Cinemas in Sweden have begun rating films on the Bechdel Test.
Those that pass get the ‘A rate’ stamp of approval.
The Bechdel Test was created in 1985 by Alison Bechdel. There are three, simple, rules:
- To pass, a film must contain two named female characters
- who talk to each other
- about something other than a man.
Not surprisingly, given the action-figure-orientation of Hollywood today, the majority of films fail.
My take: Thank you, Sweden, for, once again, leading the way and shining a light on the underrepresentation of women in film.