FEMINIST FRIDAY: We’re “All In” For These Films About Feminism & Democracy

Welcome to another edition of our famed Feminist Friday column! This is our fave part of the week where we turn Friday into Fri-YAY by sharing a handful of videos we are loving at this moment, usually centered around an intersectional feminist theme. This week we’re focusing on 3 films that remind us how far the feminist movement has come, and how far we still have to go. For us the feminist fight is intertwined into the fight for democracy, especially under the Trump administration which has systematically worked to dismantle hard fought-for rights in a number of ways.

First us is the much-anticipated feature documentary by Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes, titled “ALL IN: The Fight For Democracy”. It examines the history of voter suppression and showcases the activists, such as former Georgia Representative and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who are presently fighting for the rights of citizens today.

“In anticipation of the 2020 presidential election, ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY examines the often overlooked, yet insidious issue of voter suppression in the United States The film interweaves personal experiences with current activism and historical insight to expose a problem that has corrupted our democracy from the very beginning. With the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, the documentary offers an insider’s look into laws and barriers to voting that most people don’t even know is a threat to their basic rights as citizens of the United States,” says the description of the film.

It is available to watch now on Amazon Prime. Check out the trailer below:

The second video this week is a look into a figure who spearheaded the second wave feminist movement in the United States, and who continues to use her voice and words to push for equality and democracy. ‘The Glorias’ is a feature film showcasing the feminist icon in different stages of life, hence the title. Starring Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander as the Glorias, Bette Midler as Bella Abzug, and directed by the incredible Julie Taymor (‘The Lion King’ musical).

Available to stream on Amazon Prime September 30, the film shows the life of Gloria over 5 different decades, and the various struggles and fights she has been involved in. Originally the producers wanted to release this in theaters, but given the decrease in cinema attendance due to COVID-19, they decided to look to Amazon instead in the hopes it would engage viewers ahead of the November 3 election to know what issues are still being fought as they were decades ago. Watch the trailer below:

The final video in this Feminist Friday roundup is ‘I Am Woman’, the feature film about the life of artist Helen Reddy whose iconic song of the same title became the unofficial anthem of the Women’s Rights movement through the 70’s. Directed by Unjoo Moon, this mostly Australian cast and production portrayed the life of Helen in such a nuanced, layered and beautiful way, showcasing her as a trailblazer in the music industry and in pop culture, but who was also stuck in an abusive marriage behind the scenes, where she was taken advantage of financially.

With lyrics like “Yes, I am wise, but it’s wisdom born from pain. Yes I’ve paid the price, but look how much I’ve gained” sum up not only the greater struggle for women’s rights through the 60’s and 70’s, but also Helens own story and how we are given a personal portrait of what she went through personally.

The film is available to watch now on Amazon Prime, and we highly recommend watching this for an uplifting look back at history and why the feminist movement became such a flashpoint for culture during the 70’s.