QUEUE THIS!

I'm happy to return to QUEUE THIS! with one of my favorite documentaries of the last couple years - Miss Representation.  Miss Representation tackles the very complicated issue of gender representation in media.  Or, more specifically, the negative implications of the media's unwavering push to "sell sex."  I love this movie not only because I relate to many of the issues it covers, but also because it reminds me of a very special screening I attended in the most easterly city in Canada, St. John's, Newfoundland.   This is where my short film, The Director, was paired with Miss Representation at the great St. John's International Women's Film Festival and played to a packed and enthusiastic house.  Seriously, that small town really knows how to support a festival!  It was such an honor to be a part of that screening (thank you to whomever made that programming decision!).

From films about sex as a commodity to the questioning of sex and gender norms, the four other films I've picked relate to Miss Representation in different ways.  So, what are we waiting for?  Let's queue this...    

Miss Representation (dir Jennifer Siebel Newsom, 2011)  Netflix says: "Explores how the media's often disparaging portrayals of women contribute to the under-representation of females in positions of power, creating another generation of women defined by beauty and sexuality, and not by their capacity as leaders."  Jennifer recently finished a fundraising campaign for her new doc which tackles masculinity.  Looking forward to seeing that one!

Abduction of Eden (dir Megan Griffiths, 2012)  Netflix says: "Hyun Jae is still a teenager when she's kidnapped and spirited to Las Vegas, where she's forced to work as a prostitute for the next two years. Renamed Eden by her captors, she works to gain their respect in a bid to win her liberty." This was previously known as just Eden, in case you were wondering...

Katy Perry: Part of Me (dir Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz, 2012)  Netflix says: "Pop star Katy Perry is captured on and offstage in this revealing diary of her California Dreams Tour, featuring her Los Angeles performances. The film shares the air of glamour and fun that radiates from this talented and unique artist."

Whale Rider (dir Niki Caro, 2003 DVD)  Netflix says: "A Maori tribe must contend with the distinctly nontraditional concept of having a female leader when the intended heir to the throne dies during childbirth, leaving his twin sister, Paikea, to prove herself in this inspiring coming-of-age tale."

Young & Wild (dir Marialy Rivas, 2012)  Netflix says: "Though her devout family believes her to be pious and dutiful, 17-year-old Daniela secretly runs a sex confession site for teens with desires like hers. In spite of priests and parents hovering, her sexuality finds a way to blossom in cyberspace."

QUEUE THIS! is a weekly post by Destri Martino that appears on the Broad Humor Blog every Thursday morning. The goal of the post is to get more women-directed films in Netflix queues in order to make a sizable impact on Netflix analytics and buying patterns; thus, getting more films by women directors distributed and seen, and generally heightening awareness about this often overlooked pool of talent. View the past two QUEUE THIS! posts here and here.