10 Amazing Films Directed By Women

The scope of Europa Europa is ambitious right off the bat: director Agnieszka Holland assembles an international cast to weave an intricate tale spanning three countries during World War II.

At the heart of the film is Solek, a Jewish teenager who manages to survive the war not by pretending not only to be ethnically German, but by joining the highest ranks of the Hitler Youth.

In this determination to survive, Solek is put on a seemingly inescapable path from Jewish teenager to German war hero, existing in a more or less constant state of panic and confusion, terrified of being discovered in his increasingly complicated ruse (along the way, he manages to acquire a young German girlfriend who blithely tells him that if she ever met a Jew, she would kill him).

What's interesting about Holland's direction of this film is the distinct lack of melodrama, despite detailing undeniably dramatic events. She uses natural light and outdoor location shooting to great effect, creating a look for the film that is soft and almost gentle, despite the horrors it depicts.

Which other important films made by women belong on this list? Share your suggestions below in the comments thread.