Bechdel Test Movie List

/bech·del test/ n.
1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man

[[1]] Safe (2012) [imdb]

This movie passed 1 of 3 tests (although dubious). It was entered by Daniel Hofverberg on 2013-02-04 10:59:12.

Reviews

Comments

Daniel Hofverberg said:
This one is difficult. For 99% of the movie, there is no female interaction whatsoever. But there is one short scene where a woman I think is called Ling is talking to the 11-year old girl Mei. Ling says a few sentences to Mei), to which she replies with a couple of words. It's mostly single-sided, but as Mei responds (although only with two words) it should technically be considered a conversation.

The problem is that Ling is a minor character who, as far as I can tell, is never mentioned by name in the actual movie - her name is only revealed on the closing credits. So is she then considered a "named character" or not?

Depending on one's definition of "named characters", the film therefore either passes 1 out of 3 tests or passes all three tests (albeit with a very small margin).

Considering Ling's name isn't revealed or mentioned during the course of the actual movie, I have for the time being chosen a rating of 1 out of 3 tests, but I'm actually not sure what the general concensus is on this matter?
Message posted on 2013-02-04 10:59:12
coolcleangreen disagreed with the rating and said:
i think that Ling is a named character, whether her name is used in the movie or not. (my thinking is she is not "girl #1" or "hooker #2", if she has a name, she qualifies)

that said, this movie passes 3/3: Ling wakes Mei in the middle of the night and informs Mei that her mother is dead. Mei thanks Ling, and promises not to tell anyone that Ling told her. clearly, two named female characters having a conversation about a woman. it passes.
Message posted on 2013-07-15 23:39:47
Mercédès Meyer disagreed with the rating and said:
Ling has 3 conversations in the movie, of those 2 are with mei
The first one is about Meis mothers death
and that the gangsters mustn’t know that
ling told mei
The second one about a group of criminals
Their business and Lings impeding death
The conversation about meis mothers death
Is clearly not about a man.
The only question , where I am too uncertain, is:
Does Long who is named in script/cast
But her name is not used in the movie
Count as named character . Mei also talks to her female school friends about her future early on , but they aren’t named.
Message posted on 2021-04-14 22:15:05

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