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First Woman Wins Best Director On The Eve Of IWD: Significance?

by Yuliya Talmazan | March 8, 2010 at 02:49 pm

318 views | 17 Recommendations | 3 comments

Kathryn Bigelow Makes It Big

Last night, a historic event transpired at the 82nd Academy Awards in Los Angeles - Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win an Oscar for best director. As presenter Barbra Streisand put it, “the time has come…” The time for a woman to finally figure into the business of cinema. But, lanky Bigelow could not break the big screen ceiling on a more symbolic night – the eve of the International Women’s Day. Although IWD is not celebrated on a big enough scale in North America, the two women who conjured up the concept of IWD 100 years ago would probably rejoice in Bigelow’s accomplishment. Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxemburg initiated the IWD movement back in the day when most women did not even have a right to vote.

From Zetkin to Bigelow, what has changed? Did the Academy send a message with Bigelow’s win last night? On the other hand, did gender play a role in Bigelow's Oscar at all? Was Bigelow's triumph a testament to nothing but the hard work that she put into directing “The Hurt Locker”? Whether it was a factor in Academy's decision or not, gender became a topic of discussion in the wake of last night’s ceremonies. One thing certain – Bigelow has opened the way, proving that women do not only make good movies, but get recognized for their hard work as well.

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Tom Aikins (not verified)

at 16:10 on March 8th, 2010

It sure took a long time for a woman to win an Oscar. Wonder why that was?

Porkpie Hat (not verified)

at 22:51 on March 8th, 2010

my wife said he won't watch it, she wants entertainment from a movie not a bunch of blood covered reality.

reviste (not verified)

at 07:27 on March 10th, 2010

When Barbara Streisand presented the nominations, he said something like this: "for the first time the winner can be a black man, a woman... and of course any of the other three directors which made their own screenplays". This sound pretty insulting and discriminating for the first two ones...