
The Running Actress
2017

Representation Score
Excellent
2005
Director
Miwa Nishikawa, Tetsuo Shinohara, Ryuichi Hiroki, Shinya Tsukamoto, Suzuki Matsuo
Runtime
118 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
Female is a sophisticated anthology that succeeds primarily through its structural commitment to women's ability to drive the story. By adapting works from female authors, the film disrupts the traditional male gaze and provides a platform for diverse female perspectives. The strength of the film lies in its deconstruction of gender roles and its focus on psychological realism. It moves away from passive domestic archetypes to explore the friction between individual identity and societal constraints. However, the film is culturally specific to Japan, which limits its racial and ethnic breadth. While this provides authenticity, it lacks the diversity found in more globalized cinematic narratives.
Category Breakdown
The film explores female sexuality and desire through a lens that moves beyond assumptions about straight relationships. While not explicitly focused on LGBTQ themes, it emphasizes women's ability to drive the story and their bodily autonomy.
The anthology effectively challenges familiar patterns by prioritizing women's internal lives and sexual ability to act. It portrays restrictive societal expectations as sources of psychological tension rather than stable foundations.
The narrative is a localized study of Japanese society with homogeneous racial representation. It lacks diversity but maintains a specific, authentic cultural focus.
The film critiques rigid social structures and traditional domestic expectations. It focuses on social alienation and the psychological toll of societal pressures within a Japanese context.
The film touches on psychological distress and social isolation. It treats internal mental struggles as valid human experiences rather than using them for superficial or inspirational clichés.
Present on Screen
Limited or Absent
Official Synopsis
'Female' is comprised of five short films adapted from five novels by female authors. Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto, Tetsuo Shinohara, Ryuichi Hiroki, Miwa Nishikawa, and Suzuki Matsuo.

2017

2004

2021

2007

1995

2006

2013

2001
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!
Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.