What If I Had Been the Hero? : Investigating Women's Cinema

Sue Thornham's study explores issues in feminist filmmaking through an examination of a wide range of films by women filmmakers, ranging from the avant-garde to mainstream Hollywood, and from the 1970s to the present day, discussing directors including Sally Potter, Jane Campion, Julie Dash, Patricia Rozema and Lynne Ramsay. "What happens when women tell their own stories in film?... Addresses this question through an exploration of a wide range of films, from experimental feminist film to mainstream Hollywood, and from the 1970s to the present day, by film-makers including Sally Potter, Jane Campion, Deepa Mehta, Patricia Rozema and Lynne Ramsay... Takes in films from India and Argentina as well as Europe, Canada, Australia and the US. Not content to take the 'post-feminist' makeover film or the figure of the 'action chick' as evidence of women's increased power and status... raises key issues about women as authors, subjects and heroes of their narratives... Argues that simple reversals of gendered positions of hero/heroine, active/passive, and subject/object are not enough. Drawing on a wide range of feminist theoretical sources... makes an important intervention into contemporary debates, situating film-making within a rich history of female creativity, and insisting on the continuing importance of feminist theory." -- Back cover What Happens When Women Tell Their Own Stories In Film? In What If I Had Been The Hero?, Sue Thornham Addresses This Question Through An Exploration Of A Wide Range Of Films, From Experimental Feminist Film To Mainstream Hollywood, And From The 1970s To The Present Day, By Film-makers Including Sally Potter, Jane Campion, Deepa Mehta, Patricia Rozema And Lynne Ramsay. Her Discussion Takes In Films From India And Argentina As Well As Europe, Canada, Australia And The Us.--p. [4] Of Cover. Pt. I. Questions : 'what If I Had Been The Hero?' ; Women's Liberation Cinema? ; Unexplored Territories -- Pt. Ii. Explorations : Heroes And Writers ; Landscapes And Stories ; Bodies And Passions -- Conclusion : Unfinished Business. Sue Thornham. Filmography: P. 226-228. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 193-226) And Index. "What happens when women tell their own stories in film? In What If I Had Been the Hero?, Sue Thornham addresses this question through an exploration of a wide range of films, from experimental feminist film to mainstream Hollywood, and from the 1970s to the present day, by film-makers including Sally Potter, Jane Campion, Deepa Mehta, Patricia Rozema and Lynne Ramsay. Her discussion takes in films from India and Argentina as well as Europe, Canada, Australia and the US."--Page 4 of cover "What happens when women tell their own stories in film? In What If I Had Been the Hero?, Sue Thornham addresses this question through an exploration of a wide range of films, from experimental feminist film to mainstream Hollywood, and from the 1970s to the present day, by film-makers including Sally Potter, Jane Campion, Deepa Mehta, Patricia Rozema and Lynne Ramsay. Her discussion takes in films from India and Argentina as well as Europe, Canada, Australia and the US."--Cover p. [4]