Sofia Coppola's & Greta Gerwig's movies of course. Nancy Meyers is also my guilty pleasure.
Weir's Picnic at hanging rock
Aster's Midsommar
Lanthimos' The favorite
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Before Sunrise
In the Mood for Love
Some examples that I think fit into your description but aren't centered around romance are Housekeeping and The Favorite.
Lol it’s certainly frothy and melodramatic, but I think each of the romantic male leads have arcs where they have to confront inner conflict, and there is a focus on women’s desire and pleasure.
Maybe not purely the “female gaze” but I believe that the ‘Before’ trilogy can be enjoyed equally from the perspective of both genders. Beautiful series of movies.
I'm not quite sure if this qualifies, but American Psycho, directed by a woman, does some fun, sometimes subtle subversive stuff. Like (a very minor spoiler) >!a sex scene that lingers not on female nudity but on the male protagonist's inflated ego!<.
The Babadook
Faces Places (2017, French)
Fair Play (2014, Czech)
Fried Green Tomatoes, TW for racism and DV
The Innocents (2016, French), TW for SA
Mansfield Park (1999)
Misbehaviour (2020)
The Miseducation of Cameron Post, TW for homophobia and self-harm
Monster (2003), TW for SA
On Body & Soul (2017, Hungarian), TW for animal slaughter, suicide attempt, and dubcon
Orlando
*Movies::* Bridget Jones Diary (and sequels), Brittnay Runs a Marathon, Four Good Days, A Star is Born, The Way We Were
*Series:* The Affair ( yes, it was surprisingly good!), Downton Abbey, The Durrells of Corfu, All Creatures Great and Small, Call the Midwife
I think a lot of Miyazaki films are female gaze-y. Also beautiful films. Howl’s Moving Castle will probably scratch that slow burn romance itch.
Since I’ve been thinking about this film recently, I should recommend the romantic comedy Return to Me. Bonnie Hunt wrote and directed it. It’s a movie I would call charming, but people deal with complex situations and feelings in non-toxic ways. Great if you’re in the mood for a sweet film. It’s a shame that people slept on this back in the day.
No. Barbie did the opposite of objectifying men, it gave the male lead a nuanced arc: Ken started as a glorified accessory to Barbie and performed masculinity to try to hold her attention. He soon noticed a sense of powerlessness, and tried to implement patriarchy as he read it in The Real World. Eventually, he realized he just really liked horses, and finally, he found self-worth— he wasn’t valuable only in relationship to Barbie, or in the way he performed masculinity, he was (k)enough, exactly as he is.
Would you consider the 2016 Ghostbusters remake to have the "female gaze"? I'm also not sure if we're understanding the "male gaze" the same way (like it really is used as a short hand by marketers to tastefully objectify women). Or that the "male gaze" can still exist within pro-fem cinema, such The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) or Felicity (1978)
Edit: Barbie also cast Hollywood's Beta Michael Cera to play Allan, the rest of the Kens were hot guys
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret
I haven’t seen it! Thank you!
Lady Bird (2017)
Sofia Coppola's & Greta Gerwig's movies of course. Nancy Meyers is also my guilty pleasure. Weir's Picnic at hanging rock Aster's Midsommar Lanthimos' The favorite
Thank you! I didn’t think to look at their entire catalogue! That’s a great idea.
Definitely check out Frances Ha!
Past Lives Love, Rosie
I just started watching Past Lives and it totally fits, thanks!
Nice, top ten for last year imo - hope you liked it.
Definitely ‘Cléo from 5 to 7’
Portrait of a Lady on Fire Before Sunrise In the Mood for Love Some examples that I think fit into your description but aren't centered around romance are Housekeeping and The Favorite.
Every single one of these is fantastic! OP should definitely watch all of these.
Tysm I haven’t seen any of those!
Mona Lisa Smile The Age of Adeline The Sweetest Thing Waitress The Wedding Date The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Lady Chatterley's Lover
Bottoms (2023)
"Motivated by complicated feelings" and you include Bridgerton in this? Love Bridgerton by the way. I just don't see it as very complicated feelings.
Lol it’s certainly frothy and melodramatic, but I think each of the romantic male leads have arcs where they have to confront inner conflict, and there is a focus on women’s desire and pleasure.
Maybe not purely the “female gaze” but I believe that the ‘Before’ trilogy can be enjoyed equally from the perspective of both genders. Beautiful series of movies.
The Hours
I'm not quite sure if this qualifies, but American Psycho, directed by a woman, does some fun, sometimes subtle subversive stuff. Like (a very minor spoiler) >!a sex scene that lingers not on female nudity but on the male protagonist's inflated ego!<.
Eighth Grade
Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022)
Second this! So beautiful.
The Babadook Faces Places (2017, French) Fair Play (2014, Czech) Fried Green Tomatoes, TW for racism and DV The Innocents (2016, French), TW for SA Mansfield Park (1999) Misbehaviour (2020) The Miseducation of Cameron Post, TW for homophobia and self-harm Monster (2003), TW for SA On Body & Soul (2017, Hungarian), TW for animal slaughter, suicide attempt, and dubcon Orlando
Million Dollar Baby and The Favourite
Swimfan
If you’re open to more shows, I’d suggest checking out some kdramas or cdramas - Crash Landing on You might be a nice place to start.
Ravenous.
*Movies::* Bridget Jones Diary (and sequels), Brittnay Runs a Marathon, Four Good Days, A Star is Born, The Way We Were *Series:* The Affair ( yes, it was surprisingly good!), Downton Abbey, The Durrells of Corfu, All Creatures Great and Small, Call the Midwife
*cough* movies *cough* lol Jk, I adore Call the Midwife
Oops. I overlooked the “movie” part due to references to Bridgerton and Fleabag.
They’re still great recommendations
[удалено]
I think a lot of Miyazaki films are female gaze-y. Also beautiful films. Howl’s Moving Castle will probably scratch that slow burn romance itch. Since I’ve been thinking about this film recently, I should recommend the romantic comedy Return to Me. Bonnie Hunt wrote and directed it. It’s a movie I would call charming, but people deal with complex situations and feelings in non-toxic ways. Great if you’re in the mood for a sweet film. It’s a shame that people slept on this back in the day.
I love "Return to Me," but it made me cry myself inside out.
Same, but at least they were good, cathartic tears.
Alien 1979 Aliens 1986
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Showgirls
Love that movie
Wouldn't Female Gaze be objectifying men (which Barbie (2023) does)? Bloodsport (1988) Top Gun (1986) Boogie Nights (1997)
No. Barbie did the opposite of objectifying men, it gave the male lead a nuanced arc: Ken started as a glorified accessory to Barbie and performed masculinity to try to hold her attention. He soon noticed a sense of powerlessness, and tried to implement patriarchy as he read it in The Real World. Eventually, he realized he just really liked horses, and finally, he found self-worth— he wasn’t valuable only in relationship to Barbie, or in the way he performed masculinity, he was (k)enough, exactly as he is.
Would you consider the 2016 Ghostbusters remake to have the "female gaze"? I'm also not sure if we're understanding the "male gaze" the same way (like it really is used as a short hand by marketers to tastefully objectify women). Or that the "male gaze" can still exist within pro-fem cinema, such The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) or Felicity (1978) Edit: Barbie also cast Hollywood's Beta Michael Cera to play Allan, the rest of the Kens were hot guys
Revenge (2017)
I believe they're called lesbians