Part of the Six Week Film School: "Wonder Women Directors," highlighting six female directors who have had a major impact on the film-making landscape. All Six Week Film School films are free to attend, but we are asking attendees to register in advance to secure your seat by clicking on the ticketing link.
As America's stock of athletic young men is depleted during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league springs up in the Midwest. Competitive sisters Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) and Kit Keller (Lori Petty) spar with each other and grumpy has-been coach Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) on their way to fame. Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell co-star as two of the sisters' teammates. From 1992. PG / 128 min. Directed by Penny Marshall.
From series curator William Thomas McBride:
"On my way out of the Normal Theater following the post-screen discussion of one of Scorsese’s films, a female patron approached me and asked why not do a series of female directors? I have been working on our new series ever since—and given the current cultural moment regarding harassment and gender inequality in Hollywood, Washington, and everywhere else, the timing of Wonder Women Directors seems perfect. Joining me for individual screenings will be Shari Zeck, Interim Dean, Milner Library, Illinois State University; Li Zeng, Head of Theatre and Film Studies and Film Minor, Illinois State University; Chamere Poole, Dept. of English Ph. D. candidate, Illinois State University; and Ann Johnson, Dept. of Sociology Masters student, Illinois State University, who will discuss the overarching cultural concepts of sex, power, history, and film style in these six films directed by women."