Celebrating women in film: Greta Gerwig

Women’s History Month is coming to a close, so in honor of women, I wanted to talk about one of my favorite women in film. 

Greta Gerwig is one of my top directors for women-centered movies. I know it’s kind of basic. I never claimed to be exclusively an underground movie-watcher. Gerwig is known for her ability to blend humor and honesty with unique and complex female characters within the coming-of-age genre.

The biggest Greta Gerwig movies are the big 3: Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie. 

Little Women is one of my all-time favorite movies; admittedly, I’ve never watched the 1994 version, but the acting and cinematography of the 2019 film is one that has stuck with me. Saoirse Ronan embodies Jo in such a unique and powerful way. Based on the 1880 novel by Louisa May Alcott, this rendition of Little Women focuses on the four March sisters (Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth) as they tackle the transition from girlhood into womanhood and all the trials and tribulations that follow. Each individual sister has a vastly differing personality and goal in their lives, but all of them come together in a beautiful way showcasing the connection of sisters. With this star-studded cast, the story comes alive in a relatable way, despite being over a century apart. 

Lady Bird is another Gerwig classic that hits close to home for a lot of people within this generation. Christine (“Lady Bird”) is a headstrong and fiercely outspoken high school senior longing for a future outside of her hometown. Her bold personality is contrasted by her deeply opinionated and rather pessimistic mother, who seemingly does not believe Lady Bird will make it outside of the city limits of Sacramento. Their difficult and complicated dynamic highlights that the mother is just a woman working overtime to keep her family afloat due to her husband’s unemployment, while Lady Bird struggles to get the connection and support from her mother in a way that a daughter needs. The story shows how the relationships in our lives impact us and how home can have differing meanings, as well as the fact that at the end of the day, our mothers were also girls once upon a time. It is everyone’s first time living and navigating this harsh, complex world.

Finally, Barbie. We all remember the summer of one of the biggest movies of 2023. I personally saw it twice in the theater. Barbie is a film that emphasizes the impact of patriarchy, subtle or not, on all gender identities. In Barbie Land, women run everything and are taught to be proud of their accomplishments and to not shrink themselves to fit into spaces. They deserve it. As the story progresses, Barbie is transported into the Real World after she starts developing “flaws” – bad breath, cellulite, flat feet – and in so the audience embarks on a journey of discovery in womanhood and societal norms. A story of purpose and the female experience (and might I even say, existential dread?), Barbie is a beautiful feminist movie that reassures those “what was I made for?” feelings while still including humor and fun.