The #OscarSoMale appeared on Tuesday, January 24, 2022 following the announcement of the nominations. After two years in which women directors were nominated and won, 2022 returns to a quintet where there are only men. Although the ceremony does include women nominated in categories where before there was little presence such as photography, what is also obvious is that of the ten nominees, only two have leading women and only one deals with feminine themes.
The 2022 awards season has had five female-directed films in the contenders: Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking,” Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The King Woman,” Maria Schrader’s “She Said,” Till: Justice for My Son ” by Chnonye Chukwu and “Aftersun” by Charlotte Wells. Of those, only “Aftersun” and “Wolmen Talking” received nominations. The first for Best Actor for Paul Mescal; the second for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
“Aftersun” is the story of a young woman who remembers her father, reconciling the man she knew with the man she really was. “Till” tells the true story of Mamil Till-Mobley, who fights in 1955 for justice for the racially motivated murder of her son. Danielle Deadwyler, star of “Till”, has been one of the most nominated in the season and seemed sure to be nominated in the category of best actress, having even achieved a nomination from the Screen Actors Guild. However, perhaps the most interesting is in the other three nominees.
“The King Woman” recounts the story of the Ajogie, a group of warrior women who protected the Dahomey Kingdom in 18th and 19th century Africa. The focus is on Nanisca, the general, who fights to lead her group in a risk period while confronting her abusive past, when she was captured; the catalyst is provided by Nawi, one of the young recruits. “The King Woman” has been a constant in the season, it obtained good box office and comparisons with films like “Gladiator”. Viola Davis, its leading lady, is expected to be nominated for Best Actress. The film did not have any mention in the Oscar.
Sarah Polley’s “Woman Talking” is the only one of the five films featured in the nominated season. Sarah Polley, her director, was nominated in 2006 for “Far From Her” also for Adapted Screenplay. “Women Talking” is based on a real case that happened in Bolivia where a group of women from a Mennonite community discover that they have been victims of abuse for years by men. The women meet to discuss three options: do nothing, stay and fight, or leave. It is an independent film, but with a cast that includes figures like Rooney Mara, Claire Foy and Frances McDormand.
“She Said” is in the vein of “On the Front Page” and narrates the investigation and publication of the article and book that launched the MeToo movement thanks to the exposure that was made of the producer Harvey Weinstein. It is one of the best reviewed movies of 2022, but unfortunately it has had little success at the box office.
What do they have in common? Above all, “Women Talking” and “She Said” talk about topics that are uncomfortable, but need to be talked about more. They talk about topics that are “more feminine”, including “La Mujer Rey” herself. Films led by women like “Tár” and “Everything everywhere at the same time” focus on more universal themes or where the female gaze is not as central or essential. In “The Fabelmans” also the role of Michelle Williams is practically leading, although the story is of the son, the fictional version of Steven Spielberg, and, of course, the perspective is optimistic.
What does he say about the Oscar who sets his sights on other issues? The Women In Film organization says it well: “An Academy Award is more than a gold statue, it’s a career accelerator that can lead to continued work and higher compensation.” So, beyond the statuette, there is what the nomination and/or the award can do for a performer, a director or a film. They give visibility, they validate. This year, for example, “To Leslie” has benefited over “Till” simply because Andrea Risenborough was nominated and Daniel Deadwyler was not. That is the impact of the Oscar and that is the relevance not only of more women being present (because there are also more than deserving women) but any minority. Cinema will be more plural, more representative and a better expression of art.