ABSTRACT
The development of the new woman’s film as a genre results from the confluence of a number of different influences: the rise of the female auteur; the impact of high-profile female stars seeking substantial dramatic roles and projects that they deem to be of artistic merit; the mainstream male director wishing to realize a personal film; and also male directors who routinely work in the independent low-budget sector making films that serve as vehicles for actors and actresses, especially aging actresses (anyone over thirty-five in Hollywood terms) hoping for industry legitimation. These categories overlap in various ways but also attest to the diversity in origins that can be attributed to the new woman’s film.
