Our favourite 2017 movies directed by women.
The box-office success of Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman may have somewhat dispelled Hollywood's delusion that women filmmakers aren't capable of delivering films that connect with a mass audience, but the numbers of movies directed by women in 2017 prove there's still a long way to go before the female gaze is represented on an equal footing with its male counterpart.
While the quantity of women-directed films may be dispiriting, the quality certainly isn't, with 2017 offering another impressive crop of movies made with women at the helm. Here, in alphabetical order, are the 10 women-directed movies that impressed us most.
Ava (Lea Mysius)
We said: "If at times Lea Mysius' inexperience is betrayed by film school pretensions (a Dali-esque dream sequence involving an eyeball borders on the parodic), it's rendered forgivable by the youthful, punkish energy she brings to her tale."
The Beguiled (Sofia Coppola)
We said: "If you have a sense of humour, a taste for atmosphere, and a predisposition for thoughtful, entertaining filmmaking, you should find The Beguiled totally beguiling."
Certain Women (Kelly Reichardt)
We said: "It's rare to find an anthology movie outside of the horror genre. It's even rarer to find one that's worthwhile. And it's rarer still for one to be led, as is Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women, by female protagonists."
The Fits (Anna Rose Holmer)
We said: "Holmer's film is a genuine oddity - part horror movie, part high school comedy, part coming of age musical."
The Love Witch (Anna Biller)
We said: "It's a uniquely singular vision (as well as writing and directing, Biller produced, scored, edited, and designed the sets, costume and general production of her film), one that leaves you in no doubt that its creator loves cinema, and is determined to leave her own mark on its history."
Most Beautiful Island (Ana Asensio)
We said: "If Asensio's goal was to gain notice as an actress by creating a plum role for herself, she's succeeded, but it's behind the camera that she really shines, making Most Beautiful Island one of the most confident directorial debuts of recent years."
On Body and Soul (Ildiko Enyedi)
We said: "While it offers two thoroughly charming protagonists, don't expect a Reese Witherspoon remake of On Body and Soul any time soon, as this is a film that visits some incredibly dark places, sometimes for comic effect."
Suck It Up (Jordan Canning)
We said: "Canning’s visual storytelling collaborates with Julia Hoff’s sensitive screenplay to create a film that is sincere, moving and utterly compelling."
Tomato Red (Juanita Wilson)
We said: "In her second film, Wilson proves a natural, both in adapting Daniel Woodrell's novel as writer and in capturing a sense of place on screen. By the end of the movie we feel like we know her characters and their limited world inside out."
Toni Erdmann (Maren Ade)
We said: "It’s a funny, perceptive, sprawling, nervous work that will leave you laughing, cringing and thinking seriously about your own dysfunctional family dynamic in equal measure."