'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.
