10 Amazing Films Directed By Women

10. Whale Rider

Whale Rider is the story of a young Maori girl who is born into a long line of tribal chiefs who are reportedly descended from the great Paikea, who according to tradition rode on top of a whale from Hawaika.

The only problem? She's a girl, and only males are able to inherit the leadership role - her twin brother, who would have taken up the mantel, died at birth, along with their mother. She feels a deep connection to her roots and believes herself capable of becoming the leader of the tribe, but there is no precedent for a female in charge of the group, and even her loving grandfather resists her efforts.

The film succeeds partly through the efforts of its star, Keisha Castle-Hughes, who became one of the youngest ever Best Actress nominees at the Academy Awards and some of you may recognize as one of the Sand Snakes from Game of Thrones.

But attention must also be paid to director Niki Caro's dogged refusal to give in to the cliches and sentimentality that often overwhelm these sorts of films, instead allowing the story to play out in a naturally, emotionally honest way.