It seems to be a great time for women directors. They're currently earning critical and/or commercial success (e.g., Kasi Lemmons' Talk to Me and Sarah Polley's Away From Her). Not surprisingly, this celebration is accompanied by analysis of how little has actually changed. Women still have disproportionately few directing opportunities outside the realm of independent movies. As Terry Lawler, the executive director of New York Women in Film & Television, noted:

"While it's wonderful to see all these women getting recognition, we have had these moments before where a door seems to open, and then it turns out that the door doesn't lead anywhere."

And Academy Award–nominated director Jane Campion recently voiced a similar analysis (basically, "Men control all the money").

The subject is frustrating, but it warrants regular revisiting if things are ever going to change. And I'll do the one thing I can do: recognize some of the great women directors and their stereotype-shattering, groundbreaking movies. This list is far from exhaustive and does not include lesbian directors of lesbian movies. So please don't yell at me for excluding Angela Robinson and Rose Troche.

6. Ida Lupino, Not Wanted (1949)

Best known as a B-movie actress from the 1940s, Ida Lupino was also a prolific writer and director. She had already expanded from acting into production when the director of Not Wanted (aka Shame and Streets of Sin — how good does that sound?!) suffered a heart attack on the third day of filming. She took over as director and went on to a lengthy career in movie and television direction — including two episodes of Gilligan's Island! … continue reading