Female Agency in Films Made by Latin American Women

At a time of growing relevance for women’s social and cultural movements in the Americas, Female Agency in Films Made by Latin American Women examines how the increased prominence of women in a directorial role translates into new paradigms of female agency in Latin American filmmaking. This volume bridges the two main tendencies that have characterized gender-studies approaches to the region’s cinema to date: first, the survey-based analysis of films made by women and second, the study of how female characters are treated on the screen—by female and male directors. Bringing together both scholarly trends, this volume explores the complex modalities of female agency developed in recent films directed by women in Latin America, through innovative aesthetic and discursive strategies. Moving beyond consideration of visibility or representation, a diverse body of contributors in this book look for expressions of agency in the films’ gaze, their affective depth, the forms of care they bring to the fore, how they highlight their characters’ desires and subjectivities, and the bodily and sensorial experiences they convey.

María Helena Rueda is a Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at Smith College, USA. Her publications focus on contemporary Latin American literature and film, particularly from Colombia, Chile, and Peru.

Vania Barraza is a Professor of Spanish at the University of Memphis, USA. Her publications focus on the literature and culture of Latin America, particularly Chile, with an emphasis on film, gender, and sexuality studies.