Year after year, the Best Picture race is predominantly occupied by movies helmed by men (white men, more often than not), with only a few women breaking through to secure a nomination. It’s important to note that, in the Academy’s 95-year history, only three women have ever won the top prize (Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker” in 2009, Chloé Zhao for “Nomadland” in 2021, and Jane Campion for “The Power of the Dog” in 2022). It’s also important to say that, at the 96th Oscars that will take place this year, French director Justine Triet is the sole woman recognized in the category.
This is an obvious and systemic issue; in 2023, zero female directors were nominated, despite potential candidates like Sarah Polley, Charlotte Wells, and Maria Schrader making impressive films in 2022.
Greta Gerwig is actually a pretty fascinating example of a woman who frequently receives half-hearted, seemingly insincere honors from the Academy without actual, tangible recognition. Yes, she was nominated for directing “Lady Bird,” but she lost to Guillermo del Toro for “The Shape of Water” and was up against only men. Her sophomore effort, “Little Women,” scored a Best Picture nod and ignored Gerwig’s considerable work from behind the camera. Now, with “Barbie,” Gerwig has been shut out for her third critically acclaimed film, as if this movie and “Little Women” simply directed themselves and became excellent works of art. Gerwig’s snub is egregious, but it’s also par for the course at this point because the Academy Awards apparently don’t consider female directors to be even with their male colleagues.
