Sometimes it gets hard being a strong, independent woman all of the time. It’s a challenge at the best of times and often the best medicine when you’re feeling a little tired of standing on your own two feet is some inspiration from your fellow women. Thankfully the people at Netflix are totally behind us on this and have an enormous selection of documentaries, series and films that feature strong women at their core. These are our pick of their best ‘girl power’ films, each featuring a protagonist who ought to inspire us all to be our most brilliant.
Dumplin’ (2018)
Kicking things off with a brilliantly fun film, Dumplin’ tells the story of Willowdean, a plus sized girl with frankly no interest at all in her mother’s beauty queen ways. That is until her mother hosts a beauty pageant at the school she attends. Willowdean is sick of her mother overlooking her and decides, after a night at a drag bar, that she’s going to show her mum what true beauty is. Filled with confidence from the drag queens that took her under their wings, Willowdean, along with a couple of friends enters the beauty pageant. This is a brilliant film for those days where you’re lacking a little body confidence, as Willowdean’s zest for life and inner (as well as outer) beauty shines through.
Molly’s Game (2017)
Some of the best films feature a protagonist whose story isn’t entirely black and white. Sure, some people are out and out superheroes and also really nice people, but most of us have our less desirable quirks and that’s what makes us human. Molly’s Game tells the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic athlete who turned her hand to running poker games. It turned out that not only was Molly a skiing prodigy, she was also a dab hand at getting A-listers together for high stakes tournaments that would become the talk of the town. Unfortunately, with this great success came more notoriety than was ideal for Molly and she found herself at the center of an FBI investigation. Watching this film will have you on the edge of your seat, but always rooting for the heroin.
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Step Sisters (2018)
Sometimes you need a light-hearted hero and Jamilah fills that roll perfectly in this brilliant film about dance and college. Whilst this character can at first be a little difficult to like, as she seems to have it all going for her, you can’t help but be won over by her tenacity. Not only is she the captain of the step dance crew, but she’s also the Student Liason and she’s just had her application to Harvard accepted. As if Jamilah doesn’t have enough on her plate, a group of sorority girls cause trouble with their partying and for some reason it’s up to Jamilah to put it right. The dean orders Jamilah to teach the girls how to dance, so that they can win an enormous dance competition and right the wrongs of their partying ways. It’s a teen show through and through, but whatever age you are you’ll be able to appreciate the dancing and the drama in equal measures.
Enola Holmes (2020)
If you’re a fan of a mystery then you’ll love this film that not only stars Millie Bobby Brown, but is directed by her too. As the actress herself is such an inspiration already, it’s impossible not to be amazed by Enola Holmes. Enola is the younger brother of Sherlock Holmes and it’s clear from the beginning that sleuthing abilities run in the family. Enola’s mother goes missing right at the beginning of the film and Enola is distraught. She knows that if anyone knows how to find her mother then it’s her, so she immediately realizes she has to do the detective work herself. Whilst this can feel a bit adults versus kids, the storyline is gripping, the acting is faultless and the film is nothing if not fun.
