Year: 1970
Director: Barbara Loden
Country: US
Language: English
In 1966, while Barbara Loden was married to household name Elia Kazan (On the Waterfront), a mutual friend named Harry Schuster, offered Loden $100,000 to make her own movie. She used this to write the screenplay for Wanda, but unfortunately it did not attract any Hollywood directors, including her own husband. Loden decided to direct it herself and collaborated with cinematographer/editor Nicholas T. Proferes in order to give the picture a very minor budget of $110,000,
Wanda (Barbara Loden), a lonely housewife, drifts through mining country until she meets a petty thief (Michael Higgins) who takes her in.
The only American film to be accepted in the Venice Film Festival in 1970, Wanda won the International Critics' Prize that year. The film is notable because there were so few women film-makers in New Hollywood & Loden was able to break new ground on such a small budget. Loden's character is somewhat of an anti-heroine; not strong in any-way that would appeal to feminists and very noteworthy for being imperfect. Wanda feels like Bonnie and Clyde (1967) blended with Five Easy Pieces (1970).
Through her main protagonist Loden says a lot about her fellow women's lack of autonomy in their own lives. Even a half century after women getting the right to vote, its seems like women don't fully feel in control of their own destiny. In one scene Wanda wants to work, but she is told, from her male boss, that the only work available is for men only. I appreciate Loden's ability to speak honestly and from the heart; the lack of/absence of female filmmakers in American Cinema is something we viewers often take for granted.
Wanda is a great overlooked picture, perhaps the greatest picture depicting the difficulties & frustrations of the average woman (in the sense of a lack of autonomy). I loved it, will watch it many more times, and will encourage everyone I know to view it through their own eyes. Loden deserves a great amount of praise.
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