Feminist Music Geek » Feminist Music Geeks Go to the Movies

Bechdel Test Canon: Dash, Cholodenko, Kahiu, Varda

Alyx Vesey — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:41:00 +0000

Last week, I barely had time to sit down to watch these films, much less write on them. And yet, magically and through considerable care and research, the Bechdel Test Canon keeps forming into being. Last week, I wrote on Julie Dash’s Illusions, Lisa Cholodenko’s High Art, and Wanuri Kahiu’s Pumzi. I wrote my third-to-last post of the series on Agnès Varda’s One Sings, the Other Doesn’t. I posted them to my Twitter feed and Facebook fan page (incentive to follow!), but completely forgot to post them here. Check them out, leave comments, and watch these films.

Check out my Bechdel Test Canon post on An Angel At My Table for Bitch Magazine

Alyx Vesey — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:42:58 +0000

The train keeps rolling along with An Angel At My Time.

Check out my Bechdel Test Canon entry on Me Without You for Bitch Magazine

Alyx Vesey — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:57:10 +0000

It’s weird that I wrote about a film with a subplot involving a lecherous critical studies professor on the first day of my cultural studies seminar. Not planned, I swear. Anyway, most of us in the humanities aren’t Kyle MacLachlan in Me Without You. But a number of us are Michelle Williams. Some of us are also Anna Friel at the same time because we have layers, dammit. Here’s to the first day of spring term and, therefore, berets.

Check out my Bechdel Test Canon post on Please Give for Bitch Magazine

Alyx Vesey — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:25:52 +0000

Come for the Holofcener, stick around for Kirthana Ramisetti’s post on Liz Lemon’s Tina Fey problem.

Check out my Bechdel Test Canon post on Irma Vep for Bitch Magazine

Alyx Vesey — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:02:27 +0000

I love films about film-making, especially when they involve catsuits and Maggie Cheung. Check out today’s post, won’t you?

Check out my Bechdel Test Canon post on Je tu il elle

Alyx Vesey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:25:23 +0000

I can’t believe we are over halfway through with the second installment of the Bechdel Test Canon. We close out the week with a look at Chantal Akerman’s bewitching Je tu il elle. C’est incroyable!

Getting Kicks and Saving Face

Alyx Vesey — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:22:27 +0000

A lot of me today. I posted a review of Girls Got Kicks for Scratched Vinyl this morning and my Bechdel Test Canon entry on Saving Face for Bitch just went live. To honor (or inadvertently counteract) GGK‘s spirit, I put on my radioactive pink Converses and went for a walk. Now I think Chantal Akerman, some reading, another visit to Old Love, and a cat nap are in order.

Check out my Bechdel Test Canon post on Water Lilies and Show Me Love for Bitch Magazine

Alyx Vesey — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:47:22 +0000

Today’s entry is a double feature devoted to films about lesbian girlhood. You can catch Céline Sciamma Water Lilies and Lucas Moodysson’s Show Me Love on Instant. The original French and Swedish titles are way better (“octopuses” and “fucking” appear), though the American release of Moodysson’s film is named for Robyn’s hit. Let’s watch the Swedish pop star dance like the whole damn world is her Xanadu.

You can also stream Nagisa Oshima’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence on Instant. Like the other two films, it’s about raising queer longing out of the subtextual realm. Yet it is very sad. It’s a great teaching aid to explain DADT, even though that’s not what the film is about. Reminds you what a long, strange film career David Bowie has had as an actor. And Ryuichi Sakamoto’s score lives up to its own reputation.

Check out my Bechdel Test Canon post on I Like It Like That for Bitch Magazine

Alyx Vesey — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Good stuff here, all I’m saying.

Check out my Bechdel Test Canon post on Made in Dagenham for Bitch Magazine

Alyx Vesey — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:20:19 +0000

Worker’s rights, worker’s rights! I came back from a sad, heavy New Year’s Day with a post on Made In Dagenham. Bump some Desmond Dekker and buck the system. I’m pretty sure I’m going to follow it up with Darnell Martin’s I Like I Like That on Friday.