I Am Woman (2020) review - Movie Thoughts (Chapter 42) 👩

Hello everyone,

Today's film wasn't one I was initially going to talk about as part of this project; I was just going to watch it while I was knitting or doing one of my permanent marker colouring-in patterns. But then I actually watched it and I was surprised by how much it struck me. It affected me in the same way the passing of legendary justice and women's advocate Ruth Bader Ginsburg has struck me in the last few days; because it got me thinking about all the wonderful women both past and present who have stood up and used their voices to inspire and create real change and empower women all over the world. These incredible women need to be celebrated and their legacies respected to the highest degree, and documentaries and films like this one go a long way in support of that....

(**disclaimer: the following thoughts are 100% my opinion, you do not have to agree with them - film is inherently subjective and everyone's perspective is valid! Also, there are probably spoilers in the following, read at your own risk. Now onto some thoughts....**)

Source: IMDB

A film about an underrated Aussie icon who took on the great heights of America was full of heart and soul from start to finish. It follows 1970’s musician and activist Helen Reddy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) from her initial move to New York as a single mother through her tumultuous marriage to Jeff Wald (Even Peters) and her rise to chart-topping fame. Whilst very much a taste of the woman who meant so much to women’s rights, its authenticity and genuine charms made for an enjoyable and uplifting experience.

The heart of this film was the inspirational idea of Reddy as this woman who helped to break down barriers for women at this time. During the opening scene, director Unjoo Moon clearly laid down this foundation in an engaging and striking first scene whilst foregrounding the gender context Reddy was stepping into from a music industry perspective. The sleazy Mercury Records executive made awful comment after awful comment whilst Cobham-Hervey’s body language shifted away from him as a clear sign of discomfort. Everything was cleverly set up to establish the emotional bounds of where the narrative and tone was going to endeavour to travel. As a single mother travelling thousands of kilometres to a new continent to make her ambitious dreams come true, she was always working against the grain, but she never gave up and she never backed down. Throughout the film, Reddy’s defiant and passionate spirit was present and engaging to connect with, and a definite spark for going away and learning more about this enigmatic woman after the final credits.

Moon’s direction was slick, clean and refined; with a measured sensibility that didn’t seek to unnecessarily dramatize or distract. Her previous experience in documentary indicated knowledge in telling the stories of real-life people in a captivating way, and those skills have transferred well over to the fictionalized biopic format. Everything clicked with an understated sparkle that conveyed what Reddy overcame and the effect she had on both women of her time and years later.

There was a simplistic and conventional approach to story perspective that allowed the passion and strength of Reddy’s character and struggle to shine through. There was no dramatic flair or glitzy sheen like that of Rocketman or Bohemian Rhapsody, but it was surprisingly powerful because it had an honesty about Reddy as a woman. No fuss was made about her appearance and the use of her pride as a confident and capable woman as a driving characteristic helped audiences to truly empathize with Reddy onscreen. It reeked of positivity in the best way possible and felt like its heart was in the right place. The input of a female director and female writer for a biopic about the woman who wrote an anthem for women, the women’s movement and gender politics in the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) gave the film a lovely periphery feel that acknowledged not only Reddy’s individual story but its role in such important and pertinent moments of history. Screenwriter Emma Jensen’s script was simple but earnest, and evoked the time-period true rhetoric whilst also respecting and growing these powerful female characters into three-dimensional presences.

Interwoven with the narrative were a number of Reddy’s fantastic songs. A beautiful celebration of her work and wonderfully performed on the soundtrack by Chelsea Cullen, Reddy’s lyrical and soulful tunes made listeners then and now feel good and strong; and their presence in the film boosted those feelings. The titular ‘I Am Woman’ was justly empowering and used as an excellent device to highlight how much Reddy connected with her audience and its legacy as a bonafide feminist anthem. But the most powerful gem of a song was the only original song written specifically for the film by Aussie producing sensation Alex Hope; ‘Revolution’. A gorgeously haunting ballad sung by Reddy’s real-life grand-daughter Lily Donat, the melancholic beauty and strength of it within the context of the film was so strikingly moving and a memorable embodiment of what I Am Woman was trying to say about Reddy and what she represented.

Amazing performances made this biopic zing, with honesty and embodied charisma that truly transported audiences back to the 1970’s. Cobham-Hervey gave a brilliant central performance as Helen Reddy, with a signature look that was surprisingly different to the real-life woman but just as confident and self-assured. Danielle Macdonald was a scene stealer as fellow pioneer woman and Reddy’s best friend Lillian Roxton. Highly successful and without a man at all by her side onscreen, she embodied that brute passion and fervour for change whilst also being that crucial sounding board for Helen and a great support system. Both kindred spirits who were inspirational in their own right but also showcased such a kind female friendship on-screen, Helen’s sob-filled reaction and anxiety over Roxton’s death was one of Cobham-Hervey’s best acting moments and a devastating turning point for the narrative. A solid performance opposite Cobham-Hervey, Peters was incredible as Jeff Wald. Brash, cocky, coked up and threatening; he captured both the light and shade brilliantly.

Moon’s interpretation of Helen Reddy’s rise to fame was an enjoyable, albeit chronologically surface level, snapshot of her importance as a feminist icon. Inspiring and hopeful with a great message, fantastic performances and great songs within the story of a warrior; the pillars of that story are ideas that the world still needs now more than ever.

9/10, 4 STARS

Thanks for reading,

Love and I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman, Emily 👩