New York Times: ‘Be Natural’ Review: Rescuing Alice Guy Blaché, a Film Pioneer, From Oblivion
At the beginning of Pamela B. Green’s lively and informative new documentary, a bevy of movie people — directors, actors, scholars and others — are asked if they know anything about Alice Guy Blaché, who is the subject of the film. A few of them do (Ava DuVernay, for one), but most admit that they have no clue. Viewers who are similarly ignorant shouldn’t feel bad, and in the best pedagogical spirit Green turns blank looks and sheepishly shrugged shoulders into a teaching moment. “Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché” seeks both to help rescue Guy Blaché from oblivion and to explain how she got there in the first place.
New York Times: Overlooked No More: Alice Guy Blaché, the World’s First Female Filmmaker
Even before women had the right to vote, Blaché, in her actions and in her films, expressed female drives, desires and self-determination.
NorthJersey.com: One of the first movie moguls was a woman — and her studio was in Fort Lee
When the movie business began — roughly 1895 — it was the Wild West. There were no rules. And consequently there was no one to tell Alice Guy-Blaché that ladies do not become movie directors.
BBC News: Video Guy-Blache: The untold story of first female film director
Hollywood actress Jodie Foster has narrated a documentary paying tribute to Alice Guy-Blache who is credited with being the world’s first female film director.
Blache made her first movie in 1896 and was subsequently involved in the production of some 1,000 films from shorts to features.
BBC Talking Movies’ Tom Brook reports.
New York Times: You Know These 20 Movies. Now Meet the Women Behind Them
This season will bring a number of female-driven movies, including new work from Nicole Holofcener, Karyn Kusama and other directors who just might be poised for a breakthrough. These films are reminders that even as female activists continue to demand industry reform post-Harvey Weinstein, women — much as they have always done — are also working hard as writers, directors, producers and costume designers.