“Toni Erdmann” continues to rack up honors. Maren Ade’s Cannes hit came in at number one on Sight & Sound’s prestigious annual critics’ poll. The UK Magazine asked 163 critics and curators to name their five best films of the year, and “Toni Erdmann” came out victorious and made history: This marks the first time that a female-directed film has topped the list. And Ade wasn’t the only woman filmmaker to make the cut. Three of the top five films were directed by women. Joining Ade in the top five are Kelly Reichardt’s “Certain Women” (number four) and Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey” (number five).
“I am delighted that our poll recognizes the talent of women directors at the top of the art form,” stated Sight & Sound editor Nick James. “This follows closely on from Sight & Sound’s Female Gaze issue which shone a light on overlooked female filmmakers, and it is encouraging to think that such neglect will soon be a thing of the past.”
How refreshing to see women directors — and their brilliant work — get the kudos they deserve. It’s amazing to consider that three of the top five films on the list are women-helmed when you take into account how many more movies are directed by men. It just goes to show that when women get the opportunity to step behind the camera, you can count on them to deliver. Female filmmakers have been doing great work for ages, and it seems like they may — at long last — be starting to receive notice. We hope that women directors will finally get continuous recognition, and this poll is indicative of a shifting tide.
“Toni Erdmann” follows Winifried (Peter Simonichek) and Ines (Sandra Hüller), a father and daughter whose personalities are radically different from one another. Ines is an overworked, polished management consultant who is deeply invested in other people’s opinions of her. Her meticulously managed life is turned upside down when Winifried, a music teacher, shows up from out of town at her work for an unexpected visit. The film has earned raves — and trophies — since it made its World Premiere at Cannes. Just yesterday the comedy won the foreign-language prize in the New York Film Critics’ Circle. “Toni Erdmann” is Germany’s Oscar submission for best foreign-language film, and is expected to receive a nomination — and very possibly win.
“Certain Women” centers on the loosely connected lives of an attorney (Laura Dern), a married couple in the midst of building a home (Michelle Williams and James LeGros), and a rancher (Lily Gladstone) who forms a connection with a young lawyer teaching night school (Kristen Stewart). The ensemble drama took home top honors at the BFI London Film Festival, where it was named Best Film.
“American Honey” stars newcomer Sasha Lane as a young runaway who travels across the Midwest with a magazine crew composed of disenfranchised teens. The road trip coming-of-age drama is getting lots of awards attention, and dominated the nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards, which will be held in February next year.
Mia Hansen-Løve’s “Things to Come’ also cracked the top 10, coming in at number eight. The film centers on Nathalie (Isabelle Huppert), a Philosophy professor dealing with the aftermath of both her husband’s infidelity and the death of her mother. She’s single, her overbearing, unstable mother is gone, and her children have grown up. The drama follows Nathalie as she concludes one chapter of her life and begins another.
Kirsten Johnson’s doc “Cameraperson,” a visual memoir of her own life and work, landed at number 16.
Check out all of the women-directed entries on Sight & Sound’s top 20 list below. List adapted from Variety.
1. “Toni Erdmann” (Maren Ade)
4. “Certain Women” (Kelly Reichardt)
5. “American Honey” (Andrea Arnold)
8. “Things to Come” (Mia Hansen-Løve)
9. “Paterson” (Jim Jarmusch)
16. “Cameraperson” (Kirsten Johnson)
