From environmental pioneer Rachel Carson to political thinker Hannah Arendt, from the mass mobilization of the Women’s March to contemporary conversations about mental health and culture, these documentaries show women questioning assumptions, challenging institutions, and redefining the boundaries of public life.
Through the library’s streaming platforms, including Kanopy and Swank Motion Pictures, viewers can discover documentaries that highlight both influential individuals and collective movements. Together, these films trace how women’s ideas and experiences intersect with larger social questions and continue to shape the world today.
The following films highlight influential individuals as well as collective movements that have shaped women’s history and contemporary conversations.
Vita Activa: The Spirit of Hannah Arendt (2015)
Arendt was one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century, and VITA ACTIVA brings us to the places where she lived, worked, loved, and was betrayed, as she wrote about the open wounds of modern times. – Kanopy
Best known for her writings on totalitarianism, political responsibility, and the nature of evil, Hannah Arendt remains a central figure in modern political philosophy. The film situates her ideas within the dramatic historical events she experienced firsthand, showing how exile, war, and political upheaval informed her thinking.
Rachel Carson: The Woman Who Launched the Modern Environmental Movement (2017)
When Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published in 1962, the book became a phenomenon. A passionate and eloquent warning about the long-term dangers of pesticides, the book unleashed an extraordinary national debate and was greeted by vigorous attacks from the chemical industry. – Kanopy
This documentary offers an intimate portrait of Rachel Carson, the marine biologist and writer whose work helped launch the modern environmental movement. By combining scientific expertise with clear and compelling writing, Carson brought complex ecological issues to a broad public audience, demonstrating how research, communication, and public engagement can reshape national conversations about the environment. Drawing on Carson’s letters and writings, the film explores both the scientific insights and personal convictions that shaped her groundbreaking work.
Edith Stein: Echt and the Truth – the Story of a German Philosopher and Nun (2007)
In 1998 Edith Stein (1891-1942) was canonised by Pope John Paul II. A German philosopher of Jewish descent, Stein converted to Catholicism in 1922 and lived as nun in the Carmelite Convent of Echt in the south of the Netherlands. During World War II, she was deported and died in Auschwitz. – Kanopy
This film explores the life and legacy of Edith Stein: philosopher, religious thinker, and later canonized saint. Through interviews and historical research, the documentary examines both her intellectual contributions and the complex history surrounding her canonization.
An Encounter with Simone Weil – French Philosopher, Activist, and Mystic (2010)
From the battlefields of the Spanish Civil War to anti-war protests in Washington DC, from intimate exchanges between the filmmaker and her older brother who struggles with depression to captivating interviews with people who knew Simone Weil, the film takes us on an unforgettable journey into the heart of what it means to be a compassionate human being. – Kanopy
Through archival footage, interviews, and personal reflection, filmmaker Julia Haslett explores the life and legacy of Simone Weil. The documentary considers Weil’s lifelong concern with suffering, justice, and moral responsibility—questions that continue to resonate in contemporary social and political debates.
Band of Sisters (2024)
BAND OF SISTERS follows a group of 1.15 million women and men as they march through the streets of Washington DC for women’s lives in what might possibly be the largest march in US history. – Kanopy
Capturing one of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history, the film highlights the diverse voices and motivations of those who participated. It offers a snapshot of a moment when large numbers of people mobilized to advocate for women’s rights and broader social change.
Free Angela and All Political Prisoners (2012)
This documentary profiles UCLA professor and political activist Angela Davis, who was accused and later acquitted of murder and kidnapping. – Swank Motion Pictures
Combining archival footage with contemporary interviews, the film examines the legal case and international movement that emerged around Angela Davis. It provides a window into the political and civil rights debates of the era and the broader questions about justice that surrounded the case.
Lionesses: How Football Came Home (2022)
This England women’s football team was the feelgood story of the summer of 2022 and this film includes insightful behind-the-scenes access to the squad as they progressed through Euro 2022. From Alessia Russo’s outrageous back-heeled goal against Sweden to Chloe Kelly’s heroics in the final. – Kanopy
With behind-the-scenes access to players and coaches, Lionesses captures the excitement of a landmark moment in women’s sports.
Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins (2019)
How many documentaries actually make you laugh? RAISE HELL: THE LIFE & TIMES OF MOLLY IVINS tells the story of media firebrand Molly Ivins, six feet of Texas trouble who took on the Good Old Boy corruption wherever she found it. Her razor sharp wit left both sides of the aisle laughing, and craving ink in her columns. – Swank Motion Pictures
Known for her sharp humor and unmistakable voice, Molly Ivins became one of the most recognizable political columnists of her time. The documentary highlights how her writing combined investigative journalism with satire, showing how wit and storytelling can be powerful tools for engaging readers in civic life.
Suffragette (2015)
A working-class laundress in 19th-century London becomes radicalized when she meets a brave cadre of women who are fighting for the right to vote. – Swank Motion Pictures
While most of the films on this list are documentaries, this historical drama offers a powerful depiction of the early twentieth-century fight for women’s voting rights. By focusing on the experiences of ordinary women drawn into the movement, Suffragette illustrates how grassroots activism helped transform democratic participation and laid the groundwork for later generations advocating for women’s rights.
Venus: Let’s Talk About Sex (2017)
Two female directors hold an open casting session for an erotic film based on real sexual experiences. 100 curious women turn up, but the auditions take on a life of their own. As the women begin to take control, the casting couch becomes an intimate arena for self-reflection. From an unexpected chorus of honesty comes the potential to rethink the language of female sexuality. – Kanopy
This documentary reflects on how personal experiences shape cultural narratives about gender and intimacy, and how storytelling can challenge long-standing taboos. As the conversations unfold, the casting session becomes less about filmmaking and more about dialogue, creating a space where women speak openly about sexuality, vulnerability, and self-perception.
Witches (2024)
Director Elizabeth Sankey explores the connections between postpartum mental health and the portrayal of witches in Western society and popular culture. – Kanopy
Blending personal reflection with film history and cultural analysis, this documentary considers how narratives about witches have shaped the way women’s emotional experiences are understood. The film ultimately reflects on mental health, storytelling, and the power of reclaiming cultural narratives.
The films highlighted here represent only a small sample of the many titles available through the library’s streaming platforms. From biographies of influential thinkers to documentaries exploring contemporary culture and social movements, Kanopy and Swank Motion Pictures offer a wide range of films that illuminate the many ways women have shaped history, ideas, and public life.
Explore the collections to discover more stories, perspectives, and voices throughout Women’s History Month and beyond.
Katherine Schoonover is a Graduate Library Preprofessional (GLP) at The Catholic University of America Libraries.