INSPIRATIONAL FEMALE MOVIE CHARACTERS

In the world where the word feminism sounds harsh and controversial, it's not strange to expect that the women in the film industry have to make a lot of effort into finding appealing movie roles which move away from the negative stereotypes of female characters (I.e. worried mothers, crazy wives, femmes fatales, unattractive goodies, etc.). We wanted to recall some of our favourite female movie characters that were somehow inspirational and still are. The list is not concerned with the quality, genre or commercial success of the movie, and it is not meant to incite any kind of comparison between the roles, the actresses or what so ever. Here we go:

1. Eva Green as Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale

Our favourite Bond girl. Eva kicked Bonds ass in this one. Sorry Craig, we love you too. What makes this character so powerful is not her femme fatale attitude or the intelligence. It's her multi layered persona and how gracefully she carries those strong hidden emotions. She might be one of the strongest female characters in the cinema. And that suits Eva perfectly.

James Bond: About you, Miss Lynd? Well, your beauty's a problem. You worry you won't be taken seriously.
Vesper Lynd: Which one can say of any attractive woman with half a brain.
James Bond: True. But this one overcompensates by wearing slightly masculine clothing. Being more aggressive than her female colleagues. Which gives her a somewhat *prickly* demeanor, and ironically enough, makes it less likely for her to be accepted and promoted by her male superiors, who mistake her insecurities for arrogance. Now, I'd have normally gone with "only child," but by the way you ignored the quip about your parents... I'm going to have to go with "orphan."
Vesper Lynd: All right... by the cut of your suit, you went to Oxford or wherever. Naturally you think human beings dress like that. But you wear it with such disdain, my guess is you didn't come from money, and your school friends never let you forget it. Which means that you were at that school by the grace of someone else's charity: hence that chip on your shoulder. And since your first thought about me ran to "orphan," that's what I'd say you are.

2. Kate Winslet as Rose in Titanic

We should definitely talk more about Rose in Titanic. At first, classic spoiled beauty from upper class. As in the 19th century, and so is today, the rules of the game are the same. Human greed, shallowness and vanity always play tricks on innocent hearts. Rose was brave enough to confront everything she has been taught about: winning in life, pleasing the society, pleasing the family. The tragic destiny of the prestigious ship is also a tragic truth about human lives, from the beginning of our time , until today. We are all on the same ship. Rose knew that all the time. Jack might be the one who saved her life, but there would be no Rose if she was a vain player like the society she grew up in.

Lewis Bodine: We never found anything on Jack... there's no record of him at all.
Old Rose: No, there wouldn't be, would there? And I've never spoken of him until now... Not to anyone... Not even your grandfather... A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets. But now you know there was a man named Jack Dawson and that he saved me... in every way that a person can be saved. I don't even have a picture of him. He exists now... only in my memory.

3. Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in Hunger games

Who doesn't love Katniss? Jennifer did an amazing job portraying this modest heroine. No superpowers, just genuine spirit that inspires us to never ever give up in our common battles.

Katniss Everdeen: Did you have a nightmare? I have nightmares too. Someday I'll explain it to you. Why they came. Why they won't ever go away. But I'll tell you how I survive it. I make a list in my head. Of all the good things I've seen someone do. Every little thing I could remember. It's like a game. I do it over and over. Gets a little tedious after all these years. But there are much worse games to play.

4. Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander in Girl with the dragon tattoo

Another great character and movie based on amazing book. Lisbeth is a story for herself, and behind her creepy persona there's a girl with the intelligence and moral that are probably too high for the the merciless world she lives in. A true punk in the best way one can be. And this is when we go back to that creepy persona, so that's that.

• Dragan Armansky:	She's one of the best investigator I had. But, she's different.
  Dirch Frode:	And, in what way?
  Dragan Armansky:	In every way.

5. Juliette Binoche as Vianne Rocher in Chocolat

One more movie based on a lovely book. As single mother and a free spirit seeks her true home, facing the hostility of an extremely conventional and traditional community. A magician in her own skill of making sweet desserts, she leads her war and wins over the hearts of the locals, one by one. It's all about the unselfish love she gives, and only when she learns to accept this love for herself, she'll find home anywhere.

Storyteller: But still the clever north wind was not satisfied. It spoke to Vianne of towns yet to be visited, friends in need yet to be discovered, battles yet to be fought...[Vianne throws her mother's ashes to the wind]Storyteller: ...By someone else, next time.

6. Keira Knightley as Joan Clarke in Imitation game

Amazing character based on true story during the World War 2. Joan Clarke wasn't simply a genius, she had both guts and heart. Without Joan, the world could have been completely different and we thank her for that. She didn't ask to be in the spotlight, and without this amazing movie, many of us would have never been introduced to her story.

Joan Clarke: So what? I had my suspicions. I always did. But we're not like other people. We love each other in our own way, and we can have the life together that we want. You won't be the perfect husband? I can promise you I harboured no intention of being the perfect wife. I'll not be fixing your lamb all day, while you come home from the office, will I? I'll work. You'll work. And we'll have each other's company. We'll have each other's minds. Sounds like a better marriage than most. Because I care for you. And you care for me. And we understand one another more than anyone else ever has.

7. Scarlet Johansson as Charlotte in Lost in translation

Man and a girl, 2 life crisis, one young, other middle aged, find their own language in the strangest place and time. Sofia Coppola is a mastermind in portraying those inner worlds. The character of Charlotte might be lacking the direction, but her honesty and perception are so clean that they make everything and everyone else look phony and bizarre. Charlotte is our inspiration, as the seeker who's true to herself. It doesn't feel like the most pleasant place to be at sometimes, but wait for just one brief moment to realise that everything is just the way it should be.

Charlotte: I'm stuck. Does it get easier.Bob: No. Yes. It gets easier.Charlotte: Oh yeah? Look at you.Bob: Thanks. The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.Charlotte: Yeah. I just don't know what I'm supposed to be, you know. I tried being a writer, but I hate what I write. I tried taking pictures, but they were so mediocre. You know, every girl goes through a photography phase. You know, horses... taking dumb pictures of your feet.Bob: You'll figure that out. I'm not worried about you. Keep writing.Charlotte: But I'm so mean.Bob: Mean's okay.

8. Julia Stiles as Kat in 10 things I hate about you

This ''teenage'' movie will never get old, because being self concious and outspoken will always make you stand out, in both good and a bad way,  no matter how young or old you are. We love Kat because she's lovely and she doesn't give a damn if her sanity makes her weird among twats. 

Kat Stratford: Romantic? Hemingway? He was an abusive, alcoholic misogynist who squandered half of his life hanging around Picasso trying to nail his leftovers.

9. Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris a.k.a  sister Mary Clarence  in Sister act 1 and 2

This comedy classic is one of the sweetest movies of all times. What can go wrong when you have Whoopi, also who's a starlet, who's also a noun...Sister act 1 and 2 are actually truly inspirational movies. ''Sister Mary Clarence'' is one of the most positive and coolest characters in the history of movies, teachers, preachers, musicians, you name it.

Sister Mary Clarence: And the first thing you're gonna do, gentlemen, is take off those hats. This is a brand... new... day. I guess that means you're gonna be combing your hair before you come to my class.
[to girl behind Rita]And, I know you're laughing over there 'cause you think this is very funny, Miss Thing, but there is no sun in this room, you will not get a tan. Take off those sunglasses.[turns to "hat" boys]That goes for you, too. If they're not prescription, I don't wanna see 'em. I want to see YOU, I want to be able to look into YOUR eyes, I want you to be able to look into mine.

10. Melanie Laurent as Shoshanna Dreyfus in Inglorious Basterds

• Marcel:	What are we talking about?
  Shosanna Dreyfus:	Filling the cinema with Nazis and burning it to the ground.
  Marcel:	I'm not talking about that. You're talking about that.

Jewish survivor of her family's massacre by Nazis, Shoshanna vows her revenge. No one understands revenge better than Tarantino. Melanie was brilliant in her performance. Strict, reserved, yet emotional. Shoshanna's character is like a good fairy with a mission to punish evil in the most spectacular way that there is. We love how Tarantino recreates the history, while Shoshanna's character will definitely stay as one of our favourites.

Enjoy good stuff and stay inspired!

A.B.

 Love, Invitation to Inspiration <3