10 Powerful Films Exploring Spirituality and Womanhood: A Womanist Perspective
What is a Womanist Movie? What Makes a Film Womanist?
A womanist movie centers on the lived experiences, struggles, and triumphs of Black women, particularly exploring the intersections of race, gender, class, and culture. The term "womanism," which was coined by author and activist Dr. Layli Phillips, implies a strong bond with Black culture, spirituality, and the value of community, group healing, and fortitude. Black women are portrayed in womanist films as complex people who use spirituality to navigate their identities and experiences. They frequently seek liberation in a world that has been shaped by systemic oppression.
For a film to be considered womanist, it must embody several core principles:
Spiritual Meaning of All Things: Womanist films often infuse spirituality into everyday life, recognizing that spiritual forces are deeply connected to personal and collective growth. The spiritual dimension is not limited to traditional religion but also encompasses ancestral knowledge, folk traditions, and a sense of divine protection or guidance.
Black Women’s Gaze + Perception of the World: Womanist films give Black women agency in how they perceive the world around them. They explore the unique perspectives and insights that Black women bring to their environments, emphasizing their ability to navigate and survive in oppressive spaces with strength, wisdom, and resilience.
Rejection of Respectability: Womanist films challenge conventional norms that place value on respectability or conformity, particularly those imposed by mainstream society. These films often subvert ideas of what it means to be "respectable" by embracing authenticity and rejecting the societal pressures that force Black women to fit into prescribed roles.
Privilege Black Women’s Knowledge: Womanist films privilege the knowledge and wisdom of Black women, recognizing their lived experiences, resilience, and emotional depth as a vital source of power. These films celebrate the voices of Black women, portraying them as central figures in shaping their own destinies.
Exploring Land + Identity + Family: Womanist cinema often explores the deep connections between Black women and their land, identity, and familial bonds. These films emphasize the significance of heritage, community, and ancestry, with land and family often serving as sources of grounding and strength in the face of adversity.
Concerned with Nature: Womanist films frequently focus on nature and the environment, reflecting a belief in the interconnectedness of all living things. These films celebrate the spiritual and healing powers of nature and often explore how the natural world can offer solace, guidance, and renewal for Black women on their journey to self-discovery.
Rating Films on a Scale from Womanist, Black Feminist, Intersectional Feminist, and (White) Feminist
Films can be rated on a scale according to how well they align with the principles and themes of different feminist frameworks. Here’s a breakdown of the categories:
Womanist Film: Focuses on the lived experiences and liberation of Black women, emphasizing spirituality, community, and the intersectionality of race, gender, and class from a Black woman’s perspective. Womanist films privilege Black women's knowledge, explore their connections to land and family, and convey a holistic understanding of identity.
Black Feminist Film: A broader approach than womanism, Black feminist films explore the experiences of Black women, often considering social, economic, and political factors. While they center on racial justice, gender equality, and empowerment, they might not always explore spirituality, community, or the deeply rooted connections to land and ancestry in the same way as womanist films.
Intersectional Feminist Film: Films that focus on the intersections of multiple identities (race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.), illustrating the compounded oppression that people face when they inhabit several marginalized identities. Intersectionality is not exclusive to Black women but often includes broader experiences of discrimination.
(White) Feminist Film: These films center on the experiences of white women, typically framing issues of gender inequality and personal empowerment. They may overlook or minimize the intersectionality of race and class, often excluding the voices and needs of women of color.
Example Rating of Womanist Films:
The Color Purple (1985): Womanist. The film portrays Celie’s spiritual and emotional journey, highlighting her connection to God, divine protection, and self-empowerment in a world marked by deep trauma. It centers on Black women’s relationships with each other, their connection to the land, and their struggles with respectability, offering a holistic portrayal of Black womanhood.
Beloved (1998): Womanist. This film delves into the spiritual and ancestral connections that guide the protagonist’s journey of healing. It emphasizes the importance of Black women’s knowledge, the rejection of respectability, and the exploration of land and family as vital components of identity and survival.
Eve’s Bayou (1997): Intersectional Feminist. The film explores Southern Black spirituality and personal awakening through themes of family, betrayal, and mystical experiences. While it reflects on land and identity, it also touches on multiple layers of identity (race, gender, family), making it more intersectional than strictly womanist.
The Watermelon Woman (1996): Black Feminist. This film explores the intersectionality of identity, sexuality, and history from a Black lesbian perspective. It privileges Black women’s knowledge and challenges societal expectations but does not deeply explore spirituality or the connections to land and family typical of womanist films.
Daughters of the Dust (1991): Womanist. Rooted in Gullah culture, this film portrays Black women’s spiritual and cultural connections to their ancestors, land, and family. It emphasizes the importance of ancestral wisdom and community as sources of strength and empowerment, making it a quintessential womanist film.
Zombies of Sugar Hill (1974): Black Feminist. While this film explores empowerment through the supernatural and vengeance, it does not deeply engage with the spiritual connection to the land, family, or ancestral knowledge central to womanist thought. Its focus on revenge and personal agency places it within the Black feminist framework.
For Colored Girls (2010): Womanist. The film highlights the emotional and spiritual journeys of Black women, emphasizing healing through sisterhood, love, and spiritual growth. It explores land, family, and identity as key elements of Black womanhood, providing a womanist lens on survival and empowerment.
Pariah (2011): Intersectional Feminist. The film addresses themes of self-acceptance and personal growth, with a focus on a young Black lesbian’s journey. It explores race, gender, and sexuality but does not deeply explore spirituality or the deep connection to land and family found in womanist films.
Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001): Black Feminist. This film emphasizes empowerment through love and self-discovery, but it lacks a strong spiritual connection or focus on community and family in the way that a womanist film would. It leans more into issues of sexuality and identity, making it more aligned with Black feminism.
By applying these frameworks to film analysis, we can gain a deeper understanding of how various feminist perspectives influence how Black women are portrayed in movies and how those portrayals influence more general discussions about gender, race, spirituality, and empowerment.
