If These Walls Could Talk
The film 'If These Walls Could Talk" is a rather controversial docudrama based on abortion throughout the decades. The stories of three women who experienced unplanned pregnancies were 'seen' through the same walls of one house. Despite the fact that it was directed by Cher, I still wouldn't consider it a "Hollywood" film.
My analysis was based on whether or not the film could be considered a feminist film. While it does deal with a typically 'feminist' issue-- reproductive rights-- it is lacking in other spheres that are generally represented in feminist film. For example, the social location of race was not even addressed. This film would have been more credible as a feminist film had it touched on the racial and class dimensions of access to abortion. While it did focus on the intersections of class, age, religion, marital status, and gender, race was almost completely excluded from the film. In many ways, this is a reflection of the director and her background. Cher grew up in a time when feminism was at its "Sisterhood is Global" peak. Her flavor of feminism didn't include African-American feminism or Lesbian Feminism, it was bourgeoisie, upper-middle class, educated, white feminism. Cher is certainly a product of her times, and this definitely comes through in her film "If These Walls Could Talk".
In conclusion, I would consider this film a feminist film, despite its shortcomings. The way that the director portrayed gender roles, and the questioning of these gender roles, is enough for me to consider this a feminist film. Feminism comes in many flavors, and this is just one kind of feminism that is represented.