FILM MAKERS

A look at the challenges and triumphs of women who have found success in the U.S. film industry.

This three-part tour of women’s recent contributions to the world of film traces the impact each generation has had on those who came next. “The Pioneer Generation” includes directors like Jane Campion, who began working in the 1970s and 1980s; “Striving for Diversity: Generation X Directors” moves on to talk about Ava DuVernay, Shonda Rimes, and their peers; and “Young Stars in a Global Film Industry” covers Mindy Kaling, Lulu Wang, Greta Gerwig, and other more recent arrivals. The profiles connect the subjects’ personal histories—including experiences with misogyny, homophobia, and racism—with their chosen projects. While this approach is powerful in illustrating both the myriad ways to build a film career and the importance of amplifying a diversity of voices, it also occasionally gives the impression that difficult or traumatic events are valuable primarily for the art they generate. The emphasis on personal context also brings motherhood to the fore, acknowledging when women sometimes prioritized family life, while the industry’s underlying hostility toward working mothers remains unexamined. Nuance is more present in discussions of controversies some of the filmmakers have encountered, and the change-making power of the arts is accentuated. Text boxes throughout introduce other women directors and actors, pivotal moments in film history, and social and historical context that help readers better understand this subject.

Engaging, impassioned, but incomplete.