Bechdel-Wallace Test
- Does the movie have at least two named female characters?
- Yes. There’s Helena Ayala, Caroline and Barbara Wakefield, Nan Dobbs, Stewie, Alex, and Vanessa.
- Do the female characters talk to each other on-screen?
- Yes. There are multiple conversations, especially between Caroline and Barbara, or Helena and her friends.
- Does their conversation revolve around something other than a man?
- Yes. Early in the movie, there is a group conversation between Helena, Nan, Stewie, and Alex about “duck salad”.
Please leave your comments below on whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.
Further Analysis
Does the movie have at least one female employed behind-the-scenes in a position of power (director, executive producer, producer, or writer)?
- Yes. Laura Bickford is a producer.
- Are the named female characters in leading or supporting roles?
- This is an ensemble movie, but Helena and Caroline have the largest female roles.
- How important is the female-female conversation to the overall plot?
- Not important. While Helena’s conversation with her friends does introduce us to her lifestyle before her husband’s arrest, the actual topic of duck salad has nothing to do with the plot, even metaphorically.
Final Verdict:
Hollywood So Male? 