No matter how hard (or little) you try to avoid this, Christmas is unquestionably upon us. And what a better way to spend the Xmas break than by pulling on an Xmas jumper, landing on the sofa, and tuning into Netflix. And if you need some inspiration for what to watch when the snow begins to fall, check out our lists of movies with strong female leads.
WARNING: These films might make you wanna change your life.
Named after a chess opening, this miniseries describes the life of an orphaned girl who becomes the most recognized chess player in the world. Beth enchants the male-dominated chess community but has to pay a price in the form of a heavy drug and alcohol addiction. This prevents her from playing for some time, but as she goes back, the redhead girl achieves some major accomplishments in her chess career. However, the Netflix production uncovers more than just the various chess techniques, it talks about the dark side of an addiction, which no victory can remedy. If you love strong female leads but also like films that make you think, you are in for a treat (and might also wish for a chessboard this Xmas!).
This playful movie describes the story of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes' teenage sister who sets on a mission to find her mother. She is a witty character who you cannot but adore. From dressing up as a boy to a charming lady, Enola overcomes various challenges to help her find her missing mother. Interwoven with a love affair, the young detective essentially masters the skill attributed originally only to her older, then-already-famous-brother Sherlock. This movie is a homage to all female figures who tend to get overshadowed by their male counterparts.
Glow is a strange, funny, and dangerously addictive TV series. It describes the story of a female actor who, let down by a series of turn downs during her non-existing acting career, turns to wrestling. As a part of a women’s wrestling group, they set on various adventures and successively conquer Southern California. It is a great story about femalehood and girl power.
Self Made pictures the struggles of the people of color, especially women, in America in the 19th century. It describes the story of Madam C.J. Walker, an entrepreneur and social activist, who pioneered the first black hair care. She believed that hair was confidence and through her products she helped countless women find confidence and self-esteem. She then became America’s first female self-made millionaire. Take that for a role model!
This TV series is an extension of the same-named 2014 movie which sheds light on the treatment of black minorities at an Ivy League university. All three seasons discuss the discrepancies between the various social groups and societies at the university and picture strong female leads who thrive for change. The issue is still present and hence the consecutive series which depict various sides of the problem. The series has gained excellent ratings and critical acclaim, so definitely worth watching.
And to help you unwind, you should watch the Park and Reaction, rated one of the funniest sitcoms of all time (landing an Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations). Distributed over seven seasons, the series captures the life of a female bureaucrat trying to fight red-tape and egoistic neighbors in helping a local nurse set up a community park. It is full of jokes, irony, and everyday situations all of us can easily relate to. All led by the brilliant Amy Poehler.
The list of inspirational female-led movies goes on, but we recommend you start with these few. It is great to watch the trend of female-focused films becoming more popular, both Enola Holmes and The Queen’s Gambit were released this year, and we cannot wait to see what’s in store for next year. But now, let’s grab a cuppa, make some popcorn, jump on the couch, and ‘see what’s next’!
