STRONG FEMALE LEAD, directed by Tosca Looby *****

 

Australia is right at the top when it comes to misogyny. In fact, so wide spread is it, it has reached the country's highest echelons of government. Of course, when most of the leaders are men; but then along came Julia Gillard who ran for Prime Minister in 2010, and won, putting the Labor Party at the helm. The insidious hatred of women was overtly up front and center. No shame at all.

A tirade of outrageous attacks on Ms. Gillard were not about her policies, but her gender. She was called a liar, a witch bitch, the leader with a huge behind and more. Upon the death of her father and her two-week absence, she was accused of having her father die in shame with her leading the country. She lashed out with a venomous attack against Tony Abbott, leader of the opposition party who spearheaded the humiliating campaign against her while she was in power

 Her speech became “I was offended when this man said this; I was offended when this man said that". And so on and so on. It was surely the most powerful speech every voiced against a misogynist leader. She called an election after being in power for only 3 years and she lost. But she forever changed the perceptions and attitudes that profoundly affected her country. She went on to lecture around the world for education, women’s rights and for the physically and mentally challenged. This is a brilliant documentary about a very brave and strong person.