Do there exist any films (I was going to say "made before 2000" but, nah) that aren't horrifying in their gender politics? Just watched Blade Runner with some students. A couple freshmen guys were like, this film is too rapey for me. Me too--my tolerance for films with violence against women, or creepily sexualized nonconsensual interactions w women, is getting lower and lower as I get older. I have to experience this shit in everyday life, thank you very much! Film should be a goddamn refuge!
I think Scott's feminist credentials mostly stem from Ripley in Alien and Thelma and Louise, which is a bit thin. Strong female characters but the male gaze is pretty obvious in the cinematography. It would be interesting (but deeply unpleasant) to compare the rape scene in T&L with the "love" scene in BR.
(Aliens vs. Thelma and Louise would be an awesome spin-off.)
I don't have an answer to this, but I'm hoping other people have good suggestions. I think that because Hollywood has always been male-dominated a lot of the most capable filmmakers have absorbed some pretty awful attitudes towards their women characters.
@miriam This is a good question and I would be interested in the answer. How do you feel about "My Neighbor Totoro"?
@miriam I went to see Arrival last year. It has a female lead. There's nothing sexualized or stereotypical about the way she's portrayed at all. She's an academic linguist for most movie is doing linguistics stuff that's important to the plot, and there's a back story about her relationship with her daughter.
Interestingly, the director of that movie is same guy who did Blade Runner 2049.
@miriam I never saw the original 'sex' scene as a rape until a friend suggested it. Looking back on it now, I see it. I often wonder why it was shot that way. What discussion occurred? I've read reports that Sean Young wasn't happy. Not sure about Scott and Ford. Scott has strong feminist credentials, doesn't he? I would be very interested in knowing their thinking behind that scene. Hope you're well.