in the process). Zeus left the Amazons the island and a weapon, the "Godkiller", to prepare them for Ares' return. In 1917, Diana, now a young woman, rescues pilot Captain Steve Trevor. The island is soon invaded by Germans but are killed by the Amazons and Steve reveals that a great war is consuming the outside world. Believing Ares to be responsible for the war, Diana arms herself with the "Godkiller" sword before leaving with Steve to locate and stop Ares for good.

Steve stops Diana from killing Ludendorff to avoid risking his mission, but this allows him to unleash a deadly gas, killing Veld's inhabitants. Blaming Steve for intervening, Diana pursues Ludendorff and fights and kills him, but is confused when his death does not stop the war. Ares appears, telling Diana that although he has subtly given humans ideas, it is their decision to be violent as they are inherently corrupt. When Diana attempts to kill Ares, he reveals Diana to be the real "Godkiller". He fails to persuade Diana to help him destroy mankind as the memories of Steve cause her to realize that humans have good within them. She redirects Ares' lightning into â&#x20AC;łReveals Diana to be him, killing him for good. the real 'Godkiller'.â&#x20AC;ł

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Women with INTELLECT Being an intellect is a role that has a place in many films as the people that solve the mystery, save the life or be the person in the room with all the answers. An intelligent character possesses a number of traits that make them who they are. Having curiosity can mean the difference between letting a small piece of information that solves the problem go unnoticed and spotting it. Intelligent people tend to not be as dismissive as others as the smartest people know that there is always something left to learn. Often, intelligent characters are quiet and less likely to make spontaneous decisions, favouring to think about the consequences and whether it is the correct choice.

THE RULES OF INTELLECT Be understanding. Belle in Beauty and the Beast was different

to the people of her village in that she always had her nose in a book. She loved to read about other people and their lives. When it came to being imprisoned by a ferocious beast she was understanding of what had happened to him and what his true nature was like.

Be good. Matilda Wormwood in Matilda had intelligence far be-

yond her 6 and a half years of age. She overcomes the inconsiderate nature of her family to immerse herself in the greatest literature ever written. Along with having special telekinetic powers she is a good person who puts the villains of the film in their place.

Be brilliant. Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films. The bril-

liant young wizard that audiences got to see grow into a young woman. She always had the correct answers in class and all of her knowledge was instrumental in helping her friends to defeat the most evil wizard to ever live. She never apologised for her know-it-all persona and we are so glad she didn't.

Be inspiring. Katherine Watson in Mona Lisa Smile is an art his-

tory at an all-female college. Passionate and enthusiastic, she fights for gender equality and has a big impact on her students. Teaching the girls to question their traditional social roles, Katherine herself is inspired to take a fresh look at her own life.

Be independent. Dr. Ryan Stone in Gravity. Outer space. Lone-

liness and emptiness. How does one avoid going crazy up there, especially if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stranded outside of any spaceship, beyond safety, with nothing but the vast, utterly empty universe around you? This is an incredible story of the willpower, stamina, and courage of one woman who ended up in an incredibly dangerous situation.

Be persistent to show you have the answers. Kath-

erine, Mary and Dorothy in Hidden Figures were three women that played an instrumental role in getting the USA into space. Their intellect could have been pushed aside all because of the colour of their skin but these ladies put up a fight and showed that they had something to say.

THE HISTORY OF INTELLECT & CINEMA Women have had plenty of these roles in the history of film, more in recent years than ever before but it was clear that it is still an under-represented characteristic of women. Just when I was curating this book it was difficult to find enough intelligent women in the leading role unless I had seen the film or heard of it. The fact is that these roles have to be written in order to be made. It is also hard for people to recall more than a few real life female intellects because their stories haven't been told. Hidden Figures showed just how instrumental women have been in some of the key moments in history and we haven't heard of them. It is also apparent that what we see in films we want to emulate in real life so we need to show young girls that they are capable of achieving great things with their intellect.

BELLE IN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 126

"There must be more than this provincial life."

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INTELLECT Women with

BELLE IN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

1991

Belle was, without a doubt, one of the least two-dimensional characters in the original Disney Princess lineup. She yearns for adventure in the great wide somewhere, she’d rather die an old spinster than marry misogynist pig, Gaston, she’s an avid bookworm, and she doesn’t give a damn what any of the judgemental idiots in the village think about her.

Belle, a beautiful bibliophile who, although praised by her fellow villagers for her unrivalled beauty, is at the same time ridiculed for her intelligence and non-conformity. Having grown weary of her uneventful provincial life, in which she is relentlessly romantically pursued by an arrogant hunter named Gaston, Belle longs for adventure. After her father's horse returns without its rider, she willingly ventures into the woods in search of her father. She persuades the Beast that she will trade her own freedom in return for her father's, since her father is ill in the dungeon, promising to remain with the Beast in his castle among his staff of enchanted objects forever.

Belle's curiosity leads her to the forbidden west wing where she discovers an enchanted rose without realizing that it is tied to the Beast's fate; and the Beast's rage at her trespassing causes her to flee the castle on horseback. Belle is pursued by wolves in the woods but they are driven off by the Beast, afterwards Belle helps the injured Beast back to the castle and nurses him back to health. Although she initially dislikes her captor, Belle gradually learns to accept the Beast in spite of his appearance and eventually befriends him. Belle and the Beast's strong bond greatly envies Gaston to the point of which he storms the castle and mortally wounds the Beast, though Gaston falls to his own death in the process. However, Belle confesses her love for the Beast just in time to break the spell under which he had been placed by an enchantress as punishment for his selfish ways, ″She is ridiculed for her and the Beast ultimately transforms back intelligence and noninto a handsome prince. conformity.″

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MATILDA WORMWOOD IN MATILDA

"The books gave Matilda a comforting message. You are not alone."

128

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INTELLECT Women with

MATILDA WORMWOOD IN MATILDA

1996

She's bright, she's unapologetic, and she is able to handle the burden of being in a crass, unloving family for the first six and a half years of her life. It may not be straight-up mind control powers, but still. Matilda is a beacon of hope that proves we can take charge of our destiny, fight injustices, and find the people who will love us. And that's a great message to impart on little girls.

Matilda is a young girl of genius intelligence, having developed skills such as walking and speech at early ages. However, these prodigious characteristics displayed by her character are perpetually ignored by her wealthy, neglectful, dimwitted parents who deem their daughter's incredible literacy skills and knowledge as worthless. After starting school, Matilda's sweet-natured teacher Miss Honey takes an immediate interest in her kindness and intelligence, but is shocked by her mother and father's lack of regard for her and careless dismissal of her intellect.

Matilda is challenged by the behaviour of the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who disciplines students through what can best be described as extreme child abuse for little misdeeds, as well as being very strong. Upon learning of how the life of Miss Honey, Miss Trunchbull's niece, has been so negatively affected by her aunt's abuse, Matilda is inspired to put her new abilities to good use in assisting her beloved teacher in her time of need. When Miss Trunchbull becomes ready to discipline Matilda, she uses her abilities by writing on a chalkboard, posing as the ghost of Miss Honey's deceased father Magnus, who died a mysterious death. She also protects the other children from Miss Trunchbull's wrath and also uses her telekinesis to pelt her with food and garbage. A petrified Miss Trunchbull is compelled by Matilda's prank to leave Miss Honey her proper inheritance before suddenly vanishing. Matilda is adopted by Miss Honey after her family needs to flee the country on the run from the police because of "We can take charge of Mr. Wormwood's deceit in the automotive our destiny, fight injustices industry, thus providing her with a more and find the people who loving home. love us."

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HERMIONE GRANGER IN THE HARRY POTTER FILMS 130

"If you're going to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us, too."

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INTELLECT Women with

2001 2011

HERMIONE GRANGER IN THE HARRY POTTER FILMS

Perhaps the smartest student enrolled at Hogwarts, without Hermione’s help Harry would never have been where he needed to be to stop Voldemort. Played by Emma Watson, viewers had the rare opportunity to see a character grow up before their eyes from a young, precocious student to the strong, dynamic woman that helped destroy the most evil wizard to ever live.

Hermione is a Muggle-born witch born and at the age of eleven she learned that she was a witch, and had been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione possessed a brilliant academic mind, and proved to be a gifted student in almost every subject that she studied. Both Harry and Ron found Hermione unfriendly and somewhat of an insufferable know-it-all. Later, her eagerness to please her professors and her constant correct answers reinforced their initial impression. However, Hermione stepped in to take the blame from Ron and Harry after they had saved her from a troll. Harry and Ron were surprised, but grateful and the three quickly became friends for life. In her second year, Hermione played a crucial role in the discovery of the Chamber of Secrets.

The next year, Hermione was granted permission to use a Time-Turner from the Ministry of Magic to facilitate her volition to study far more subjects than was possible without time travel. Later in the year, she and Harry would use it to rescue Sirius Black. In her fifth year, she was the driving force behind the creation of Dumbledore's Army and she fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. In her sixth year, she fought in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. She and Ron both decided not to return to Hogwarts for their final year of studies,instead choosing to help Harry on his quest to find and destroy Lord Volde″Hermione possessed mort's Horcruxes. Hermione then fought a brilliant academic in the Battle of Hogwarts, as well as mind, gifted student destroying a Horcrux with Ron. in every subject.″

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Katherine: It's brilliant, really. A perfect ruse. A finishing school disguised as a college. Well, they got me. Bill: What do you expect? Katherine: More! I thought I was headed to a place that would turn out tomorrow's leaders, not their wives!

INTELLECT Women with

KATHERINE WATSON IN MONA LISA SMILE

2003

Despite having a degree herself in a time where women weren't encouraged to study and work; Katherine is still made to feel that she isn't worthy of her new position. However, she doesn't let this stop her from imparting her rich perceptions on art and culture to the young women. Katherine does learn that for some women, being a wife and mother is enough for them and that's okay too.

Katherine Watson, a State University Ph.D. student, is hired as an Art History instructor at Wellesley College for the 1953/54 school year. It is an exclusive upper crust institution where its faculty, students and alumni generally look down upon "State" universities. Katherine quickly learns that her credentials affect how her students treat her and that the students are book smart, but do not know how to think for themselves. Their parents and the school stick to traditional mores and thoughts, with the primary goal of the girls marrying into a good family.

At her first class, Katherine discovers that her students have already memorized the entire textbook and syllabus, so she uses the classes to introduce them to Modern Art and encourages discussion about topics such as what makes good art. Katherine comes to know her students and seeks to inspire them to achieve more than marriage to eligible young men. Katherine's course is highly popular, so the college invites her to return but with certain conditions including following the syllabus, having approved lesson plans, keep a strictly professional relationship with all staff, and not talk to the girls about anything other than classes. Katherine decides to leave in order to explore Europe. Betty dedicates her last editorial to Katherine, claiming that her teacher is "an extraordinary woman who lived by example and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes."

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"I'm not quitt 134

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INTELLECT Women with

DR. RYAN STONE IN GRAVITY

2013

Dr. Ryan Stone is a medical engineer and mission specialist who is on her first space mission. But after loosing the rest of her crew and contact with those at Houston control she must fight to survive by herself. She never gives up no matter how hard it gets because she ultimately knows everything she needs to do in order to survive.

The crew of the Space Shuttle Explorer is working on the STS-157 mission. Mission Commander Matt Kowalski, medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone - who is on her first ever space mission - and flight engineer Shariff Dasari are on a space walk when they learn from Houston control that an explosion has just occurred at a Russian satellite. Before the crew can do anything about it, the explosion debris comes hurtling toward Explorer, irreparably damaging the shuttle and station, immediately killing all the crew except Kowalski and Stone, and knocking out at least incoming communication with Houston control, although they have no idea if there is outgoing communication. Stone's leg gets entangled in the Soyuz's parachute cords and she grabs a strap on Kowalski's suit, but the cords will not support them both. Despite Stone's protests, Kowalski detaches himself from the tether to save her from drifting away with him. Stone is pulled back towards the ISS, while Kowalski floats away to certain death. He continues to support her until he is out of communicating range. Through hard challenges Stone ultimately regains control and navigates her way back home and survives.

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KATHERINE JOHNSON, MARY JACKSON, DOROTHY VAUGHAN IN HIDDEN FIGURES 136

″Separate and equal are two different things. Just because it's the way doesn't make it right.″ - Dorothy Vaughan

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2016

KATHERINE JOHNSON, MARY JACKSON, DOROTHY VAUGHAN IN HIDDEN FIGURES

Based on the true story of three African American women who played a major role in getting the USA into space. Their mathematical skills were overlooked because of their gender and more prominently, skin colour and so they had to fight for the respect they deserved. They showed how we all should be valued for our talents without prejudice.

Mathematician Katherine Johnson works as a human computer in a gender and racially segregated division of NASA in 1961. There is rising pressure to send American astronauts into space. As the first black woman on Al Harrison's Space Task Group team, her new colleagues are dismissive and demeaning. Katherine develops the solution to a complex equation, leaving Harrison impressed. After an enraged speech from Katherine, about how she is forced to walk a half-mile to the coloured people's bathroom. He abolishes bathroom segregation. On launch day, errors arise in the IBM calculated landing coordinates, Katherine is called in to check them. Katherine solves the maths and suggests a solution to another problem, the Friendship 7 successfully lands. Katherine went on to calculate the trajectories for the Apollo 11 and Space Shuttle missions.

Aspiring engineer Mary Jackson immediately identifies a flaw in the heat shield. She applies for an official NASA engineer position and goes to court, convincing the judge to grant her permission to attend night classes in an all-white school. She obtains her degree and becomes an engineer at NASA. Dorothy Vaughan is informed by the obnoxious Vivian Mitchell, that there are no plans to assign her as the "permanent supervisor for the coloured group". Dorothy learns of the installation of an IBM electronic computer that could replace human computers. She teaches herself programming, and is promotâ&#x20AC;łThe women who played ed to supervise the department, bringing a major role in getting the 30 of her co-workers with her. USA into space.â&#x20AC;ł

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Women who are SEXUAL She's fierce. She's bold. And she's sexual. She's a woman who knows what she wants, both inside and outside the bedroom. But then why is a woman's sexuality made to be such a hush-hush affair? Unfortunately, the movies we watch have failed to portray a woman's sexuality in all its raw glory. Either it's bound by the male character's sexuality or it's non existent. But there have been one-off movies that have attempted to bring it on-screen as realistically as possible. Quite often sex in movies is from the male perspective, it is the man who wants it more and the woman is submissive. Unfortunately, there is a controversial level of rape and sexual assault in films as well which can give both female and male audiences a distorted view of sex. These films that show women exploring their sexuality are very important.

THE RULES OF BEING SEXUAL Be collected. Baby in Dirty Dancing is the perfect example of a

young woman discovering her sexuality as she falls in love with the dance instructor, Johnny, at her holiday camp. It was a unique film that shows all of the sexual pursuit done by the woman. She may come over as naive and inexperienced but that is a story that deserves to play out on screen and is more realistic than most films about sex.

Be persistent. Can men and women ever be friends and not

lovers? When Harry Met Sally, puts the theory to the test. What's most interesting is the way in which Harry and Sally view the deed: Harry sleeps with everyone, hoping to get over Helen. Sally knows that method doesn't actually work, so she sleeps with no one, waiting for someone who will truly mean something to her after Joe. Both those theories blow up in their faces, though, when Harry and Sally fall into bed withâ&#x20AC;Ś each other.

Be open. When 17-year-old Rose arrives on the luxurious â&#x20AC;&#x153;ship of dreams," Titanic, as a first-class passenger, she is set to live a life of privilege but not one with mutual love. She meets Jack who comes from a completely different world but they fall in love and Rose discovers what love is supposed to be. She makes all the moves towards Jack including having him draw her naked.

Be real. Donna Stern in Obvious Child. Most missed connections in

the romantic comedy genre do not include tracking down a one-night stand because of an unplanned pregnancy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but Obvious Child does. Donna is a struggling comedian who decides to terminates a pregnancy after a one-nighter. She struggles less with the decision to have an abortion and has a harder time telling others about her decision. It is a heart-warming and raw depiction of an often difficult subject.

Be decisive. Amy Townsend in Trainwreck. This comedy features

Amy Schumer totally crushing it as a woman who shuns monogamy and social conventions. Schumer is easily the best at defying gender stereotypes for how women shouldn't sleep around but men can and Trainwreck is her crowning achievement thus far.

Be faithful. The movie Carol beautifully tells the story of Carol, a

married woman who's separated from her husband, and Therese, who has a boyfriend. After a chance meeting at Therese's workplace, they start meeting each other often. What begins very innocently turns into a love affair where both women are discovering their homosexuality. But they're soon found out and forced to separate for a while.

THE HISTORY OF BEING SEXUAL & CINEMA Films have often shown women who are sexual as being in the wrong, promiscuous or damaged. However, men who act in the same way are not punished in the same way. In the future, films should continue to reflect how attitudes are changing in real life towards women being sexual, maybe mistaking mistakes in the process, but exploring their sexuality in a more realistic way.

FRANCES "BABY" HOUSEMAN IN DIRTY DANCING 142

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner."

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SEXUAL Women who are

FRANCES "BABY" HOUSEMAN IN DIRTY DANCING

1987

Baby sets about saving everyone she meets; determined to help the poor and downtrodden, and yet has no concept of what life is like for anyone who is anything other than Jewish and middle class. What she wants is to have sex with Johnny, and the film is very clear about that as it is a film particularly about the physicality of female sexuality. It's Baby who makes all the moves on Johnny, she takes the lead again by asking him to dance.

In 1963, Frances "Baby" Houseman, a sweet daddy's girl, goes with her family to a resort in upstate New York's Catskill Mountains. Baby has grown up in privileged surroundings and all expect her to go on to college, join the Peace Corps and save the world before marrying a doctor. Unexpectedly, Baby becomes infatuated with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle, a man whose background is vastly different from her own. Baby lies to her father to get money to pay for an illegal abortion for Johnny's dance partner. She then fills in for her and as he is teaching her the dance routine they fall in love. As they dance, her hands pour over his half-naked body, taking real pleasure in his skin. It all comes apart when Johnny's friend falls seriously ill after her abortion and Baby's father saves the girl's life. He then learns what Baby has been up to, and bans his daughter from any further association with "those people".

In the first deliberately wilful action of her life, Baby later sneaks out to see Johnny, ostensibly to apologize for her father's rudeness, and ends up consummating her relationship with Johnny. Johnny is framed for theft at the resort but is later cleared. Max fires Johnny anyway for having a fraternizing affair with Baby. Baby and Johnny embrace and bid farewell to each other, saying they will never regret their affair. Baby pointedly apologizes to Jake for lying about her relationship with Johnny but not for the relationship itself. Johnny leads Baby onstage and makes a brief speech about how "Frances" has made him a better man. Baby and Johnny dance a more provocative version of their mambo duet. Her father apologizes to Johnny for thinking he got Penny, Johnny's former dance â&#x20AC;łIt's Baby who makes all partner, pregnant and reconciles with Baby. the moves on Johnny.â&#x20AC;ł

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[Harry and Sally discussing orgasms] Sally: "Most women at one time or another have faked it." Harry: "Well, they haven't faked it with me." Sally: "How do you know?" Harry: "Because I know." Sally: "Oh. Right. That's right. I forgot. You're a man." Harry: "What was that supposed to mean?" Sally: "Nothing. It's just that all men are sure it never happened to them and all women at one time or other have done it, so you do the math."

SEXUAL Women who are

SALLY ALBRIGHT IN WHEN HARRY MET SALLY

1989

Sally may be neurotic but the film shows her transition from college graduate to a grown woman. Meg Ryan brings so much to her performance, but it's perfectly summed up by the iconic scene where Sally fakes an orgasm in the diner. The scene that women praised and was a revelation to men; unaware they were being deceived by their partners.

Harry Burns and Sally Albright share the drive to New York City, where Sally is beginning journalism school and Harry is starting a career. Harry is dating Sally's friend Amanda. During the drive, Harry and Sally discuss their differing ideas about relationships; Sally disagrees with Harry's assertion that men and women cannot be friends, as "the sex part gets in the way". In New York, they part on unfriendly terms. Five years later, they meet on the same flight. Sally is dating Harry's neighbour Joe, and Harry is engaged, which surprises Sally. Harry suggests they become friends, forcing him to prove his assumption of the impossibility of male-female friendships. They separate, concluding that they will not be friends.

Another five years later, they have coffee and talk about their previous relationships; Sally and Joe broke up because she wanted a family and he didn't, and Harry's wife left him for another man. They become friends and have late-night phone conversations, and spend time together, discussing their love lives. During a New Year's Eve party, Harry and Sally find themselves attracted to each other. Over the phone, Sally tearfully tells Harry that her ex is getting married. He rushes to her apartment to comfort her, and they have sex; Harry leaves the next morning distressed. Their friendship cools until a heated argument. Harry attempts to mend his friendship with Sally, but she feels that they cannot be friends. At a New Year's Eve party that year, Sally feels alone without Harry by her side. Harry spends the night alone, walking around the city. As Sally decides to leave the party early, Harry appears and declares his love for her. She argues that he is only there is because he is lonely, but he â&#x20AC;łHer transition from lists the many things he realized he loves college graduate to about her. They marry three months later. a grown woman.â&#x20AC;ł

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ROSE DAWSON IN TITANIC 146

"I couldn't stop shaking. It was the most erotic moment of my life. Up until then at least."

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SEXUAL Women who are

ROSE DAWSON IN TITANIC

1997

Titanic, is the movie responsible for many sexual awakenings, but is actually pretty progressive when you think about it. Rose is a nontraditional heroine in that she is the one pursuing Jack, in a time when women were supposed to be quiet, pure, and mild. We witness Rose find her voice and become a woman. Convincing Jack to draw her naked. She pulls him into the back-seat of that car and whispers “Put your hands on me, Jack.”

A love story doomed by the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Rose Calvert, now 101 reminiscences her experience of the Titanic, to oceanic explorers, and her emotional connection with another passenger, Jack. Jack was an American starving artist who won a trip home on the Ship of Dreams to a lucky hand in poker. His luck unfortunately ran out on April 15, 1912 after colliding with an iceberg in the northern Mid-Atlantic. Four days before the unsinkable ship began to fill with ice cold sea water, Rose and Jack's love story began. Rose was suppose to marry her mother's pick of a fine gentlemen Cal Hockley, who was only attracted to Rose by her beauty and family fortune. Rose however felt she was in a crowded room screaming for help with no one listening. Jack did hear her, with someone to finally listen, Rose couldn't deny her feelings for Jack anymore.

Their love came to a new level, when Rose asked Jack to draw her like one of his "French girls" wearing only the rarest diamond, the Heart of the Ocean. A fun filled, romantic love affair between Jack and Rose couldn't be denied and Cal's pockets began to feel empty and he became jealous of Jack. He searches for a way to compromise Rose's love for Jack. The Titanic then collides with a large iceberg and begins to sink. As the ship lowers itself into the depths of the ocean, Jack and Rose must fight death of the freezing water and await a rescue ship. 84 years later Rose hears of the Titanic and the discovery of her drawing and meets with the explorers, her memories are where our story begins. Titanic is a powerful story of survival, love and heroism. ″We witness Rose find A love story that broke Rose free from a her voice and become life of conformity and unhappiness. a woman.″

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"I don't know if you've noticed but, I'm kind of in an emotional crisis right now."

SEXUAL Women who are

DONNA STERN IN OBVIOUS CHILD

2014

OK, so abortion isn’t exactly the sexiest topic of all time. But the fact that this movie doesn’t treat Donna like someone who is morally conflicted over her decision to have an abortion was an important step, considering most movies involving unplanned pregnancies refuse to even address the topic. Donna is smart, determined, and extremely clear-headed about her options. She also doesn’t apologize for having casual sex, because why should she?

After performing a set at a comedy club, Donna Stern is dumped in the bathroom by her boyfriend, who confesses he is leaving her for one of her friends. Later, Donna drunkenly delivers a terrible set in which she insults her ex-boyfriend. At the bar, she meets Max, who missed her set. Donna and Max have an instant connection and they end up having sex. In the morning Donna leaves Max's apartment without saying goodbye. Several weeks later, Donna suspects she is pregnant. A home pregnancy test later confirms this. Donna schedules an abortion and discovers the only dates available are her mother's birthday or Valentine's Day; she picks Valentine's Day.

Max tracks Donna down and they have the first of several awkward conversations. Donna is prepared to tell Max about her impending abortion until he makes a comment about how he wants to be a grandfather someday. After pushing Max away, Donna finally invites him to the club to see her perform. When he arrives she performs a set, speaking about how she is pregnant and planning to have an abortion. Max leaves, but on the day of Donna's abortion, he arrives at her home with flowers and asks if he can come with her. The two agree that this is one of the nicest Valentine's Days they have ever had. After the abortion, Max takes Donna to his home where he makes her tea, and then they watch Gone with the Wind together.

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AMY TOWNSEND IN TRAINWRECK 150

"What's wrong with you that you want to be with me?"

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SEXUAL Women who are

AMY TOWNSEND IN TRAINWRECK

2015

Sometimes, women don’t want to be in relationships. Sometimes they just want to have sex with as many people as possible and sometimes, that sex is intensely awkward. In Trainwreck, Amy is the one who feels the need to sow her wild oats. She’s proud of her commitmentphobe ways and laughs at her less-than-perfect sexcapades. She doesn’t settle down ‘til she finds a dude worth settling down for, and to that we say, “Hell yeah, girl.”

Despite having a love/hate relationship with her father Gordon, the one thing Amy has grown up believing from him is that monogamy isn't realistic, he and Amy's mom broke up due to infidelity when Amy was young. As such, she gets drunk and stoned frequently in her pursuit of indiscriminate sex, with an unstated rule that there is no sleeping over once the sex is over. Working at sensationalistic magazine S'nuff under head sensationalist Dianna, Amy is in line for a promotion, she's certain to get it if her next story meets Dianna's scrutiny. That story is a profile of sports doctor to the stars, Dr. Aaron Conners, despite Amy knowing nothing about sports. To Amy's amazement, Aaron wants to date her following their first sexual encounter, his sexual history in terms of quantity which is in extreme contrast to her own. Also to her amazement, she kind of wants to date him, the entire ritual of being the one person in another person's life a foreign concept to her.

The road to a happy ending for the two is not guaranteed as their very different sexual histories and very different perspectives on sexual life may make them incompatible despite truly liking each other as people. After breaking up with Aaron and being fired from her job. Amy visits Kim, her sister and tells her everything that has happened; Kim tells her that it's time to change. Amy clears out all the alcohol from her apartment. She takes her Aaron story to Vanity Fair, where it ends up getting published, and sends it to Aaron. He attends a game, where the Knicks City Dancers perform with Amy ″She's proud of her front and center. She tells him she wants to commitment-phobe make their relationship work. They confess ways and laughs at their love for each other and kiss. her sexcapades.″

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"I love you." 152

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SEXUAL Women who are

CAROL AIRD, THERESE BELIVET IN CAROL

2015

When Carol meets Therese, she is unhappily married with a daughter. Carol and Therese start a passionate affair, and when her husband finds out, he threatens to take away their daughter. Still, Carol refuses to deny her sexuality, even as those around her try to punish her for it. The movie also has a happy ending — a rarity when it comes to females exploring their sexuality.

Carol follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet, is a clerk working in a department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol, an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens. While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband, Harge, begins to question her competence as a mother with her involvement with Therese.

Carol has learned that Harge is threatening to expose her homosexuality to get full custody of their daughter. She decides to take a road trip to escape the stress of the divorce proceedings and invites Therese to join her. On New Year's Eve, Carol and Therese kiss for the first time and have sex. The next morning, they discover that Harge hired a private investigator to obtain evidence against Carol but he claims to have already sent the tape recordings to Harge. Carol and Therese turn back. The following day, in Chicago, Therese learns that Carol has flown home to fight for custody of her daughter. Therese telephones Carol, but knowing that she risks losing custody of Rindy if she continues her affair with Therese, Carol hangs up. The film ends when Carol asks Therese to move in with her, having ″Carol refuses to deny her lost full custody of her daughter, Therese sexuality, even as those initially refuses but later gazes at Carol and around her try to punish we must assume they are together. her for it.″

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Take the

LEAD Women on top

All images are not owned by myself. The majority of the written content is not my original work.

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By Alice Robinson

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