Entry to @lilyraabe's Contest: The Bechdel Test, A Case for FRANCES HA
I really enjoyed seeing Noah Baumbach's 2012 film Frances Ha starring Greta Gerwig at the time of it's release, and even more last night when I watched it again in preparation for this post.
A few days ago I came across @lilyraabe's clever and light-hearted contest calling for movies that pass the Bechdel Test. Have you ever heard of this test? I have to confess that I hadn't and was so pleased to learn about this clear and oh so telling litmus test that asks these 3 deceptively simple questions:
(1) Does it have at least two women in it?
(2) Do these women talk to each other?
(3) And do they talk about something besides men?
It's surprising how few movies actually pass this test and this fact speaks volumes about how women are viewed and valued in our society. While I've watched and noted how females are portrayed in both books and films for many years and it has always played a significant role in how I much I respect the writer, director and film as a whole., I find it incredibly heartening that as early as 1985 the Bechdel Test was created. I only wish I had learned about it that year as I was graduating high school! It certainly would have made a difference in how I viewed my own value as a woman and had a tangible way to gauge how the society around me did as well.
I chose Frances Ha for my entry into this contest because it's about how important we as female friends are to each other. This is a small independent film and I love the simple and creatively constructed scenes that are shot in black and white to highlight the interactions and body language. It is a story of a young woman reaching to find her feet in her own life and coming into herself in the way that we do in our later 20s. And my most favorite scene is of Frances running and dancing with abandon down the streets of Brooklyn on her way to work.
But the underlying theme throughout is how deeply this woman Frances needs her closest female relationship and how this friendship is actually the glue that gives her life context and joy. It's the foundation for her safety and sense of self and with this friendship she feels secure in growing personally, creatively and knows her place in the scheme of things.
As I write this I wonder if some might view this as unhealthy, but I truly don't, not at all. In our lives we all need people in different ways at different times. For some of us it's our family, for some of us it's our friends that give us the foundation, safety and springboard from which we can jump back and forth into life. We can grow and challenge ourselves and find our courage partially because we have this base, this kinship and support that we can return to over and over again to nourish ourselves and help make sense of things.
We're all unique and each of our particular challenges can look quite different, so I don't presume that Greta Gerwig's Frances represents all women, nor all people, but her story is one that I can relate to. I was and am still a person who also has relied heavily on my friendships as the glue that has bound my life together. I'll also say that some of my biggest heartbreaks have been when I hit up against the limits of those relationships. When I wanted them to continue growing and holding importance despite the additions of much loved husbands, children and co-workers.
I have always been a person for whom relationships are the catalyst for everything, even my sense of self. I count myself extremely lucky to still have 2 super close friends of 40 years and one of 22 years and these are still my touchstones in life. Regardless of anything else, family, husbands, work, these 2 women have never lost their place in my heart and life. And honestly, I would say that there's a chance I wouldn't be alive without them.
my best friend of 40 years Laura and me last year
Thank you @lilyraab for this opportunity to think about women, women in film and to do some reflection on the role of female friendships in my own life through preparing this post.
As always, your support is noticed and appreciated! Stay tuned for more ceramic artwork and process soon.....
I really love this contest because I discover many new movies to watch! I'm so behind! But by reading your post I can now add a great recommendation to my list...
I'm deeply happy for you to have great female friends that are with you for such a big part of your life. I believe there are many great people who can come in and go out of your life - but there is such comfort in knowing a person for many many years. No words needed, just be.
Thank you for sharing :-)
I too am learning of several movies to add to my list from this contest! Yes I agree, a long term close friend is one of the greatest gifts in life, no doubt about it. Thanks for your thoughts and support @soyrosa!
I learned something new today because I had never heard of the Bechdel Test. I have to say I am envious of your long friendship. Those are very rare today.
As an aside, you might find it interesting that I prefer friends that are women over men. Basically men are rather one dimensional, while the ladies are more interesting to talk to on the whole.
I am so grateful for my long friendships....they are really amazing and I don't take them for granted, ever. Frankly, at the lowest times in my life knowing I had these 2 friends made all the difference.
I find both women and men interesting but in different ways and seem to offer different kinds of companionship. My closest and most enduring friendships have always been with women but I'm pretty close with my brother and former husband too. Anyway, thanks for your always great comments!
I did not know this test. it was an interesting topic. Frances ha, a movie I watched ..
A character that I care and I sometimes envy. I want to leave once the edges of life issues. always a plan, efforts to set goals. but strangely in such a run, I feel myself half as frances ha. she feels incomplete because she is freeing her life. I feel that I rushed for the missing fazlla ..
I wanted to write a lot on this subject. but I am aware that my English is very bad and your writing seems completely meaningless. I am sorry about that. I did my best.
In short, I like your ideas and your writing very much ..
See you
Firstly, I admire that you try to speak/write in another language, even if it's not perfect keep up the good work!
It is such a strange and beautiful thing to witness someone else's story, their struggle and awkwardness as they find their way, I always feel like my heart is bulging! Frances is so easy for me to identify with on so many levels and it sounds like you do too.
Thanks for your support @artizm!
I enjoy it when i see someone relates to an artwork (specially in form of a film :-D) that much. Very authentic post. And probably one of contest winners.
THank you! I love these contests that take me in a direction I am interested in but wouldn't have pursued nor even thought to on my own. Thanks for your support!
I’m so honored that a post like this was included in this contest. It’s exactly why I created this--to honor female friendship and the complexity of the feminine experience. I also have a “Laura”, only my touchstone is “Jamie” and we’re working on 16 years (I sincerely hope we can make it to 40 like you two ladies!).
I have not seen this film, but now I think I’ll be watching it tomorrow.
I also love that this post doesn’t just touch on the importance of female friendship, it also gets to the root of plutonic love and the value that holds in our lives regardless of our gender. <3
I had so much fun doing this and so appreciate your thoughtful challenge! Heartening to hear about your Jamie :-)
beautifully said-
This was a really interesting read. I feel that it would be really great if entertainment better reflected the way society views women. And I say this because, as I look at my life growing up I was taught I can do anything, be anything...and I've always felt respected as a woman. I know this isn't everyone's experience, but I'd hope I'm not the only one. So, I'd love to see a movie that shows how women really function and relate to each other more, so I love idea of the the Bechdel Test. Thanks for introducing me to it!
@freedomtowrite
Thanks for your thoughtful comment @freedomtowrite! Glad to hear you have felt supported, that's wonderful. I too was raised with the notion that I could do and be whatever I wanted, yet this was amidst so many other ideas and realities modeled and taught to me both inside my family out all around. Funny how they said one thing alongside so many mixed messages because they were growing themselves and couldn't uphold it fully! Change takes time.
Yes! There are a lot of mixed messages out there! I think the biggest comfusion I remember watching was women who demanded to be taken seriously, and then flirted to get what they wanted. 😒 It never made sense!
The feeling that somehow we need to flirt to get what we want is internalized sexism, that somehow our sexiness is our only form of power. It's complicated to shed our own internalized sexism, see it in each other without judgement and instead support each other!
All of that seems to be why woman have this natural competitiveness with each other.
Yes except I don't thing that competitiveness is "natural" at all, just a result of centuries of oppressive sexism!
Thanks for the share.
Baumbach is so sharp.
The ending of The Squid and the Whale is so powerful.
Greta Gerwig carries a great tone in her work also.
Power to you.
I agree on all counts here, thanks for reading!
I have only just heard of this test as well. One of my favourite films is Enchanted April which revolves around women, though it also touches on their relationship with men, but in a way that is first annoyance and then discovery of how important the relationship of men and women together really is. I don't suppose it would count, but I wonder how many movies with men in never speak of women? It'd be an interesting comparrison.
My female freindships have always been special to me as well. How one is with male or female friends is different, though I have to say when my group of four women get together, 3 of us are married and one is 'sworn off men' and we almost never talk about them or men in general, it's usually about things we are doing or are into at the time. Funny, that.
I think it's a sign of people (you and your friends) who are doing interesting things that they are interested in talking about something other than their primary partnerships!
I agree that this would be an interesting test to see how it compares with male roles. I imagine that in many movies men talk about women, but not as their primary subject whereas with female roles sometimes that's all they talk of. now that I know of this test I'll be thinking about it with every movie and show too.
Sincere female friendship is a great treasure. In our male-dominated world, women are often held hostage to stereotypes. They compete, betray each other for the approval of the male society. It's wrong. We must free ourselves from this trace of the Patriarchate. I welcome the Sorority. It's time to lay down your arms and admit that women are not enemies of each other. We're sisters. We are the most reliable support for each other. And we have a long way to go. Fight against another enemy. The struggle against the foundations of a Patriarchal world that has been in power for too long.
You are so right @anna-mi, well said!!!
two women in it.