Movies about significant historical personalities or landmark events like war seem to be governed by a set of unspoken rules for the expression of gender. Films by female directors featuring female protagonists appear to receive particularly harsh treatment and are often criticised for being too "emotional" and incapable of expressing "real" history.

Through her examination of films from the United States, Europe, Australia, and elsewhere, Julia Erhart makes powerful connections between the representational strategies of women directors including Kathryn Bigelow, Ruth Ozeki, and...