Bechdel Test Movie List

There is only one scene where two named female characters talk to each other: it is the scene bewteen Lady Jessica and Gaius Helen Mohiam, but they are talking about Paul during the entire dialogue.

I think the dialogue between Lady Jessica and the Shadout Mapes passes the test.

I am not sure if this counts, but I remember Jessica and Shadout Mapes having a conversation about the crysknife/prophecy, in which Shadout Mapes 'tests' Jessica.
If this counts then the movie passed 3/3 tests.

Doesn't the scene between Shadout Mapes and Lady Jessica count ?

Shadout Mapes and Lady Jessica talk about the crysknife and Shai-hulud.

lady jessica talks to Shadout Mapes (who hands her the knife) about arrakis' language, tradition and profecies. And also Liet Kines and lady Jessica talk about how they will escape from the sardaukar, is not very much but still :)

Jessica has two more interactions with female characters:
- the conversation with Shadout Mapes boils back to the Lisan-al-Gaib legend (mother and the son)
- Kynes addressing both Jessica and Paul in the ecological station (this might barely pass the test)

What about the (admittedly brief) Jessica/Mapes interaction?

The rating is completely wrong. It's a full pass.

Lady Jessica and Shadout Mapes speak when Shadout delivers the crysknife to her as a sign that she is the prophesied Reverend Mother. Lady Jessica first asks her name, then she and Mapes speak about Jessica knowing their language. Mapes is sure Jessica is the one and ecstatically explains what the knife is and what it signifies.

Later, Lady Jessica and Dr. Liet-Kynes talk in the airship, and Dr. Liet-Kynes instructs her to drink.

Later, Dr. Liet-Kynes explains to both Paul and Jessica what they need to do to escape the Harkonnen attack. Jessica asks why she isn't going with them, and Liet-Kynes responds that she has her own way of surviving in the desert.

Should be a 3.

There is a conversation between Jessica and Shadout Mapes when Mapes is selected as housekeeper about 40 minutes into the film.

They talk about Mapes and the Crysknife.

Lady Jessica talks to Shadout Mapes about knives and religion

Shadout Mapes and Jessica have a whole conversation about the crysknife and Jessica being "The one" in the scene where a housekeeper is chosen.

There is a scene in which Lady Jessica is looking for a housekeeper. The woman is named Shadout Mapes and they have a conservation about a weapon.

I think it does pass because Lady Jessica talks to Shadout Mapes when she has the concealed weapon.

What about when Shadout Mapes speaks to Lady Jessica?

I guess you don't consider Shadout a woman? She talks to Jessica early in the film, not about men. And Jessica and Liet also have an exchange.

Shadout Mapes and Jessica have a conversation and it's not about a man.

What about the conversation between Lady Jessica and the Shadout Mapes?

Shadout Mapes and Lady Jessica are both named, and have a conversation.

But what about when Lady Jessica talks to the servant she hires who gives her the knife? I think she says her name right before that and they talk about something other than Paul. I *think.* I’m genuinely curious. Either way, if that’s true, it passes on a really ridiculous technicality. Beautiful cinematics, dumpster fire with regards to the Bechdel test.

Lady Jessica talks to Shadout Mapes while choosing a servant. Much of the conversation revolves around a gift. This scene should be enough to pass all 3 tests.

There are 4 named female characters. Lady Jessica shares scenes with all of them. She doesn't interact with Chani, Her interactions with Liet-Kynes are with Paul taking center stage, the only time Kynes isn't addressing Paul is when she is issuing orders to both Paul and Lady Jessica. The conversation is not centered around a man but does refer to the Emperor several times and his daughters once.

Liet-Kynes was a gender swap from the original story.

The conversation with Gaius Helen Mohiam, as stated by Léa, revolved around Paul.

At 1:53 liet kynes and Lady Jessica have a conversation about escaping. Paul dose not say anything until Liet wishes both of them good luck. I’m not sure this passes (I’m new sorry). It seems this conversation is not really about Paul and more about survival.

I disagree with the rating. At about 40 minutes into the film Lady Jessica is presented with a line of women to be considered for the job of housekeeper. Lady Jessica stops halfway down the line and asks a woman her name (Shadout Mapes). She immediately dismisses all but Mapes. As the others leave, Lady Jesica talks about the name "Shadout" and its meaning "well dipper" and says (in another language) that Mapes is "Fremen". Shadout points out that Lady Jessica knows "the ancient tongues" to which Jessica replies that she knows "many things". Lady Jessica then says "I know you have a weapon concealed in your bodice". The conversation continues with a warning about the folly of trying to use it ("Whatever you're hiding, it won't be enough"). Shadout then proceeds to explain that the weapon is a gift... "If you are truly the one". Shadout slowly reveals a knife and asks Lady Jessica if she knows what it is. With the reply "It's a crysknife" Shadout asks "Do you know it's meaning" and Lady Jessica answers "It is a maker". Shadout wails loudly and then says "A maker of the deep desert. When you have lived with prophecy for so long, the moment of revelation is a shock. Lisan al-Gaib. The mother and the son." She hands her the knife and says "it is yours. Tooth of Shai-Hulud".

Jessica and Shadout Mapes talk. Paul is mentioned in terms of the prophecy of a 'mother and son' but the scene is about Jessica receiving the crysknife and is critical to her future status with the Fremen.

There is a scene where Lady Jessica talks to her housekeeper, Shadout Mapes. They are both women, and they talk about indigenous culture and prophecy. The guard in the background is also a woman.

The rating should be a 3 because of 3 scenes.

Lady Jessica talks to Shadout Mapes about crysknives and fremen culture.

Lady Jessica and Liet Kynes talk about Harkonnens and later about drinking through the stillsuit.

I've updated the rating from 2/3 to 3/3.

If there is a part two it might be more obvious since character like Chani and Alya should take a much bigger part.

It may not pass all 3 tests but its still a fine example of a pro-female movie, same as the 84 version.
All the women are smart, capable, tough, they have agency, they contribute to the story. It might be male-centric but the women are given plenty to do, and they dont come across as evil or stupid or crazy.

Shadout Mapes' conversation with Lady Jessica where she gives her the crysknife
Liet Kynes (female in the movie) tells Lady Jessica how to put a stillsuit on