4 breakthroughs
It's rare that a quartet of films by fem ale directors comes out on the same day. Rarer still: They're all triumphs.
Away From Her
REVIEWDirector: SARAH POLLEY
Background: A former child actor ("Road to Avonlea" ), the 28-year-old Canadian is known for working almost exclusively with auteurs such as Hal Hartley ("No Such Thing" ) and Atom Egoyan ("The Sweet Hereafter" ).
On being a woman director: Though she managed to overcome the "triple whammy" of being young, female, and an actress, the "Away From Her" director says, "Female [directors] still have to be twice as diligent as male directors just to prove themselves."
"A drama about Alzheimer's disease that pins down the small moments of a couple's life as if for keeping."
Waitress
REVIEWDirector: ADRIENNE SHELLY
Background: After making a name for herself in the Hal Hartley films "The Unbelievable Truth" and "Trust," the 40-year-old had turned to directing and completed her third film , "Waitress , " when she was murdered in November.
On being a woman director: Shelly, whose husband created a foundation for female filmmakers after her death, has credited her indie past, saying, "I've done ridiculously small films, so I know how to make compromises and make things work."
"The movie is as warm and flaky as a homemade pie, and fashioned with as much love."
Red Road
REVIEWDirector: ANDREA ARNOLD
Background: After quitting her TV career in the 1990s, the 46-year-old Brit went to film school and won an Oscar for her live- action short "Wasp" in 2005 . "Red Road," her feature-length debut, picked up the Jury Prize at Cannes last year.
On being a woman director: The content-obsessed Arnold has said, "Obviously, I want people to know about the film -- I just don't get why anyone would want to know about me."
" 'Red Road' . . . reaffirms the notion that those who break other people are already broken themselves."
Stephanie Daley
REVIEWDirector: HILARY BROUGHER
Background: The native New Yorker won a scholarship to Manhattan's School of Visual Arts on the strength of her childhood Super-8 films and developed "Stephanie Daley," her second film, at the 2001 Sundance Institute.
On being a woman director: The 38-year-old Brougher considers the "problem" of gender "as part of the larger issue of independent film" and hopes the recent growth of female producers will pave the way for greater numbers of female directors.
"Brougher's movie feels true to everyday life despite its sensational story line."
