Bechdel Test Movie List

At the scene Dr. Shearing's house, the female CIA agent gives Dr. Shearing her name and asks her a number of questions about her emotional state.

Additionally, the scene with Korean agent and her handler where they discuss the "chems."

The CIA agent ended up questioning her about the man who shot up the office. Conversation about a man.

Yes, but the conversation was hardly relationship oriented.

Isn't the Bechdel Test about trumping the trope of women being defined by their relationships?

I think the spirit of the Bechdel test is more about women being marginalized as unimportant or uninteresting. IE - they have nothing interesting or of value to say unless it is concerning a man. Therefore, I don't think a relationship needs to be the focus of the conversation, just the idea that women have nothing better to talk about than their male counterparts.
I agree with Amber.

The test does not, in fact, say that the conversation has to be about a relationship with a man. "
1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man" They talked about man, therefore it does not pass the test.

They don't just talk about the shooter. They talk about her emotional state, why she's planning on leaving, etc. It's an important scene in the film, and it upholds the test.

Shearing and the CIA agent (Dr Dowd) also talk about the house, and Shearing asks what Dowd is a doctor of. To me it's a clear pass - they are two named women, they talk to each other, and they talk about things that aren't a man. Yes, some parts of their subsequent conversation have to do with men (and some parts have to do with women; Shearing's sister is mentioned), but that doesn't negate the conditions of the test, which were met.

The female characters were given importance as a significant part of the plot- they were certainly not marginalized. People like Amber who are looking for a reason to find a movie sexist when it clearly isn't (especially for the genre) disgust me. Find something better to do with your time that doesn't involve trying to fabricate ways to feel victimized.

She was not questioned about the man at all they did not even know of his existence yet. She was questioned because of her professional skill and abilities were dangerous.

The Korean handler and agent were not named characters.
They did talk about a man, the one who had killed himself. Nowhere in " "
1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man" that it has to be relationship oriented, nor does it say that they have to be marginalized. The pretense of their going to her house was to check on her after her MALE colleague shot the place up. They mention him and the evil female agent's entire smokescreen is about talking to her about a MAN. If the rule was only about marginalization and relationships more movies would pass the test.
I love discussing things, but please note where I have already replied to your arguments.

I agree with Marzipan. They talk about things other than Foite, and since he wasn't the sole focus of their conversation, I consider it to be a pass. Then again, I think context matters when it comes to the third part of the test.

With all due respect, Amber, it still brings up an interesting questions. I did not think anyone had ignored your accurate points, rather that they were expanding the discussion to ask again, "WHY" the Bechdel test, more than "WHAT IS" the Bechdel test.

Amber,

I think you're the one who's misinterpreting the test. Dr. Dowd and Dr. Shearing have a conversation that extends for several minutes and covers multiple topics. One of those topics is the male shooter, but they clearly "talk to each other about something besides a man."

And to say that the two characters only meet because a male colleague committed mass homicide is a weak excuse. By that argument, we could say that no possible conversation in this film could EVER pass the bechdel test, since the Bourne program was created for men under a male presidency. Obviously, that level of narrative detail would render most conversations in most films moot. I understand wanting to discuss things, but your responses to other's arguments have been lacking.

You could say they talk about a criminal, who happens to be a man (or terrorist? I haven't seen it in ages). Plus of course all the other things. The test isn't do they talk about a man, but do they talk about anything *besides* a man. Pass.