The directors most often discussed are those with large bodies of work. This isn’t surprising, given that it’s much easier to identify trends in themes, actors, and other quirks across their work. But what about people who have only had one chance to make a film? Whether due to a lack of industry support, disinterest, or simply not having made their second feature, these female directors are one-and-done.
Wanda (1970, Barbara Loden)
A landmark for American independent film, Wanda is the story of a disaffected woman on the run after abandoning her family. It is a semi-autobiographical story by Barbara Loden, who stars, writes, and directs the film. The film rebukes typical Hollywood portrayals of women and stands in stark contrast to the films of its era.
Middling reception upon release meant it never garnered a wide audience, and Loden was never able to make another film before her death in 1980. In recent years, it’s been reappraised, growing in stature even to be recognised in Sight and Sound’s 2022 critics poll for the best films of all time.
Turning Red (2022, Domee Shi)
Unlikely to remain a one-and-done thanks to its success, Turning Red is one of Pixar’s best films in recent memory. Telling the story of Mei (Rosalie Chiang) and her mother, Ming (Sandra Oh), the coming-of-age story has an endearing and clever hormonal metaphor where Mei transforms into a red panda when emotionally overwhelmed.
The film adeptly threads this metaphor, not becoming alienating for younger viewers while still having depth and humour for older audiences. It’s evident Domee Shi is bringing her own life experience to the film, and that lends it an exciting, unique voice.
Read more: The Struggles of Young Women in Animation
Past Lives (2023, Celine Song)
Celine Song already has her follow-up on the runway, but regardless, Past Lives stands as a strong statement that would give a good insight into its director if she never made another film.
Past Lives is the story of Nora (Greta Lee) reconnecting with her childhood friend Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), with whom she fell out of contact after emigrating from Seoul to Toronto.
The film’s lowkey nature makes this dynamic far more compelling. There’s no unnecessary melodrama or confrontation, but rather silence and introspection, which provokes the audience to reflect on their own experiences and relate to the film.
One Night in Miami (2020, Regina King)
Regina King has a background in TV directing but is primarily known for being a first-class actor. Fittingly, One Night in Miami is a film of tremendous acting. The film’s story is a fictionalised meeting between Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali (Eli Goree), Jim Brown (Aldi Hodge), and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) to discuss a variety of issues amid the civil rights movement.
The film is quite obviously adapted from a play and doesn’t fully justify being adapted to a film; however, in spite of that, the strength of the performances keeps the film engaging. Kingsley Ben-Adir is a particular highlight, giving a wonderful performance as Malcolm X.
Daughters of the Dust (1991, Julie Dash)
An intergenerational period piece focusing on the women of the past, present, and future in Gullah culture, where African traditions were maintained just off the coast of the U.S. as the women debated migrating to the mainland.
Daughters of the Dust is a visually striking film, one that can spend stretches focusing on sound and visuals. It showcases the culture of these women and how that has impacted their lives as they enter a new stage. That isn’t to say there aren’t strong characters, but Julie Dash’s compositions are so breathtaking that the film would still be captivating and understood if watched on mute.
Shirkers (2018, Sandi Tan)
The only documentary on the list, the story behind Shirkers is fascinating. In the summer of 1992, Sandi Tan shot an independent film with her friends and mentor, Georges Cardona. Cardona stole the footage, and Tan’s dreams of being a filmmaker were put aside.
She then received the footage from Cardona’s widow in 2011 and decided to make this documentary, telling the story of what happened with the film. The film is on Netflix and is well worth watching.
Just Another Girl on the I.R.T (1992, Leslie Harris)
A confident debut that makes you wish this wasn’t a one-off, Leslie Harris’s Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. is a teen pregnancy film that doesn’t resort to easy answers or played-out drama.
The film’s empathy for protagonist Chantel (Aryian Johnson) stops it from being nothing more than an issues film. That film is keenly aware of the social problems that create conflict for Chantel, but it always remains focused on her story and never becomes didactic. The soundtrack, fashion, and lead performance make the film thoroughly entertaining and create real engagement in its darker moments.
