Female Protagonists in Contemporary Cinema

Women-oriented films are gaining popularity in recent times, with an increasing number of movies being made that focus on women’s perspectives and experiences. These films explore diverse themes ranging from women’s empowerment, gender inequality, domestic violence, and sexual harassment to motherhood, relationships, and career ambitions. Women-oriented movies not only entertain but also educate and inspire audiences to challenge societal norms and stereotypes. The success of these films at the box office highlights the growing demand for stories that represent and celebrate women’s stories, voices, and struggles.

Here are the top 5 women-centric films to watch out for the year 2023.

1. Chor Nikal Ke Bhaaga: Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga is a Hindi crime thriller drama directed by Ajay Singh. The screenplay and dialogue were written by the director in collaboration with Shiraz Ahmed and Amar Kaushik. The movie
stars Yami Gautam and Sunny Kaushal in the lead roles, along with Sharad Kelkar, Rik Aby, and many others in supporting roles.

In the crime thriller-style film Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga, an airline hostess and her colleague are on a mission to steal diamonds and escape the clutches of a moneylender. The operation goes tragically wrong and becomes a siege scenario at 40,000 feet in the air. Yami Gautam was also taken prisoner, and the rest of the tale depends on whether she managed to liberate the hostages from their attackers.

2. Mrs. Chatterji VS Norway: Based on a real-life case, ‘Mrs. Chatterji VS Norway‘ is a film that sheds light on social issues. The movie follows Debika Chatterjee, played by Rani Mukerji, and her fight against the Norwegian Child Welfare Services. The cast also includes Anirban Bhattacharya, Jim Sarbh, and Neena Gupta. Directed by Ashima Chibber and produced by Zee Studios and Emmay Entertainment, this film promises to be a powerful social drama.

3. Rye Lane: Two heartbroken twenty-somethings (Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson) rediscover their joie de vivre across an adventure through South London. Shot with a fisheye lens using a pastel-heavy color palette, “Rye Lane” is a lush and visually rich romcom that critics are calling a “burst of cinematic energy” (Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com). Raine Allen Miller’s debut charmed Sundance crowds in January and is bound to become a Film Twitter favorite after premiering on Hulu later this spring.

The film is the directorial debut of talented woman director Raine Allen-Miller from a screenplay by Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia.

4. Boston Strangler: Boston Strangler is a 2023 American historical crime drama film written and directed by Matt Ruskin. It is based on the true story of the Boston Strangler, who in the 1960s killed 13 women in Boston. The film stars Keira Knightley as Loretta McLaughlin, the reporter who broke the story for the Boston Record American. Carrie Coon, Alessandro Nivola, Chris Cooper, David Dastmalchian, and Morgan Spector co-star. Filming took place in Greater Boston from December 2021 to March 2022. The film was released on March 17, 2023.

5. The Strays: The Strays is a 2023 British horror thriller film written and directed by Nathaniel Martello-White, in his directorial debut. In the film, a woman named Neve (Ashley Madekwe) is a biracial upper-class woman leading an idyllic life with her family. As a socialite in her community and the deputy headmistress of a private school, Neve’s privileged life is jeopardized when her troubled past resurfaces to undermine everything she has built. The Strays was released on Netflix on 22 February 2023.