Movies I watched in 2008 that passed the Bechdel test.

Posted on by sarah

A lot of people blog about the Bechdel Test for movies (a film passes if two women talk to each other about something other than a man), but I’ve had a hard time finding lists of movies that pass or fail.

I watch movies that fail, but last year I kept track to be aware of the basic gender decency of my media consumption. (I count lots of things. I am surprised how far away from gender equity I get if I don’t make a conscious effort to read women authors and listen to music by women. This is also a stirring game with race, sexuality, languages…) Since I had a list, I thought I’d post it online.

Titles in bold are films I’m glad I watched.

  1. Made In Secret (women talk about porn, collective process, film projects)
  2. Right At Your Door (women talk on the phone about a bioterrorist attack, their feelings)
  3. No Country For Old Men (women talk briefly about how they annoy each other)
  4. Aliens (talking about the monsters, feelings, whatnot)
  5. Eagle vs. Shark (women talk about family and business, if I recall.)
  6. Qallunaat! (women joke about colonial literature, white culture)
  7. Malcolm X (just barely… women talk about race and poverty in a conversation about a man)
  8. Paris is Burning (trans women talk about voguing, their bodies)
  9. The Golden Compass (talking about adventures)
  10. Short Circuit (talking about pets)
  11. The Big Lebowski (barely… we see Maude’s side of a phone conversation about art with her friend Sandra, who we don’t hear and never meet.)
  12. Labyrinth (talking about curfew, making a junk heap)
  13. Chicago (talking about careers, fame, each other)
  14. Notting Hill (dinner conversation about themselves)
  15. Heat (talking very briefly about finding barrettes)
  16. Dostana (talking about careers… but I disqualify this movie for raging homophobia.)
  17. Lord of the Rings with commentary (the women writer-directors talk about women actors and crew, production choices)
  18. Hannah and her Sisters (talking about sisters)
  19. Eastern Promises (I’m pretty sure women talk about a baby girl)
  20. Dangerous Liasons (women talk about other women, sex)
  21. Knocked Up (women talk about careers, abortion, their bodies)
  22. Half Nelson (mother-daughter chatting)
  23. Gone Baby Gone (I’m pretty sure women talk about a missing girl)

I watched 83 movies in 2008 and less than a third had women talking to each other. In 2009 I should keep track of women directors and really shock myself.