The film is a series of interviews with various well-known film actresses, including Jenny Agutter, Maria Schneider, and Jane Fonda. The title, which is borrowed from a 1958 film with the same name by Marc Allegret, refers to the sense the actresses have of what is expected of them by the film industry.
In the 70s, actress Delphine Seyrig and director Carole Roussopoulos, both militant feminists, were the pioneers of video activism in France. They documented the demonstrations of French feminists and used the new technologies to counter the poor representation of women in the public media.
After a series of rapes in broad daylight in 1985, a demonstration takes place in September. Leaflets accuse the "immigrant criminal underworld." Immigrants and Muslims are blamed. Eight feminists: Claire Atherton (editing), Claire Auzias, Marie-Jo Dhavernas, Catherine Deudon, Anne Faisandier (camera), Liliane Kandel, Nadja Ringart and Ioana Wieder want to testify and fight sexism wherever they come from and whoever the authors are. They decide to realize a documentary. They meet Souad Benani and Malika Bennabi, activists of the group Les Nanas Beurs, then Fatima and Rosa, activists of SOS Racisme. Then three anti-racist activists : Harlem Désir, Adil Jazouli, Sami Nair to discuss it.
A filmed adaptation of Rose Leiman Goldemberg’s play, based on Sylvia Plath’s intense correspondence with her mother Aurelia, from the time the poet was in university until her suicide. Delphine Seyrig and her niece Coralie Seyrig recite Sylvia and Aurelia’s letters to the audience directly.
Delphine Seyrig decided to work on a film project about Calamity Jane to reveal Jane’s sensibility and insight about life in those letters to her daughter. The reading of those letters permits a self-reflection about feminism and motherhood.
After Mexico 75 and Copenhagen 80, the United Nations choose the Dark Continent for the Third International Women’s Conference. Running in parallel to the official Governments Conference, is the Non Governmental Organizations Forum attended by 14 000 women. For 10 days, they meet on the Nairobi University Campus to discuss feminist and general political issues: peace, development, Apartheid, Islam, lesbianism, violence and sexual mutilation, Israel/Palestine, etc.
Inês Etienne Romeu was an opponent to the Brazilian's dictatorship. She was kidnapped, tortured and raped in jail, where she stayed for almost 100 days. She was later sentenced to life imprisonment. She stayed ten years in prison, from 1971 to 1979. Delphine Seyrig directed this film in 1974, when Inês was still in prison, protesting against this imprisonment and in support to Inês.
One year after the death of Simone de Beauvoir (14 april 1986) Delphine Seyrig pays homage by visiting her grave. which she finds still covered with flowers and letters from all over the world.
Anne-Gaëlle shares her life story through photos and memories, detailing her transition from a career successful 56-year-old man to embracing her identity as a woman a decade ago. Now accepted by family and friends, she advocates for LGBT rights passionately.
