Feminist film "Miss Representation" to screen in Calgary

This film looks awesome. Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. Please come down to The Globe Cinema on Wednesday, January 18 from 6 - 9 p.m. to check it out and meet other feminists in Calgary!

All the details are on the Facebook event - invite your friends.

Ever Wonder Where Movie Titles Come From?

Well ... most derive straight from the movie itself. The below video proves this theory by speedily glimpsing at scenes from 80 different flicks as the characters reveal them.

heart.

Michigan-filmed 'Answer This!' to screen at Capital City Film Festival

Filmed in Ann Arbor, the new comedy flick Answer This! will be showing at the first-ever Capital City Film Festival (which runs next week, April 14 through 17) on Sunday, April 17.

If you recall from VIM's Fall 2010 issue (see: Michigan: Hollywood's New Hot Spot), the movie follows the life of a University of Michigan graduate student who finally begins to figure his life out when he enters a citywide pub trivia tournament with his friends. Answer This! stars Chris Parnell (TV's Saturday Night Live), Christopher Gorham (TV's Ugly Betty) and Arielle Kebbel (John Tucker Must Die) among others and also marks the first time U-M has lent its name to a film.

To buy tickets to the screening, click HERE.

For the entire calendar of events check out the Capital City Film Festival website.

Smells Like 'Greed'

The above clip is a newly released short (GREED) by Roman Polanski starring Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams and Academy Award winner Natalie Portman. The video was created as part of the promotional efforts for Francesco Vezzoli's fragrance of the same name.

Tonight: Women in Film, Theatre & Television

Tonight on the show we interview Carol Whiteman, President & CEO of Creative Women Workshops Association. Carol organizes the Women in the Directors Chair Workshop to mentor and celebrate women working in film, theatre and television!



After our interview with Carol we’ll discuss the following recent events and issues:

• No jail time for rapist because victim “wanted to party” – The National Post, Feb 24, 2011
  
  Related: Do a tube top and high heels say, ‘Go ahead, rape me?’ – The National Post, Feb 24, 2011

• Anti-abortion billboards in New York and Los Angeles target Black women and spark outrage
  
  
  
  
• Protesters in 55 cities worldwide gathered for International Walk for Choice day on Saturday, February 26

Feminist Flicks & Fundraiser!

rebELLES Calgary is hosting a screening of two feminist documentaries as a fundraiser for the Pan-Canadian Young Feminist Gathering!



What: Two documentaries: (1) Itty Bitty Titty Committee, and (2) rebELLEs: The Movie. Feminism Uncensored - a documentary of the Pan-Canadian young feminist gathering, Waves of Resistance, that took place in Montreal in 2008.



When: Wednesday, March 9, 7:00–10:00 p.m.



Where: The Good Life Community Bike Shop in Eau Claire Market



Cost: There will be a small door charge, as the event is a fundraiser for reBELLES Calgary. There will also be baked goods and merchandise for sale.



For more info: Check the Facebook event.

Hip Hop Doc to Premiere in East Lansing

MSU filmmaker, Matt Ortlieb is premiering his first-ever, feature-length documentary Respiration: Feel the City Breathing this Saturday, February 12 in East Lansing.

In honor of Black History Month, the event begins at 6 p.m. and will be held at the RCAH Theatre in the basement of Snyder-Phillips Hall.

Click here to view an extended preview of the film.
Check out the Facebook event here.

Feel-good feminist flick

"We've got to demand pay that reflects the job you do, not whether you've got a dick or not."



Made in Dagenham is the true story of the 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham car plant in England, where 850 female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination and the desire for equal pay. The walkout became instrumental in Britain's Equal Pay Act 1970, which prohibits unfair treatment between men and women in terms of pay and conditions of employment.



The film is currently playing at Calgary's Globe Cinema.

Thoughts on the film “TEETH” and a world where women don’t have to fear rape

I recently watched the campy horror/comedy film TEETH, which has been on my list of films to see ever since I read about it in feminist magazines and blogs. I knew the basic premise of the story was a female character with a toothed vagina, and that was enough to entice me into finding out more. But what I didn’t expect was to enjoy the movie so much: both because it was a hilarious spoof on horror films, and also because as a feminist, it left me with a lot to think about. Some of those thoughts I’ll share here, after a brief synopsis of the film for those who haven’t seen it.



*Spoiler Alert!* Some of the plot is revealed here.



TEETH is the story of Dawn, a high school girl who discovers her vagina has teeth inside it. The first time she becomes fully aware of this is when she’s on a date with a boy from high school and he attempts to rape her. Dawn fights back but he eventually forces himself upon her. As he enters her, the teeth go into attack mode and needless to say, the boy loses his “manhood.”



Dawn is both horrified and terrified by what her vagina has done, so she visits a doctor to seek information about her unique anatomy. The male doctor asks her, “Have you ever had an internal exam before?” and when she replies no, a creepy grin spreads across his face. “So I imagine you have no idea what to expect” he says, as he lubes up his hand. He then proceeds to molest Dawn, violently fisting her while telling her, “I’m just testing your flexibility.” When Dawn realizes she’s being molested, once again the teeth go into attack mode, and the creepy doctor loses his hand.



Similar situations to the ones just described unfold throughout the film. At first it seems that Dawn has no control over the teeth inside her - they seem to bite everything that ventures into her vagina. But she eventually discovers that the teeth do not bite when she’s with a man who’s treating her respectfully; the teeth only bite men who violently force their way into her vagina.



Dawn comes to realize the power she holds within herself: touch me without my consent and you’ll pay. By the end of the film, Dawn’s character has changed from a timid, fearful girl who doesn’t understand her body to a strong, powerful woman who has no fear. She understands her body and how it will react when she becomes an object of violence.



One of the only things that I didn’t like about this film was that almost every man who came into Dawn’s life was a “bad guy.” All the guys she dated, the doctor, her brother, and others throughout the film, all were intent on raping, molesting or otherwise abusing her. I do realize that for some women, that is their reality: rape and abuse is all around them. But most women do not experience such a string of abuse in a short period of time. If I were to re-make this movie, I would introduce more male characters that were not out to harm Dawn, because the ratio of asshole rapists to regular nice guys was way out of proportion. In that way, I felt that this film misrepresents men.



But the movie definitely left me with a lot to think about. What if women never had to fear rape? Imagine how that would feel. Imagine what we could do without having to worry. We could walk home alone in the dark without fear. We could wear whatever we wanted without fearing that we’re “asking for it.” We could hitchhike without fear. I realize that bad things other than rape can happen to women in these situations; we could get robbed or beaten or any number of other horrible things. But being able to remove one of our greatest fears, sexual violence, would be quite a relief.



Now this brings me to Rapex: the internal anti-rape device that was invented for use by women in South Africa, which has the world's highest rate of sexual assault. Dubbed the “rape trap,” Rapex is a product worn internally by women. The hollow inside is lined with rows of razor-sharp hooks, which are designed to latch on to a rapist's penis during penetration. They can only be removed by a doctor. Apparently, the words of a rape victim - "If only I had teeth down there" - inspired the design of Rapex.



I’m not convinced that a device like Rapex is the solution to rape. As feminist organizations in South Africa have pointed out, women shouldn’t have to adapt to rape, and there are also fears that once a man’s penis is “bitten,” the pain may cause him to incite greater violence upon the woman.



Anyway, the film left me questioning how the world would be different if women had the physical power to fight back against rape. Most women are no match, physically, for a man intent on raping. We are powerless as someone forces their way inside us with violence and intimidation. What if no man ever dared to do that, because if he did, he’d pay with the loss of his most valuable possession? How different the world would be.

Free film to honour World Aids Day on Dec. 1

In honour of World AIDS Day, AIDS Calgary Awareness Association, Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival and Club Sapien present:

SEX POSITIVE

A Documentary Film by Daryl Wein

Wednesday December 1, 2010 | 7:00 pm

Club Sapien | 1140 10th Avenue SW

Free admission

What if you knew a deadly epidemic was coming… and no one would believe you? Exploring the life of Richard Berkowitz, a revolutionary gay S&M sex worker turned AIDS activist in the 1980s, whose incomparable contribution to the invention of safe sex has never been aptly credited.



The film will be followed by an AIDS Calgary Safer Sex Game-Show and Sexy Carnival Games, all in support of AIDS Calgary Awareness Association.

Feminist stuff you should do this weekend!

There are a whole bunch of cool things happening this weekend that Calgary feminists should definitely check out!

1. Margaret Cho at the Jubilee - October 1

She's a funny feminist. Some people say those two things can't exist together, but Ms. Cho is proof that they can. Check out her video about the elusive G-Spot.



2. The Penelopiad at the Martha Cohen Theatre - Until October 9

Written by an awesome Canadian feminist, Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad is Atwood's interpretation of the classic story, The Odyssey. It tells the story of Penelope, the faithful wife of the wandering warrior-king Odysseus, during her 20-year wait for his return home. It’s also directed by a woman - Vanessa Porteous - and features eleven female actresses.


3. Screening of the film ‘December 6’

Local feminist film maker, Cara Mumford, hosts a screening of her film December 6. The film makes use of spoken word poetry, dance and collage to send a message about the Montreal Massacre of 1989.

October 3, 1:00 p.m.
Temple B'nai Tikvah - 900 47th Avenue SW
Free admission

Eat, Pray, Gain 11 Pounds

I was reading an article about Julia Roberts' new film, Eat Pray Love, and a few sentences really irked me. Here's what I read, and why it pissed me off:



"... the famously slender Roberts admits she piled on the pounds during shooting for the Italian segment of the story... [Roberts revealed] she gained 11 pounds during the Italian filming."



First of all, when is 11 pounds considered "piling on the pounds"? Second, why is Julia Roberts gaining 11 pounds news-worthy? Third, the article was titled "A Weighty Role for Julia Roberts." Seriously? It's not like she gained 50 pounds here, people. Are you really that desperate for a story?



It's just another example of how women's bodies are publicly scrutinized and their weight gain/loss is constantly discussed. The choice of words "piled on the pounds" says a lot about the way we view women's weight gain. If a male actor gained a measly 11 pounds during filming, would it get a mention? Of course not, because it's so ridiculously insignificant. So why does it matter when it's Julia Roberts?

Tonight on the show we'll be joined by Kelly. co-host of CJSW's Film Clips to review the film Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire. We'll be talking about some of the films themes and sharing our general ideas regarding what we thought of the film overall, the performances and it's message.

Join us tonight at 8:00PM (MST) live on CJSW 90.9 FM and www.cjsw.com!

Free Feminist Flick on Friday

Free feminist movie on a Friday night... sounds like a plan to me!



What? Born in Flames - a film by feminist film maker Lizzie Borden

When? Friday June 18, 6:30 p.m.

Where? The Good Life Community Bike Shop in Eau Claire Market (2 st and 3 ave SW)

Cost? Free!



More details about the film:

Born in Flames is a film by feminist film maker Lizzie Borden that takes place in a future dystopia where women have to create their own justice to get any justice at all.



The film is a cult classic with some great scenes that can empower women to fight for and find their liberation. There is a very famous scene where a woman is being assaulted by two men on the street when a bike gang of women come to her aide, scaring the men away.

Tonight's Show: Review of Sex and the City 2

Tonight we review the movie Sex and the City 2. We'll discuss problematic issues from the movie, as well as feminist themes from both the movie and the televisions series.

Below are some links and videos to other reviews that we are referencing on the program. The video below from Feministing.com provides a good overview of some of the movie's more problematic themes.




Links to articles:

Operation Desert Togs - from the NY Times

Sex and the City's Women of Colour Problem - from Feministing.com

Feminist Review of Sex and the City 2 - from Feministreview.blogspot.com

Why the Sex and the City 2 reviews were misogynistic - from Guardian.co.uk

On Monday we're reviewing Sex and the City 2 - send us your reviews too!

On Monday June 14th we'll be reviewing the movie Sex and the City 2. We will discuss feminist themes from the movie and compare them to themes from the first movie and the television series. We would be happy to share thoughts and comments from our listeners and blog followers on the program. If you have thoughts on the movie (or thoughts on Sex and the City in general as it relates to feminism) then please post your comments below. You can also email your reviews to yeahwhatshesaid@gmail.com. We will incorporate as many of your comments/reviews into our show as we can!

Listen to our show on Monday June 14 from 8:00 - 9:00 pm on CJSW 90.9 fm in Calgary, or you can listen online at cjsw.com. And remember, we podcast too, so subscirbe already!

December 6th Memorial Events in Calgary

Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is held on December 6th every year. On December 6, 1989, 14 female students were killed at L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, simply because of their gender. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the “Montreal Massacre.”

A number of events are scheduled to happen in Calgary to recognize and remember this important day. Below is a list of the various events. Please leave a comment below if you know of other events that we have not mentioned.

Memorial ceremony at the University of Calgary
Tuesday, December 1
Noon to 1:00 pm in the Rozsa Centre

Film screening at the University of Calgary
“Polytechnique” will be screened with a discussion following
Wednesday, December 2
6:00 pm in “That Empty Space” (located in MacEwan Student Centre, University of Calgary)
Free admission with food bank donation

Film screening, live music and keynote speaker
Sunday, December 6th - 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Temple B’nai Tikvah (900 47th Avenue SW)
Film: “December 6: A Short Poetry Dance Film” by Cara Mumford
Music: Jadesong Ray Marlin
Keynote Speaker: Marsha Ellen Meidow
Free Admission
*Important* If you plan to attend this event, please RSVP to caramumford@gmail.com to reserve your spot. The temple is very small and has limited seating.

Films & Memorial at Mount Royal University
Monday December 7, 10:30 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Wyckham House, Mount Royal University
From about 10:30 am to 2:00 pm, a biography of each one of the fourteen women will be read every 15 minutes and a rose will be placed. Cara Mumford's short poetry dance film, December 6, will be shown between bio readings throughout the day. Drop in as you please.
The feature-length film, Polytechnique, will screen in the second floor Art Gallery room from 4-6 p.m.
All events are FREE.

Next Week's Show, All About Black Hair

This coming week's episode of Yeah, What She Said holds a lot of significance for me personally. We will be discussing black women and their hair, a subject of great intrigue for some and much devastation for others. I won't get into it too much here because I'd like to save all of my thoughts for the show, but there are tons of fascinating, sad and triumphant stories to be told about the complex relationships between black women and their hair (I've been chatting about it with some girlfriends over the last few days). In the past, Jennie and I have posted videos and links to articles regarding this subject on the blog; I've always thought that we should one day use this topic for an episode of the show and that it would be nice to have black women gather 'round and share their thoughts on this particular area of interest.

It looks like the show has been timed perfectly as it has been brought to my attention by a couple of friends that Chris Rock's new comedy/documentary film, Good Hair, is coming out shortly. The trailer tells all and I have posted it below, along with previous posts and clips on black hair from us here on the Yeah, What She Said blog.

Films About Black Women: Kiri Davis' A Girl Like Me

New Black Barbie Dolls: Fab or Flop?

Solange Knowles Chops It: Is She Insane?

Chris Rock's Good Hair (Trailer)


Tune in to CJSW 90.9 FM at 8:30 PM (MST) this coming Monday to catch the show live.

Free/Cheap Feminist Documentary!

"ReBELLEs: Feminism Uncensored" Film Screening; a documentary about Canada's first Young Feminist gathering.
-Admission to this event is on a $0-$7 sliding scale (pay-what-you-can-afford)
-There will be baked goods, t-shirts and buttons for sale
-Half of the proceeds from this event will go to the Calgary Anarchist Bookfair, and the other half will go towards travel subsidies for Calgary Feminists wishing to attend the 2011 Winnipeg RebELLEs gathering.

This event is scheduled to begin @ 7pm on Thursday November 12, 2009 at The Good Life Community Bicycle Shop: 202, 200 Barclay Parade SW (inside Eau Claire Market).

Visit www.goodlifebikes.ca for more information.