Friday is International Women's Day, a chance for people around the world to celebrate women and their achievements. The theme of this year's campaign is Balance For Better, aimed at raising awareness to help forge a more gender-balanced world.
Photos: NETFLIX
Activities are being held throughout the country to mark the special day. But if you want to be part of the celebrations but don't feel like going out because you want to avoid Friday traffic, Netflix has a great selection of movies, shows and documentaries that focus on women, their struggles and their strengths.
Dear Ex
Winner at last year's 55th Golden Horse film awards in Taiwan for Best Actress and Best Film Editing, Dear Ex tells a story of Sanlian, a woman who is dumped by her husband after he comes out of the closet. When he later passes away, she discovers that he has changed his insurance policy, cutting out their son in favour of a stranger named Jay. Sanlian is now forced to fight her ex's gay lover for the inheritance. Starring Hsieh Ying-xuan.
Isn't It Romantic
Isn't It Romantic is a comedy, but one that's more satirical than romantic. Natalie (Rebel Wilson) hates all things romantic because she is overweight and constantly told that she is ugly. Then she hits her head in an accident and wakes up only to find that she is now living in an alternate reality, where everything is like a dazzling romcom. A fun film that emphasises the ability of a woman to gain the power to improve her life.
Workin' Moms
Netflix series Workin' Moms tells the story of four new mothers who return to work following maternity leave. The show is by turns hilarious and moving, as the protagonists juggle motherhood and their careers, and at the same time they have to try to ensure the survival of their relationships.
Period. End of Sentence.
This 26-minute documentary recently won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject. It tells of the fight of women in rural India against the social stigma of menstruation. While some of the locals still think of periods as "bad blood", a group of women gain access to a machine that lets them make menstrual pads out of cotton, allowing them to have a better life. Period. End of Sentence. was funded by Los Angeles-based charity The Pad Project.
Supergirl
For those into female superhero movies, aside from Captain Marvel, currently in Thai cinemas, and Wonder Woman (2017), which is screening today for free at the Thai Film Archive, the series Supergirl is also well worth checking out. Supergirl is Kara Zor-El, cousin of Kal-El (Superman). Follow her as she learns to use her powers and become a true hero, defending National City against all manner of evil.
Period. End of Sentence. NETFLIX
