…in which Feminéma rants about access
8 February 2012
Perhaps you’re thinking, “where the hell is Part II of the La Jefita awards? What kind of an anonymous blogger gets me all excited about seeing a list of top films by and about women, then doesn’t tell me which one wins for Most Feminist Film?” Well, you’re not the only one who wants to rant.
I wanted to consider several 2011 films for these awards, most notably Lynne Ramsay’s We Need to Talk About Kevin (Tilda Swinton, I love you) and Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus (so I can see Vanessa Redgrave kick the shit out of the mother stereotype), but the fact is, I can’t see them. I waited and waited, and checked showtimes everywhere within approximately 120 miles. Even if I drove all the way to Boston I couldn’t see them, because they’re not playing there, either. I don’t know what kind of moron is running those distribution companies, but if you can’t get your award-worthy film into a major American city like Boston by mid-February, you’re fucking useless.
Ahh, that feels better.
Now that I’ve ranted, and now that I’ve come to grips with the fact that I’ll have to put these films into my 2012 category (argh!), I’m prepared to re-jigger my finalists and finish this post — once I get the chance to see whether Gina Carano’s ass-kicking in Haywire is superior to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo‘s or Hanna‘s. So, friends, you can be sure to catch this post by the weekend.
Feminéma 
8 February 2012 at 3:33 pm
Both Coriolanus and We Need to Talk about Kevin are on my Coming Attractions/What’s Next page. But neither is playing in Sarasota, FL.
So like you, I’m unable to see them. I don’t think WNTTAK is playing anywhere in Florida.
8 February 2012 at 4:16 pm
It seems like an especially acute case of a larger problem. Now that I really live in what might be considered a major metropolitan area, it’s been surprising to me how limited movie choices in general are (not just of feminist films).
8 February 2012 at 5:24 pm
@JMM: Maybe I’m peeved in particular because these films have been puffed as such prominent, terrific films — do these distribution companies really expect award nominations in the US if no one outside NYC & LA have had the chance to see them?
And @Servetus: It is an acute problem. I’m peeved enough to be thinking of possible solutions.
9 February 2012 at 10:37 am
[…] aren’t showing in Boston or in any of the other urban areas within two hours of home. Hence, I ranted about limited release, a problem I see as two-fold: I can’t see great film, and great films don’t get my […]