“One of the most powerful social and political catalysts of the past decade has been the speaking of women with other women, the telling of our secrets, the comparing of wounds and sharing of words… In order to change what is, we need to give speech to what has been, to imagine together what might be." Adrienne Rich, Motherhood: The Contemporary Emergency and the Quantum Leap (1979)
“Tell Me” celebrates female filmmakers who took the simple, radical step of allowing women space and time to talk about their lives. Working in idioms from cinema verite to essay film to agitprop, the assembled films all share a startling intimacy between camera and subject. Whether through the bonds of shared experience, or merely genuine interest, these portraits capture women talking about trauma and sexual identity; summoning new language to describe the long simmering injustices and frustrations we still face today; making jokes; admitting insecurities; and organizing for the future.
Screenings
Be Pretty and Shut Up (Sois belle et tais-toi)
Directed by Delphine Seyrig
Cast: Mylène Demongeot, Henri Vidal, Béatrice Altabira
Year: 1981
Duration: 115 min
Screening with Women Reply (Réponse de femmes: notre corps, notre sexe)
directed by Agnès Varda / 1975 / 8 min
Tell Me (Dis-moi)
Directed by Chantal Akerman
Year: 1980
Duration: 45 min
Screening with The Ties That Bind
directed by Su Friedrich / 1985 / 52 min
Mimi
Directed by Claire Simon
Cast: Mimi Chiola, Diego Origlia, Mohamed Mokhtari
Year: 2003
Duration: 105 min
