Some of My Best Friends are Women

The same year the United Nations declared an 'International Year of Women', New Zealand held its first International Women's Film Festival. This groundbreaking feminist documentary debuted alongside two other local films. Expat Irish/Scot filmmaker Deirdre McCartin presents three candid interviews across generations of Kiwi women. Trade unionist and grandmother Flo Humphries recalls the shame heaped on female divorcees in the 1940s; librarian and solo mum Mag Freeman celebrates hard-won self-confidence, and student Kirsten Warner is scathing about the career options offered at school.

Some women may be a little timid about their position. Some employers of course intimidate women, and make sure that they are frightened of their job. And this keeps them on low rates. Employers have said to me "we'll get rid of the lot, once we install machines". That attitude to me I find repulsive.

– Former union representative Flo Humphries on how women are kept back in the workplace

Key Cast & Crew

Robin Scholes

Camerawoman, Research

Carole Stewart

Editor

Kathryn De Nave

Research

Dairne Shanahan

Interviewer

Judith Aitken

Research

Deirdre McCartin

Producer, Director, Research