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

[[3]] The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) [imdb]

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests. It was entered by NessieNos on 2013-12-06 22:41:48.

Reviews

Comments

NessieNos said:
There are two notable named characters—a trophy wife introduced in skimpy underwear, and a woman who works with the protagonist and whose only narrative function is to weepily praise his generosity in front of his office. They never meet or speak. The trophy wife has a female friend (another trophy wife) and they're often together and talking, but always in the background, unheard. The film does, however, have an endless stream of topless or naked sex workers being herded in and out of parties, or having graphic sex, sometimes literally with a line of men waiting on them. The film openly, enthusiastically depicts a world where women exist primarily as objects and obstacles.
Message posted on 2013-12-06 22:41:48
Clint said:
Naoimi, Jordan's Wife, and Hildy, Donnie's wife, talk audibly and in the foreground of the scene as they are coming up the gangplank of the boat while in Italy about the death of Naomi's Aunt Emma. Thus, it has two named female characters talking to each other about something other than a man and just barely passes the test.
Message posted on 2014-01-10 21:30:04
Clint said:
Naoimi, Jordan's Wife, and Hildy, Donnie's wife, talk audibly and in the foreground of the scene as they are coming up the gangplank of the boat while in Italy about the death of Naomi's Aunt Emma. Thus, it has two named female characters talking to each other about something other than a man and just barely passes the test.
Message posted on 2014-01-10 21:30:09
Sandra said:
There are more female characters with names too: the 'original' wife of Belfort Teresa, aunt Emma, the Slovenian Swiss who helps them get the money in Switzerland, some others have names (like Venice, though definitly not a notable character she does have a name)

I'm not sure if they're really talking to each other, at the wedding when aunt Emma shows up maybe? You indeed see them sometimes talking to each other in the background (e.g. when Belfort meets Naomi)

but indeed the women in the movie are mainly there as objects.
Message posted on 2014-01-12 10:46:59
nike said:
There is another notable named character; Teresa, the protagonist's first wife. Also, there is a mini-mini-mini-super-short exchange of words between two named female characters: when Jordan puts his daughter, Skyler, into the passenger seat of his car against the will of his wife, Naomi, and immediately crashes it, she retrieves the kid from the car. The housekeeper, whose name is Violet, asks: "Is she okay?", which Naomi affirms. I personally don't think that two one-liners make a conversation, but for those who do, it would pass.
Message posted on 2014-01-15 17:25:12
GirlQuake said:
Sandra, Venice was definitely a notable character in the film and not just because of her name.Humor of the scene aside,Venice was the only person who did what others would have jumped at a chance to do.Give it to him straight up the behind,did to him on her terms regardless of his squeaks to stop,and(likely)took HIS money!How's that for a reverse of power?I'd like to be her!
Message posted on 2014-01-23 07:46:39
A said:
I think this passes 3/3 although dubious. The scenes where named women interact is minimal for a three-hour film, but all the above comments are correct about Hildy and Naomi and Violet (the housekeeper) and Naomi.
Message posted on 2014-03-26 06:46:35
neil (webmaster) said:
I've updated the rating from 1/3 to 3/3.
Message posted on 2014-03-26 16:37:44
Gilad disagreed with the rating and said:
Tried to find the two scenes discussed:

1. In the scene in Italy, Hildy doesn't have any lines, she's just confronting Naomi. The dialogue is between Naomi and Jordan, so no two females conversation.

2. When Jordan is trying to take his daughter, I don't think the lines Naomi and Violet exchange could be considered dialogue.
The only two lines that they say and answer to each other are "bring the keys"-"got it"

Complete scene dialogue (Jordan parts removed):
N: Violet! Get the key! Get the key!
V: I got it!
<Shouting between Naomi and her husband>
N: Violet! Garage door! Close it!
<Jordan driving and crashing>
V: Get the baby!
V: She all right?
Message posted on 2014-04-17 16:03:10
Alex said:
I definitely disagree with the notion that the film "enthusiastically depicts a world where women exist primarily as objects and obstacles." It depicts a world where the male stockbrokers see women primarily as objects and obstacles, but I definitely don't think the characters or their actions were intended to be endorsed in any way. And if somebody misunderstood that, that's their fault, not the movies.
Message posted on 2014-05-12 22:09:59
Mery said:
I believe that this movie depicts women as objects, even if they talked to each other.
Message posted on 2018-02-16 22:14:07
Fathergod disagreed with the rating and said:
After watching the cited convos, I don't believe they qualify as conversations.
Message posted on 2023-01-20 19:15:14

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