Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers - Idle Wives

Directed by Mabel Normand, Grace Cunard, Dorothy Davenport Reid, Alice Guy-Blaché, Lois Weber, and Helen Holmes
Year: 2018

Lois Weber's most self-conscious exploration of cinema's power to affect social change in the early years of its popularity. Characters in the film attend a movie theater where they watch a film by one "Lois Weber." They watch onscreen surrogates live out the consequences of their actions – and change their own lives accordingly after the show. Only a fragment of this important work survives but its significance is evident.

"A corrective to our collective amnesia. A thrilling look at the variety of films made by women, most before they won the right to vote."


"Provides a rare opportunity to see some of the greatest films helmed by early Hollywood’s intrepid women... filling in the blanks of the past and reclaiming the medium’s forgotten stories."


"One of this year’s most essential archival box sets."


"This is nirvana for keen purchasers ready to immerse themselves in a blossoming new expression started over 100 years ago. To those even remotely interested - Kino's 6 Blu-ray package is strongly recommended!"


"...an essential piece of film history, and engaging viewing besides."


"Film fans, rejoice! The true history of the motion picture industry just got a bit more complete."


"This wonderful box set would make a perfect gift for anyone interested in women in film or in film history."


"...one of the most important disc sets of 2018, and it's the perfect gift for the serious cinephile."


Crew
Directed by Alice Guy-Blaché, Lois Weber, Helen Holmes, Mabel Normand, Grace Cunard and Dorothy Davenport Reid