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A Feminist Lens: The Art and Activism of Photographer Joan Roth is an intimate portrait of internationally acclaimed photographer Joan Roth. The film focuses on five decades of Roth’s pioneering use of her camera to advocate for homeless women in New York City, document leaders in the U.S. women’s movement from the 1970s to today, and shine a light on the diverse lives of Jewish women around the world.
The film offers a critical and loving retrospective of Roth’s remarkable life and how she used her photography to affect change for women who wouldn’t otherwise be seen.
When Joan’s marriage ended catapulting her from her middle class life in the late 60s, it was a time when women were not even allowed to have their own bank accounts. But she went on to raise two daughters by herself, while inventing a Bohemian life, making art, and traveling the world. Roth, now 80 years old, and a true New York City character, continues to be on the frontlines of amplifying women’s voices on the major issues of today through her photographs. She has made a distinct impact on the lives of women, while influencing artists globally who walk in her footsteps, cementing her place in a line of photographers who have used film to create art with a conscience. The film captures the impact of Roth’s life and work through a series of interviews with Gloria Steinem, feminist icon; Susan Waldman Schneider, editor and chief of Lilith Magazine; Barbara Dobkin, Jewish philanthropist, and Roth herself, among others.
Directed by Pamela French (USA)