Spotlight: Running in High Heels
DVD1852
2 DVDs, Color, 85 min., 2005  

    With role models like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Lindsay Lohan setting the (deplorable) standards by which many young women aspire, you may not be shocked by the devastating statistics uncovered in Maryann Breschard’s probing documentary Running in High Heels . Those stats (as of the film’s release in 2005): Women makeup 52 percent of the world’s population, yet only occupy 14 percent of the House and Senate and 6 percent of executive offices (CEO, CFO, and the like), with Breschard estimating it will take 300 to 700 years before women achieve equality in America. Although her math for this estimation is admittedly absent, it seems fairly inconsequential if future generations continue to seek their ideal version of feminine empowerment in these tabloid travesties. In other words, things may get worse before they get better, and (sadly) Breschard’s estimation appears more than feasible. 


    Of course, this is, to a certain degree, generalizing and with female political figures like Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton proving to be powerful political figures—including, possibly, our next president—perhaps the future is far brighter (than bleaker) for women’s rights. That is, assuming these occasionally polarizing figures can, at the very least, unite women to become interested and invested in politics, particularly female politics; an issue Breschard takes up in her film. Clearly, with the population and the percentage of women in office what they are, there’s a discrepancy to be resolved. Breschard’s highly entertaining documentary follows Emily Csendes, a well-to-do (by Breschard’s classification) female candidate running for the New York State Senate in 2004. While following Csendes’ grassroots campaign, Breschard interviews a handful of powerful figures in women’s rights, as well as (for the voice of opposition) Phyllis Schlafly an elderly, conservative anti-feminist, do-it-yourselfer from way back. The various advocates, and sole hater, provide interesting insight into the achievements and failures of the women’s rights movement (suffragette being, proverbially, just the beginning). In fact, one professor introduces a brilliant, new term into the male/female linguistic dichotomy: femcha (the female version of macho). 


    Nevertheless, instead of using Running in High Heels as a puff-piece, Breschard casts a rather critical eye on Csendes’ race—claiming she’s too complacent and lacks the commanding presence to win/deserve election—in direct contrast to her bold, invigorating interviews. As any sentient viewer can guess, Csendes loses the race (proving an impressive, female role model despite her political ‘flaws’) and Breschard concludes it was because “she never connected with women voters;” which we see in action with Csendes’ occasionally apathetic approach to public interaction. With two versions (85 and 50 minutes) of the film, several deleted scenes, a ROM discussion guide, and a trailer, for a low-budget film Running in High Heels is packed with options and extras. Whether or not you like what you hear and see, this film is likely to inspire more thoughtful conversation than which starlet is shaving her head now…at least, let’s hope.

                                       -Michael Petitti