Only 100 odd years ago women got the vote not much chance then of being a directing a film then.
Again lists like this are very subjective there are only 3 in that list I would rate as great and a few missing too!
You're absolutely right about the lack of female filmmakers in there.Thank you very much for a properly serious, insightful and respectful critical analysis of important and influential film.
It's good to see European film - German, French, Italian - given the respect its due. Each decade definitely had its own version of film language, but the ones you've listed, as well as being representative of their time, also have a degree of timelessness whereby contemporary audiences can still watch and take things from.
If nothing else, they can become exercises in trying to spot all the iconic moments that have been exhibited in popular culture ever since!
My only concern is the lack of female filmmakers in the (abbreviated) list. 100 years of film but some things rarely change down the Ages....
I was just pleased to see Val Guest get a mention!What a superb idea for an article, and how very well written.
Thank you. Tom.
But seriously. No Powell & Pressburger?
Pretty much all of their work falls within this era, and they're generally regarded as two of the greatest film makers ever to work in the industry, and are well-represented at the BFI.
Major omission. But then again, threads like this are all about arguing exactly this sort of thing.
Triumph of the Will I see as more of a documentary than a film to entertain. Though as a pice of propaganda it takes some beating.You're absolutely right about the lack of female filmmakers in there.
I um-ed and ah-ed about it a bit. But I think Leni Riefenstahl would have been a... Controversial pick.
The sad thing was that I couldn't find a Dorothy Arzner picture to include. Some of her work was super interesting and she crossed paths with some very influential people.
It was a tricky list to put together, in part due to the availability of content through Prime and BFI.
The BFI has some pretty good "seasons" where they rotate their content (currently it's Japanese filmmaking) and the diversity is generally laudable so I guess keep a look out!
Great article and you have earned a dedicated follower
'If...' is also included in Amazon Prime.