Cinema has always been a mirror of our lives—yet for too long, women’s stories were told through the eyes of others. Here are 13 films that change that, portraying women as they truly are: complex, courageous, and endlessly fascinating.
1. Lady Bird (2017) – The Beautiful Chaos of Growing Up
Greta Gerwig’s semi-autobiographical film follows Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a rebellious teenager constantly clashing with her mother while trying to figure out who she wants to be. It’s a story of imperfect relationships, self-discovery, and the bittersweet process of leaving home.
If you loved Lady Bird, you’ll adore Frances Ha—another story of a young woman finding her way, but this time through friendship and artistic dreams.
2. Frances Ha (2012) – The Art of Being a Work in Progress
Noah Baumbach’s black-and-white gem (co-written with Greta Gerwig) follows Frances, an awkward but endearing dancer stumbling through adulthood in New York. Unlike stories where women “have it all figured out,” Frances Ha embraces uncertainty—proving that life doesn’t need a perfect script to be meaningful.
While Frances Ha is charmingly messy, Anatomy of a Fall plunges us into a gripping courtroom drama where a woman’s entire life is put on trial.
3. Anatomy of a Fall (2023) – When a Woman’s Truth Is Questioned
Sandra Hüller delivers a powerhouse performance as a writer accused of her husband’s murder. The film dissects how society scrutinizes women’s emotions, ambitions, and relationships—forcing us to ask: Can a woman ever be truly innocent in the world’s eyes?
4. Stories We Tell (2012) – Who Controls the Narrative?
Sarah Polley’s groundbreaking documentary unravels her own family secrets, questioning how stories—especially women’s—are shaped by others. A must-watch for anyone who’s ever felt their truth was rewritten by someone else.
If Stories We Tell is about memory, Harriet reclaims a heroine’s legacy.
5. Harriet (2019) – The Unbreakable Woman
Cynthia Erivo’s stunning portrayal of Harriet Tubman reminds us that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s action despite it. Her defiance against slavery is a testament to what women achieve when they refuse to accept injustice.
6. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022) – Art as Activism
Nan Goldin’s life—as a photographer and activist fighting the opioid crisis—proves that art and resistance go hand in hand. Her fearless documentation of marginalized lives makes this film essential for anyone who believes in art’s power to change the world.
While Goldin used images, One Sings, the Other Doesn’t celebrates women’s voices through music.
7. One Sings, the Other Doesn’t (1977) – Sisterhood in Harmony
Agnès Varda’s lyrical film follows two women supporting each other through motherhood, abortion rights, and personal freedom. Its message? Solidarity among women isn’t just helpful—it’s revolutionary.
Varda’s hopeful tone contrasts with Lilya 4-ever, a harrowing but necessary film about exploitation.
8. Lilya 4-ever (2002) – The Girl the World Abandoned
Lukas Moodysson’s devastating drama follows a young girl trapped in sex trafficking. It’s a brutal but urgent watch, exposing how poverty and neglect make women vulnerable—and why feminism must fight for the most marginalized.
While Lilya is heartbreaking, Promising Young Woman turns rage into revenge.
9. Promising Young Woman (2020) – A Revenge Fantasy with Teeth Emerald Fennell’s provocative thriller stars Carey Mulligan as a woman holding predatory men accountable. A cathartic watch for anyone who’s ever wished they could confront injustice head-on.
If Promising Young Woman is about vengeance, The Cage is Looking for a Bird is about breaking free.
10. The Cage is Looking for a Bird (2024) – Escaping the Invisible Bars
Malika Musalieva’s drama follows a woman fleeing an oppressive marriage in Chechnya, where tradition and patriarchy dictate her fate. A stark reminder that women’s autonomy is still contested—even today.
11. The Danish Girl (2015) – Becoming Yourself Against the World
Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander deliver moving performances in this story of Lili Elbe, one of the first recipients of gender-affirming surgery. A poignant reminder that feminism must include trans women.
12. Nyad (2023) – The Woman Who Wouldn’t Quit
Annette Bening plays Diana Nyad, who swam from Cuba to Florida—at 64. Her relentless drive teaches us that women’s ambitions don’t expire with age.
13. There Was, There Was Not (2024) – War and Women
Closing our list with an Armenian film. Emily Mkrtchyan’s There Was, There Was Not premiered last year, offering a poignant look at four women from Artsakh navigating life amid the uncertainty of war. Through their stories, the film captures the quiet resilience of those who continue living—loving, working, and hoping—even as they wait for the day when their homeland might become a safe place again.
These films show that there’s no single way to be a woman. Whether rebellious, artistic, resilient, or defiant, each story reminds us that women’s lives are worth telling—and worth seeing.
