A spirited interview with filmmaker Mary Dore inspires Steven Wagner to compare the early feminists to the Iroquois “Council of Grandmothers.”
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American historicists and those who tilt “culturally informed” often point to the influence of the Iroquois Federation on the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and even (in theory) the international League of Nations founded in 1920. While debate still flourishes regarding the degree of inspiration (google US Constitution, Iroquois, Ben Franklin), the causal relationship was indeed cited officially when in 1988 congress passed a resolution to recognize the Iroquois influence on our representative form of government, and consequently, on our approach to international relations (at least conceptually, wink).
… I propose that the admirable, heroic women of Mary Dore’s powerful new documentary She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry be recognized as the New American Council of Grandmothers …
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This is of course all well and good, but perhaps what we needed to learn most from the Iroquois is the emphasis and power they bestowed upon feminine wisdom. The Iroquois were/are a Mother Clan collective, wherein the male element acknowledged deference to the Matriarch in times of conflict and war. This, along with the inherent Native American respect and honor of tribal elders, manifested what we now refer to as “The Council of Grandmothers,” which means that when the egos hit the fan—the reasons for an impending war, the death or failure of a Chief, the banishment of a member or faction—the final word on what the Iroquois would ultimately do came from the mature women of the tribe.
I think we would do well to consider this very approach in our current time and culture, and I propose that the admirable, heroic women of Mary Dore’s powerful new documentary She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry be recognized as the New American Council of Grandmothers—and not just in name only, folks, but for real. These people know how to get shit done. I would trust them to resolve our issues before 90% of our current leaders of either gender (a new breed altogether, it seems—Media-bots?), though I know that isn’t really saying all that much. I’m just saying these women have my vote.
If there is any collective, cultural endeavor that has most informed the evolution of the role of men in this century, it is very likely the women’s movement that is so vividly brought to life in She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry. A film which explores the volatile and crucial period, 1966-1971, when second-wave feminism reached a critical mass and forced a tipping point in modern American society. While the strides of that era—and since—are as fragile as our indifference allows, and there is still obviously much to do to ensure real equality, the bravery and ingenuity of these activists and community leaders during that charged era will inspire audiences far beyond the expected fan-base of left-leaning, intellectual females. This is a movie that will impress anyone who longs for equality, and also those who respect what it really means to have balls. Balls for the right reasons. Balls like an Iroquois grandmother.
The brilliance of Dore’s direction of She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry is her juxtaposition of the original news and promotional footage of these young, passionate, determined, and informed (as best they could be) women with current/recent interviews showing that all of those personal attributes remain in full-force. For them, the 60s, and the movement, was no aberration of idealistic youth. These women—honestly too many to list—are no less committed to their causes today, and now bring the wisdom of age to their innate intellect and courage.
If there is any collective, cultural endeavor that has most informed the evolution of the role of men in this century, it is very likely the women’s movement that is so vividly brought to life in She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry.
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It is noteworthy that Dore chose to not predominantly focus on the 60’s media icons usually associated with the movement (Betty Freidan, Germaine Greer, Gloria Steinem, Andrea Dworkin, etc.) choosing instead to show the importance and immediacy of grass-roots efforts, the unsung heroes. As well, she could have approached the story chronologically, with a voice-over narrative performed by a star from the era (Hanoi Jane, anyone?). But, this film isn’t predictable and doesn’t exhort women to burn their bras. Instead, Dore masterfully guides the viewer from issue to issue—because, remember, the “Women’s” movement encompassed literally hundreds of distinct, inter-related causes—and lets the players themselves provide the context. This allows the recollections to bring the struggles, concerns, and risks to life. It is inspirational to see these women now, in their 60s, 70s, even 80s, still committed, on-point, willing to speak out (see what I said earlier about Iroquois grandmothers).
It is also significant that this film has not been made until now. While there have been a few documentaries focusing on various aspects of the women’s movement over the years—notably the PBS series “MAKERS: Women Who Make America,” the first season of which told the story of the past fifty years of feminism—we have long been waiting for a theatrical release that brings the personal context of the movement—which centered on mostly local and individual efforts—into view.
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It is an eye-opener. Like the film Selma, which gave us the most moving portrait yet of Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement by focusing on the Selma march as opposed to a full biography, She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry likewise benefits by narrowing its story to those five critical years: 1966-1971. And also, like Selma, the film is educational to a surprising degree. I must admit that with both subjects—the Selma march and the 60’s women’s movement—I went into the theater thinking I was knowledgeable and informed. I walked out feeling schooled in the best way. We simply have not been taught the real history, the true stories that lie beneath the cultural sound-bites. She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry rights this wrong. It made me understand elements I wasn’t even considering before the film began, and that is the mark of an important documentary: it succeeds as uplifting entertainment and valuable education at the same time.
One might expect that this film will sink into the category of “excessively serious,” but Dore and her delightful subjects bring a healthy dose of humor to the table, often because the events they are remembering and describing were designed to use humor as a tool to be heard in the first place. In one particularly engaging sequence, the film touches on the Women’s Strike for Equality; organized by Betty Friedan and held on August 26, 1970, the 50th anniversary of the triumph of the women’s suffragette movement. The slogan and rallying cry for the nation-wide event? “Don’t Iron While the Strike is Hot.” (C’mon, that’s funny no matter what side you’re on.) Dore’s direction encourages this levity, which proves to be an important instinct. As Miss Poppins once explained, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” The humor in this film allows many a bitter pill to digest
The structure of She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry employs this motif to subtle but strong effect; however, there is a similar result that simply comes with the territory. The use of 60s newsreel and promotional footage—nearly all of which is grainy black and white—lends the illusion of a semi-quaint nostalgia, which is bolstered by the naivety of the culture we perceive in the film documents of that era. This was all so new then. As these far-away-in-time clips lead into the perspective afforded by current commentary, we understand implicitly that while the movement has gained significant ground over the years, we are still nowhere near the goals (quite reasonable ones, I would add) aimed for by movement at its outset. The film champions the victories while never ceding to a complacent mindset. She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry, like the women it celebrates, is both beautiful and angry.
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I had the honor of interviewing Mary Dore recently in San Francisco about her moving documentary She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry. It’s a spirited talk with a passionate director about a great film. Enjoy!
Video Courtesy of FlickNation
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Photos/International Firm Circuit
Title Photo Credit: Diana Davies