'Helen Reddy's 1971 hit single "I Am Woman" became an anthem for second-wave feminism that continues to reverberate in today's #MeToo moment. But the story behind that song is itself an inspiration. Directed by Unjoo Moon (The Zen of Bennett) and starring Tilda Cobham-Hervey (TIFF '18's Hotel Mumbai), I Am Woman chronicles Reddy's remarkable rise to fame and independence.
'It's 1966, and 24-year-old Helen (Cobham-Hervey) travels from her native Melbourne to New York City in search of stardom. But she discovers that the uniformly male gatekeepers to the record industry don't take her seriously, look down on her single motherhood, and seem to believe that female-driven acts have scant chance in the Beatles-mad pop market. Fortunately, Helen finds an encouraging friend in fellow Australian Lillian Roxon (Danielle Macdonald), a journalist who's made some headway into her own male-dominated field.
'Everything changes when the fiercely ambitious Jeff Wald (Evan Peters) sweeps Helen off her feet and rapidly becomes both her husband and her manager. Jeff's dogged insistence ensures that Helen's golden voice gets heard. The family relocates to California, that coveted recording contract finally arrives, and Helen soon has a string of hit records. But fame and fortune come with new pitfalls. And how long is Jeff willing to play the role of Helen Reddy's husband?'
Source: Toronto International Film Festival.
Received Screen Australia development funding in February 2018.
'“There’s a whole lot of mes out there and we don’t want to listen to that.” That’s Helen Reddy upbraiding her husband and manager Jeff Wald in I am Woman, a biopic about the Melbourne-born singer and 1970s feminist activist, named after her most famous song.' (Introduction)
'There’s a scene in Unjoo Moon’s debut feature I Am Woman, out this week on Stan, where Helen Reddy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) confronts an all-male row of record executives intent on dropping her signature song from her debut album.'
'When Unjoo Moon visits Helen Reddy, they always gravitate towards the record player Moon bought the singer. Reddy, who’s been diagnosed with dementia, now lives in a Los Angeles nursing home for professional entertainers. Moon and Reddy play their favourite songs, as well as Reddy’s own albums. “And we sing to them,” Moon says. “Her with her still-incredible voice and me with my karaoke voice.”' (Introduction)
'Music has always been in the blood for Sydney composer Rafael May.'
'There’s a scene in Unjoo Moon’s debut feature I Am Woman, out this week on Stan, where Helen Reddy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) confronts an all-male row of record executives intent on dropping her signature song from her debut album.'
'“There’s a whole lot of mes out there and we don’t want to listen to that.” That’s Helen Reddy upbraiding her husband and manager Jeff Wald in I am Woman, a biopic about the Melbourne-born singer and 1970s feminist activist, named after her most famous song.' (Introduction)
'Music has always been in the blood for Sydney composer Rafael May.'
'When Unjoo Moon visits Helen Reddy, they always gravitate towards the record player Moon bought the singer. Reddy, who’s been diagnosed with dementia, now lives in a Los Angeles nursing home for professional entertainers. Moon and Reddy play their favourite songs, as well as Reddy’s own albums. “And we sing to them,” Moon says. “Her with her still-incredible voice and me with my karaoke voice.”' (Introduction)
