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

[[2]] American Graffiti (1973) [imdb]

This movie passed 2 of 3 tests. It was entered by Lauren on 2013-09-22 09:21:10.

Reviews

Comments

Lauren said:
All the female characters in the movie serve as love interests and/or prizes for the males. The most prominent female, Laurie, is worried only about her boyfriend Steve the entire movie, and all motives are derived from this conflict (i.e. when she talks to her friend in the bathroom about Steve). She is only happy when she gets Steve back in the end. Also when Curt is in the car with the two girls, there is potential for some conversation to happen until one of the girls starts talking about her past relationship with Curt and abruptly begins flirting with him. (This scene has no real effect on the movie.)

For the most part, the female characters are shallow and the level of sexism is pretty bad. But I have to say I enjoyed the character Carol, the only semi-creditable female role in terms of feminism. Though she might be evidence of a younger girl needing to depend on older, more experienced man (comparable to Liesl von Trapp and the male love interest in The Sound of Music), she also resembles the innocent desire to experience the world and grow up too quickly. This desire to be of age contrasts with John's lack of innocence and ironic immaturity, a trait that is pivotal in the end of the movie. Also, there is no romance between the two aside from some fake flirting, though the relationship could be argued as "babysitting", as John puts it.
Message posted on 2013-09-22 09:21:10
XYZ said:
Did Anita Sarkeesian write this... or is it someone from the is overly sensitive generation that gets offended by just about everything????
Message posted on 2014-08-14 06:40:18
JP said:
Dear XYZ,

Noticing the ornamental nature of the female characters in the movie is not being overly sensitive, it is merely stating the obvious.

Searching out comments and criticism on a website dedicated to the Bechdel test in order to take the piss out of Anita Sarkeesian, or anyone else interested in films and feminism, is really weird and obsessive.
Message posted on 2015-05-05 06:10:18

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