Pioneering Female Filmmakers Explore the 'Harshness' of Women's Cinema

In her latest documentary, filmmaker Isa Willinger investigates a provocative claim made by pioneering Soviet and Ukrainian director Kira Muratova. Towards the end of Muratova's career, she told Willinger that "women make the harsher films." This observation has stuck with Willinger, who has now delved deeper into the topic in her film No Mercy.

Premiering at Filmfest Hamburg and screening at the Viennale this week, No Mercy features interviews with over a dozen acclaimed women directors, including Virginie Despentes, Céline Sciamma, Catherine Breillat, and Alice Diop. The film explores questions around the nature of "harshness" in cinema, the concept of the "female gaze," and how women carve out spaces to establish distinct cinematic languages.

Willinger's documentary weaves together personal narratives, including accounts of real-life violence, which intertwine with the filmmakers' professional reflections on power structures and the unique qualities they bring to their craft. The result is a thought-provoking exploration of the diverse perspectives and cinematic approaches of these pioneering women directors.