It’s unusual for us to ever use the phrase Women Aren’t Funny here at Funny Women but we’re making an exception! From 7th June to 25th July The Garden Cinema in London’s Covent Garden, has curated a summer season with this exact title celebrating 13 films directed & written by women.
From different nationalities, spanning from the 1940s to modern day, all of the films being shown as part of the programme, boldly stretch and contort the definition of comedy.
From the dawn of the film industry, female directors were few, and stories were told through a decisively male perspective. Women had more prominence on the other side of the lens, but were relegated to roles like love interest, seductress… you know the drill.
However, there were exceptions to the rule: filmmaking women who managed to produce alternative visions, despite adversity. Their films were subversive, not necessarily because they set out to be, but because they emerged from an outsider position. Bringing a new perspective by default, they challenged societal, film, and gender norms – reframing women’s representation on screen.
Comedy’s inherent ability to incorporate diverse perspectives proved the apt medium of expression for these marginalised voices. The season proceeds chronologically:
- Week 1: Screenings of Dance, Girl, Dance (USA, 1940) by Dorothy Arzner – and The Passionate Stranger (UK, 1957) by pioneering british director Muriel Box.
- In Week 2: Daisies (Czechoslovakia, 1966) by Věra Chytilová, and The Heartbreak Kid (USA, 1971) by Elaine May.
- Week 3: The highly divisive Swept Away (Italy, 1974) by Italian iconoclast Lina Wertmüller – the first woman ever nominated for a Best Director Oscar – and Sweetie (Australia, 1989), Jane Campion’s first film!
- Week 4: The Watermelon Woman (USA, 1996) by Cheryl Dunye that seamlessly combines comedy and political themes of Black queer oppression and Caramel (Lebanon, 2011), a Middle Eastern rom-com that challenges binding cultural traditions whilst celebrating female friendship.
- Week 5: Appropriate Behaviour (UK, 2014) by Desiree Akhavan and the highly idiosyncratic Toni Erdmann (Germany, 2016) by Maren Ade, which launched Sandra Hüller’s meteoric acting career outside of Germany.
- Weeks 6 & 7: The Farewell (USA, 2019), Shiva Baby (USA, 2020) and the outrageously entertaining Polite Society (UK, 2023).
Throughout the season, the majority of the films will feature introductions, discussions, and partnership events.
For all dates and times visit the Women Aren’t Funny programme online and catch the trailer here.
PATREON EXCLUSIVE OFFER
The lovely people over at the Garden Cinema are delighted to offer 10 free tickets to our Patreon members for the films below:
Dance, Girl, Dance (matinee tickets only)
To sign up for Patreon to be in with a chance of a free ticket join here.
