Women Directors

I think it was interesting in class how we discussed how women directors are stereotyped on the type of films they make. I never really thought about how we can so easily characterize women directors as making sensitive or feminine films. It happens with race too, people assume that a particular race will make certain types of movies or music because of the color of their skin. It should not be surprising when we see a film that typically a women director wouldn't direct, because ultimately the female director is first and foremost a director. We need to leave preconceived thoughts at the door and take the movie or song for what it is, a great piece of art.
Because of these preconceived thoughts, women directors can't just make a good movie, they have to make a great one. Because they not only have to impress among other female directors, but standout among male directors too, to get recognized amongst the Hollywood mainstream. They have to work twice as hard, so that they will not be thought of as a great female director, but as great director period.
Wanda was an interesting film in that the main character was not very likable. In one of the first scenes we see her abandon her children, and see her live a not so glamorous life. Throughout the film we see her as a passive par taker in her own life, she seems lost and has no direction. The long takes that Loden uses in the film takes us to the place where the character lives, a very dark and depressing world.