Hustlers (2019)

Hustlers follows a group of strippers who steal credit cards from corrupt CEOs and stock traders who visit their clubs. Funny and dark, the film explores how strippers are mistreated by men and the bonds that hold women together when things go South. The film has an all-star cast featuring female baddies Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Lizzo, and Cardi B.

For the gal pals who… are always hustling.

Where to watch: Apple TV.

Booksmart (2019)

Booksmart is the yassified Superbad that you are your bestie will laugh out loud at. Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut is a hilariously awkward coming-of-age comedy about two teen girls attempting to leave high school with a bang by spending their last day as students partying and breaking all the rules they rigidly stuck to throughout their schooldays. Amy and Molly’s sweet unbreakable bond and oodles of chemistry will make you fall in love with the odd duo.

For the gal pals who… have been friends since high school.

Where to watch: BBC iPlayer or rent on Prime.

Bridesmaids (2011)

If you haven’t seen Bridesmaids, where have you been? This outrageous comedy has everything that makes the perfect girlie film: a wedding, a female rivalry turned friendship, toilet humour, and a plane attacked by gremlins. Stick it on and you’re guaranteed some silly fun.

For the gal pals who… need a good chuckle.

Where to watch: rent on Prime.

The Watermelon Woman (1996)

Funny, sexy, and poignant – The Watermelon Woman focuses on Cheryl, a young black lesbian who works in a video store with her best friend Tamara and aspires to be a filmmaker. She sets out to make a documentary trying to pinpoint the identity of a black actress credited only as the ‘Watermelon Woman’. The film exposes some powerful truths amid the wry comic moments, bickering between the friends, and steamy love scenes – it really is unforgettable.

For the gal pals who… constantly squabble but love each other.

Where to watch:  Mubi or rent on Prime.

Lady Bird (2017)

Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, and Beanie Feldstein star in this sweet complex coming-of-age drama about a girl who longs to move away from her sheltered life in Sacramento, California. The movie took the world by storm when it was released with many women identifying with the film’s awkwardly honest titular character inspiring many a Halloween costume. Lady Bird and Julie’s friend break up is a painful thing many girls will recall.

For the gal pals who… dance to the beat of their own drum.

Where to watch: Apple TV or rent on Prime.

Clueless (1995)

If spending the holiday with a man has you screaming, “As if!”, then this staple of 90s cinema is perfect for your Galentine’s Day. This coming-of-age film made every teen girl want their own computerised outfit picker when it was released and featured the chicest looks from the likes of Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana courtesy of costume designer Mona May. The film is a stylish revamp of Jane Austen’s novel Emma and features makeovers, romances, and of course the iconic friendship between Cher and Dionne.

For the gal pals who… are stylish divas (or virgins who can’t drive).

Where to watch: Prime or NOW TV

Thelma and Louise (1991)

This classic tale of female friendship is a must-watch for all the bad bitches who would do anything for each other. Featuring stars Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, and a very young Brad Pitt the film is full of wild antics and beautiful cinematography. Buckle up and jump in!

For the gal pals who… are ride or die.

Where to watch: Prime or Apple TV.

Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

Josie and the Pussycats will bring a flood of nostalgia for any girl who watched this classic y2k flick as a kid. The film centres on a girl group who make it large but find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy to deliver subliminal messages through popular music. Not only is the film crammed with y2k rockstar fashion inspiration and an adorable yet fierce trio, but the soundtrack will also have you jumping out of your seat.

For the gal pals who… love everything y2k.

Where to watch: Apple TV.

Little Women (2019)

Sometimes the strongest female bond is that between sisters which is something Greta Gerwig perfectly captures in Little Women. The film includes iconic female actors such as Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Saoirse Rose, Laura Dern, and Eliza Scanlen, as well as international heartthrob Timothée Chalamet. It’s an adaptation full of charm with themes of romance, female ambition, friendship, and loss making this drama a solid pick for Galentine’s Day. Sob warning: you’ll need a whole box of tissues for this heart-wrenching film.

For the gal pals who… are sisters!

Where to watch: Netflix.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is having a resurgence due to Andie’s adaptation of ‘You’re So Vain’ trending on TikTok at the moment. The ridiculous romance follows Andie (Kate Hudson), a writer for a women’s magazine who needs a guy to break up with her so she can write her article “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”. She chooses Ben (Matthew McConaughey) who has made a bet with his friends that he can get any girl to fall in love with him. Hilarity ensues of course. We love Andie’s tête-á-têtês with her friends which makes this the perfect Galentine’s Day movie.

For the gal pals who… love a bit of unexpected romance.

Where to watch: Prime or Apple TV.

John Tucker Must Die (2006)

If you’ve ever had a man do you wrong this is absolutely the movie for you. John Tucker Must Die is a fun noughties flick with a terrific female cast including Brittany Snow, Ashanti, Sophia Bush, and Arielle Kebbel. The film revolves around a trio of high school girls who all discover the most popular boy in school has been dating all of them at once. Bent on revenge they enlist the help of a shy unpopular girl to break his heart. The soundtrack will also give you all the y2k throwback vibes you’re craving.

For the gal pals who… have been there for each other through bad break ups.

Where to watch: Disney Plus or Apple TV.

He’s Just Not That into You (2009)

He’s Just Not That Into You covers a myriad of romantic snags and muddles meaning you’ll definitely relate to at least one of the pairings in the film. The film follows nine individuals struggling with romance and has a crazy star-packed cast including Jennifer Anniston, Ben Affleck, Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Ginnifer Goodwin, Kris Kristofferson, and Justin Long. You and your bestie can groan away your own troubles watching these couples try to resolve their messes.

For the gal pals who… are always unlucky in love.

Where to watch: Netflix.

Ocean’s 8

Ocean’s 8 is the all-female cast spin-off of the Ocean’s trilogy making heist films sexier than ever before. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter star in this comedy in which the group plans to perform a heist at the annual Met Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. If you like badass girls doing it for themselves, it’s a no-brainer watch for Galentine’s Day.

For the gal pals who… like breaking the rules.

Where to watch: Apple TV or rent on Prime.

Girl’s Trip

In Girl’s Trip, four lifelong friends travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Music Festival, after not seeing each other for years. The girls discover that the love they always had for each other never left, each other’s crazy sides, some sad secrets, as well as some passionate romances. With legendary actresses Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, and Jada Pinkett Smith there’s no doubt you’ll love this wild trip. For fans of the film, we have big news – there’s a Girl’s Trip 2 on the way!

For the gal pals who… know how to party.

Where to watch: Netflix

The Other Woman

The Other Woman is the (slightly!) more grown-up version of John Tucker Must Die that also includes schemes of revenge plotted up by gorgeous women. When Carly (Cameron Diaz) finds out the handsome Mark (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) who she has been dating for 2 months is married she and his wife strike up an unlikely friendship. The two ladies then discover that he is cheating on them both with supermodel Amber and plan to take revenge on the greedy guy. We need to know who thought of putting Nicki Minaj in this film because her chats with Cameron Diaz are giving us life!

For the gal pals who… are an unlikely pairing.

Where to watch: Disney Plus

Words By: Molly Sutherland

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The post Movies That Celebrate Female Friendships – We’re All About Empowerment This V-Day appeared first on Voir Fashion.

It is not often we witness the works of female directors grace the cinema screens of Hollywood, so it is a marvel that actress, screenwriter and director Greta Gerwig has announced the release of not one, but two upcoming films, Little Women and Barbie fresh off her success from the critically acclaimed, coming-of-age indie Lady Bird (2017). Her imminent prolific career and fervent fanbase are attributed however, to more humble beginnings as an actress on the outskirts of fame, starring in a number of low-budget mumblecore films.

Mumblecore is the name given to the subgenre of indie films characterised by naturalistic acting and dialogue and a preoccupation with the intimate relationships of people in their 20s. Emerging from the early 2000s, it has resonated with young audiences across the world with its treatment of disillusionment, social awkwardness and miscommunication between strangers— themes all too familiar to the information-saturated minds of Generation Y. As a key figure of this stylistic movement, Gerwig has appeared in a number of films from Joe Swanberg, some of which she co-wrote and co-directed, including Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007) and Nights and Weekends (2008). But it was not until the release of Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha (2012), that she started to gain mainstream recognition for her charmingly clumsy and relatable portrayal of protagonist Frances Haliday.

With witty and highly quotable lines such as ‘I’m so embarrassed, I’m not a real person yet’, and ‘I like things that look like mistakes’, Gerwig charms as the 27- year old aspiring ballet dancer, traversing through friendships, romances and career struggles. As she states in an interview, ‘Some of the independent movies that make money have a very specific thing that you can tell audiences they’ll feel about it…Frances Ha will touch your deep feelings of failure and unworthiness.’ Taking the feel-good promise of commercial indies at the time and turning it on its head, Gerwig seeks instead to touch people’s hearts through the acceptance of uncertainty in the world, and as a result, carves out an intensely realistic reflection of youthful aimlessness.

Her iconic screenwriting collaboration with Baumbach on the film (who later becomes her lifelong partner) has also allowed her to move away from the spotlight in front of the camera to the manipulation of it from behind. With the advantage of experience from both sides of acting and writing, Gerwig became ready to take the world by storm with her directorial debut, Lady Bird, a coming-of-age film set in Sacramento, California about a high schooler named Christine McPherson (played by Saoirse Ronan) who makes everyone call her by the nickname of Lady Bird. The film immediately shot to fame and critical acclaim, winning Gerwig a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in a Musical or Comedy and a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The mesmerising element of the film, however, seems not to be rooted solely in the poignant depiction of human interactions, but also in the treatment of the female subject, with Christine shining as the fiercely original teenage character bursting simultaneously with confidence and anxiety.

Gerwig’s account of Christine’s life is revealed to be semi-autobiographical, as she states in a behind-the-scenes video ‘I tend to start with things from my own life, then pretty quickly they spin out into their own orbit.’ By taking bits of inspiration from her own past growing up in Sacramento, such as the famous scene of Christine jumping out of a moving car, Gerwig infuses the film with a personal interconnectedness and improvisational quality, accentuating the importance of female subjectivity to the storyline. As we watch the conventional coming-of-age tropes play out (a character falling in and out of love, losing her virginity, discovering intellectual passions), we become aware of the film’s realist tone, constantly rejecting the urge to romanticise the often romanticised narrative of the teenage girl. Settings are stripped of any hint of gaudiness or theatricality, with a heightened emphasis on the mundane and the monotonous rounds of school and home. Characters are vulnerable to emotional impulses and desires, reinforcing the yin-and-yang idea of both good and evil existing at the same place and time, with Gerwig herself quoted as saying in an interview with Dazed Magazine, ‘I never think about female characters as being likeable or unlikeable. With all my characters—not just with female characters—but with every single character in this film. There are no villains.’

Even the outfits worn by the girls in the film have been thoroughly researched to make sure they remain faithful to the early 2000s era in which the story is set, as Gerwig reveals that ‘The costume designer April Napier and I spent a lot of time looking at old Seventeen magazines. And, there was a catalogue called Delia’s which was something everyone in the United States bought. You always wanted to look like one of the girls from Delia’s!’ Clothing is selected therefore on grounds of narrative accuracy rather than a desired beautification of the female image.

With planted seeds from the likes of Sofia Coppola and her scrutinisation into the art of female dynamics in The Virgin Suicides (1999) and Marie Antoinette (2006), Gerwig herself has transformed into a fundamental figure for the preservation of femininity in film and for the garnering of interest in the growth and maturation of the leading woman. In her upcoming film Little Women (set to release on 27 December 2019) where four sisters come of age in the aftermath of the Civil War, she once again provides a voice for the modern independent female, telling Margaret Gardiner in an interview that ‘I’ve always felt that whether you’re writing a novel or making a film, what you choose to put 30 feet tall on a screen tells the audience it’s important and for me, making lives of girls and women important and 30 feet tall and shot on celluloid—it’s worth it and you’re saying their lives have mattered.’

It has also been confirmed that Gerwig is to pair up with Baumbach on the script for her upcoming film Barbie, starring Margot Robbie as a doll who is expelled from Barbieland for not being perfect enough and sets off on an adventure into the real world. Filming is set to begin in 2020.

Words by Shir Ariya

Graphics by Araceli Alonso

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The post The Rise of Greta Gerwig: Femininity in Film appeared first on Voir Fashion.