Real Female Characters Over 30 in Films

November 25, 2019 4:07 PM

What are some movies that have women over 30 that are real people, not stereotypes, not based on famous people, that have agency and are interesting to watch? Bonus points for women who don't live in suburbia, aren't villains, aren't defined by others.
posted by cazcazcaz to Media & Arts (47 answers total)

I watched Late Night recently and, while it isn't a perfect movie, it made me realise how rare it is to watch a mainstream movie about a woman who isn't young and who isn't defined by her romantic status. I found it very satisfying. Emma Thompson is excellent in it.
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:12 PM on November 25, 2019 [13 favorites]

Working Moms is a Canadian TV show on Netflix that might fit the bill.
posted by katypickle at 4:17 PM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Broadcast News. Under the Tuscan Sun. Moonstruck.

If limited series streaming counts under films: Catatrophe. Fleabag.
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:20 PM on November 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

Some 70's picks off the top of my head:
- An Unmarried Woman
- Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
- Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
posted by octothorpe at 4:20 PM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Happy Go Lucky (Even though the summaries make her sound annoying, I didn't find her so.)
posted by unknowncommand at 4:25 PM on November 25, 2019 [7 favorites]

Just watched Woman at War last night and it was very unexpected. The title character is supremely competent but saying at what would be a spoiler.
posted by Botanizer at 4:32 PM on November 25, 2019 [3 favorites]

Falls Around Her--stars Tantoo Cardinal as a world-famous Anishinaabe musician who comes back to her home reserve to take a break from that life. Good depiction of northern Indigenous life.

I'll See You In My Dreams--stars Blythe Danner as a woman and a former singer who decides to strengthen her female friendships and her relationship with her daughter.

Never Steady, Never Still--stars Shirley Henderson as a woman with a disability and the struggles she encounters living independently.

I've seen all of these and they all feature women well over 30 (Tantoo Cardinal is in her 60s, Blythe Danner in her 70s, Shirley Henderson in her 50s) and are solidly entertaining and interesting. They avoid stereotypes and easy conclusions.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 4:35 PM on November 25, 2019

Bridesmaids
posted by kapers at 4:35 PM on November 25, 2019

I've Loved You So Long features Kristin Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein as sisters growing closer after KST's character is released from prison. I watched it 10 years ago and still think it's one of the best films I've seen.
posted by basalganglia at 4:50 PM on November 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

Maggie (Brenda ee Banzie) in Hobson's Choice is just thirty.
posted by Fukiyama at 4:50 PM on November 25, 2019

Satin Rouge is about a Tunisian widow who takes up belly dancing. Not sure if you’ll be able to find it streaming though.

Bagdad Cafe focuses on a friendship that develops between two women who leave their husbands. One of the actresses, Marianne Sägebrecht, also stars in Rosalie Goes Shopping, a movie I have persuaded several people to watch, but they invariably think I’m nuts for liking it. Fits your specifications though.
posted by FencingGal at 4:52 PM on November 25, 2019

Maggie Gyllenhaal was spectacular in The honorable Woman. Which also happens to be a absolutely spectacular drama. It's a heavy mini series though.
posted by larthegreat at 5:14 PM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Annihilation

Parasite - ensemble story that has two interesting older characters, although "not villains" is debatable.

306 Hollywood - this is one of my favorite films of the last decade. The title is misleading; it is a documentary about a non-famous woman. She did live in suburbia, though.

Beatriz at Dinner

20th Century Woman - great but also has a suburban setting.

Fried Green Tomatoes

After the Storm - another ensemble piece about a family, not about but including one of the best older female characters ever.
posted by prewar lemonade at 5:20 PM on November 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

i really liked Clouds of Sils Maria, though the older woman struggling with aging premise might be too on the tropey side for other people
posted by gaybobbie at 5:24 PM on November 25, 2019

Also, Arrival.
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:38 PM on November 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

Volver
Friends With Money
Annihilation
Arrival
Gravity
Widows
The Favorite
Moonstruck
Mad Max, Fury Road
The Shape of Water
Carol
Thelma & Louise
Fargo
Working Girl
Zero Dark Thirty
Steel Magnolias
Notes on a Scandal
posted by emd3737 at 5:41 PM on November 25, 2019 [4 favorites]

Antonia’s Line
posted by ewok_academy at 5:46 PM on November 25, 2019 [4 favorites]

All About Eve
posted by emd3737 at 5:49 PM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

I think the female lead in House of Games is over 30.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 5:53 PM on November 25, 2019

Moonstruck (best!), Calendar Girls
posted by Glinn at 5:53 PM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Unrelated really wriggled its way into my head (in a good way).
posted by Paragon at 5:53 PM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Young Adult
In Her Shoes
The Heat
The Kids Are All Right
Julieta
Enough Said
posted by emd3737 at 6:08 PM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Cake. It's not a great movie, but it's not bad either. And it is about women, over 30, who are not defined by men. The leas is sort of an antihero jerk, but not a villain, just a person in pain.
posted by crush at 7:06 PM on November 25, 2019

Most (all?) films directed by Nicole Holofcener. Maybe especially Friends With Money?
posted by vunder at 7:15 PM on November 25, 2019

Crossing Delancey
posted by mefireader at 7:19 PM on November 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

Harold and Maude. There is no better film.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:19 PM on November 25, 2019 [3 favorites]

Trucker
I am Love
Higher Ground
Ida
Grandma
posted by octothorpe at 7:48 PM on November 25, 2019

Jackie Brown. IMO Tarantino's best film. Pam Grier is fantastic. The trailer... is not representative.
posted by oneirodynia at 7:54 PM on November 25, 2019 [4 favorites]

One of the best movies of the decade, Young Adult.
posted by cakelite at 8:02 PM on November 25, 2019

First Wives Club
Nine to Five
Calendar Girls
Made in Dagenham (famous people?)
Steel Magnolias
Sister Act
posted by phunniemee at 8:37 PM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

I really, really enjoyed Can You Ever Forgive Me - it's a true story about a known figure, but I wouldn't call her a celebrity.

Educating Rita

Secrets and Lies is amazing

Seconding Fried Green Tomatoes
posted by Mchelly at 8:41 PM on November 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

Hidden Figures - the protagonists were real, and were not famous in their own time, but were made somewhat famous by this movie and the book of the same name.
posted by JonJacky at 8:57 PM on November 25, 2019 [7 favorites]

Far From the Madding Crowd - the 1967 version with Julie Christie is best known, there was a 2015 version with Carey Mulligan.

McCabe and Mrs. Miller - Julie Christie again.

The French Lieutenant's Woman - with Meryl Streep, set in about the same period and locale as Madding Crowd.

posted by JonJacky at 9:28 PM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Helena Bonham Carter: Suffragette ( 2015), The King's Speech (2010), Margaret's Museum (1995).
Tantoo Cardinal: Smoke Signals (1998), Where the Rivers Flow North (1994).
Judi Dench: Philomena (2013), Tea with Mussolini (1999), Mrs. Brown (1997).
Olympia Dukakis: Cloudburst (2011), Steel Magnolias (1989), Moonstruck (1987).
Helen Mirren: The Queen (2006), Calendar Girls (2003), Excalibur (1981).
Meryl Streep: August: Osage County (2013), Julie & Julia (2009), Doubt (2008).
Emma Thompson: Saving Mr. Banks (2013), Wit (2001).
posted by TrishaU at 9:43 PM on November 25, 2019

Sigourney Weaver in Alien
posted by Joh at 11:10 PM on November 25, 2019 [5 favorites]

Gloria Bell qualifies. Julianne Moore is excellent in the title role, and the whole point of the film feels like it's simply to spend time with the character, who is wonderful -- grounded and complex and real. Good stuff.
posted by Rinku at 12:01 AM on November 26, 2019 [1 favorite]

Fleabag
Better Things
posted by speakeasy at 1:32 AM on November 26, 2019

Strangers in Good Company
posted by gusottertrout at 2:32 AM on November 26, 2019

Not sure on the ages of the characters, but Jodie Foster and Bette Davis are both in their mid-thirties when they made Contact (1997) and Now, Voyager (1942).
posted by hannahelastic at 2:56 AM on November 26, 2019

Wine Country
posted by Pig Tail Orchestra at 5:52 AM on November 26, 2019

Chocolat
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:54 AM on November 26, 2019

The great Shirley Knight in Redwood Highway.
posted by OolooKitty at 10:05 AM on November 26, 2019

Sigourney Weaver in Alien
she was just 30 and famously won the role originally cast for a man. Ctrlf+f "What would you think if Ripley was a woman?"
posted by j_curiouser at 11:59 AM on November 26, 2019

Julie Delpy in Before Midnight and 2 Days in Paris come to mind.
posted by thebots at 12:50 PM on November 26, 2019 [1 favorite]

How about Prime Suspect? TV, not film, but so good.
posted by Kafkaesque at 12:59 PM on November 26, 2019

Call the Midwife (BBC TV) is full of strong female characters
posted by sconbie at 3:17 PM on November 26, 2019

Truly, Madly, Deeply
posted by mefireader at 7:46 AM on November 27, 2019