For centuries, women have been told the role they have to play in society; dutiful wife, respectful daughter, or innocent ingénue. However, when given a choice between acceptance or opposition of these barriers, many have rebelled against them. But, when the society that you are in sees a woman as the fairer sex, what can you do? Disguise yourself as a man and prove yourself as equal, that’s what!
To celebrate the release of The Breadwinner, the powerful story of a young girl living under Taliban rule who starts dressing up as a boy to ensure that her family doesn’t fall into poverty (in cinemas May 25), we look at some other films featuring female characters who aim beyond the roles expected of them.
Victor/Victoria (1982)
When impoverished soprano Victoria fails another audition, Toddy, a performer from the club, joins her for dinner and invites her back to his flat when he realises she spent the last of her rent money on food. In the morning, Toddy’s boyfriend turns up and the pair row. Dressed in men’s clothing, Victoria kicks the man out and Toddy gets the idea to pass Victoria off as a man to Andre Cassell, the most successful agent in Paris, as a female impersonator called Victor. In this guise, Victor/Victoria becomes a huge success, but the secret proves too big and ultimately Victoria proves herself as herself.
Mulan (1998)
Soon to be made into a live-action film, Disney’s animated adventure told the legend of Mulan, a young girl who found it difficult to confirm the social norms of ancient China. When her war hero, yet battle-worn father is called once again to fight for the country, Mulan disguises herself as a man and claims to be his son fighting in his honour. Struggling at first to keep up with the male bravado and expectations of a young soldier, Mulan uses her natural ingenuity to carve her own path and becomes one of China’s greatest heroines in the process.
Shakespeare In Love (1998)
When known, but struggling playwright Will Shakespeare is commissioned to write his next story, he finds himself with intense writer’s block and up against the clock. With only one workable scene to go on, and pressure to begin rehearsals mounting, he begins casting barely formed characters. Avid theatre fan Viola de Lessops dreams of appearing on-stage, despite women not being permitted to do so at the time, so decides to disguise herself as a man to audition. Impressing the playwright, he tracks her down and discovers her true identity. The pair embark on a love affair that threatens to ruin both of them, and yet inspires Shakespeare’s greatest works.
Albert Nobbs (2011)
After suffering a horrific incident during her teenage years, a terrified young girl sees an advertisement for waiters, buys a suit, gets interviewed and hired, and begins a new life with a male identity – Albert Nobbs. 30 years later and now a butler, Albert meets Hubert who reveals that he too is keeping the same secret, living as a man to escape an abusive husband. The pair spend a fun day as women again, but a fall brings them back to reality and they must decide which path to carry on with.
The Breadwinner (2018)
Parvana is a young girl living in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Her father has always taught her more than girls are expected to know by law, and encourages her to use her colourful imagination to tell stories, however this leads to him getting arrested by a volatile member of the Taliban, and thrown into jail. Struggling to provide for her mother and siblings as a girl, Parvana cuts her hair and wears male clothes to get the provisions her family needs to survive, whilst also saving money that she aims to use as a bribe to get her father from behind bars.
The Breadwinner comes to cinemas this Friday, May 25, 2018.