Reel Women
The First Movie with a Black Lesbian Lead Pioneered a Whole New Genre
With 1996's "The Watermelon Woman," Cheryl Dunye not only created and starred in the first film with a Black lesbian lead—she pioneered a genre of docu-fiction that has since been dubbed "Dunyementary."
Meg Ryan Once Starred in an Erotic Thriller Made for and by Women
With "In the Cut," director Jane Campion subverts erotic thriller tropes—especially by subjecting only men (including Mark Ruffalo!) to full frontal onscreen nudity.
On Selena's Enduring Legacy and Impact on the Chicana Community
From the 1997 "Selena" biopic starring Jennifer Lopez to the documentary "Conversations with Intellectuals About Selena," cinema has solidified the Tejana pop star as an eternal icon.
The Revolutionary Power of Pam Grier's 'Foxy Brown'
"Foxy Brown" pioneered the female action hero and subverted genre tropes—and made Grier a bankable star in an age where few black women landed leading roles.
Praise 'Yentl,' the Film Barbra Streisand Had to Fight Like Hell to Make
Thirty four years ago, Barbra Streisand became the first woman in Hollywood to write, direct, produce, and star in a film. We revisit the classic, which made Babs the first—and only—woman to win a Golden Globe for directing.
'Margaret' Is the Coming-of-Age Masterpiece You Probably Missed
Obfuscated by time and scandal at the time of its release, "Margaret" is a wondrous story about the traumas of girlhood that deserved "Lady Bird"-like praise.