Reviewed by Cat for TeensReadToo.com

Throughout history, women have struggled to make their way in a world where wealth and power is often dominated by men. As Suzanne Simoni details the lives and careers of ten filmmakers, it's clear the film industry is no exception. Even in this, the twenty-first century, less than fifteen percent of directors (in and outside of Hollywood) are female.

FANTASTIC FEMALE FILMMAKERS isn't about bemoaning one's fate, though. Rather, it is a testament to the strength, determination, and not to mention creative and technical advancements that women have made in movie-making over the last one hundred years; a template for incoming and future generations; and an inspiration for following one's own instincts.

Starting with the first female director/producer/writer/actress, Nell Shipman, Simoni highlights a wide array of influential women from across the world. Among Ms. Simoni's subjects are Berlin-born Margarethe von Trotta, who aims to create thought-provoking films about women's internal conflicts; Mira Nair, who went against conventional Indian tastes by filming street scenes in Bombay; and Euzhan Palcy, the first filmmaker (male or female) to create a picture depicting the lives of black people on the French-speaking island of Martinique.

FANTASTIC FEMALE FILMMAKERS is an entertaining and informative primer on women and movie-making. This is a fantastic book for the aspiring filmmaker, or anyone who just wants to know a bit more about the history of celluloid. ( )

Though this book's presentation is a little more sedate than some other recently published biography-type titles (no colour!), the content is inspiring for young filmmakers of both genders. Girls, though, will be particularly pleased to read about such a fine selection of women who have made their mark working behind the camera.

Though the first film ever made that actually told a story was the work of Alice Guy-Blachē of France, after the appearance of 'talkies' and the rise of film as big industry, things soon got tough for women. Despite the many barriers facing women wanting to work as directors (today things aren't much better in Hollywood - only 12% of directors are women!), some persevered. These remarkable women have braved angry mobs (Deepa Mehta's attempts to film Water triggered angry protests in India), discrimination, and all the usual financial and creative challenges of making films. The directors featured include women from the US, Canada, India, England, Martinique, and Germany. Their work ranges from serious documentaries to television dramas and Bollywood-style extravaganzas. Peppered with quotes and anecdotes, the text provides the reader with a real sense of the women's personalities and their creative visions.