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The trailblazing director who inspired Sofia Coppola in an industry full of “macho guys”
Sofia Coppola has said that New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion was a major influence on her, giving her an example of a strong female voice in an industry surrounded by “macho guys”. Campion’s work helped show Coppola that she could make films centred on women and femininity, themes that have often been undervalued in cinema.
Coppola began directing in the 1990s, releasing her short film *Lick the Star* in 1998 and her first feature, *The Virgin Suicides*, the following year; she later won an Oscar for the screenplay of *Lost in Translation*. Campion made films including *Sweetie*, *An Angel at My Table* and *The Piano*, which made her the second woman nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. She later won that award for *The Power of the Dog*.
In short
- Jane Campion was a key inspiration for Sofia Coppola.
- Coppola admired Campion as a strong female voice in film.
- Campion won Best Director for *The Power of the Dog*.
Explained simply
For much of film history, women have had fewer opportunities to direct and their stories have often received less attention. Jane Campion, a filmmaker from New Zealand, became known for films that place women’s lives and perspectives at the centre.
Her films include Sweetie, An Angel at My Table and The Piano, which brought her an Academy Award nomination for directing. Sofia Coppola began directing in the 1990s, making the short film Lick the Star and then The Virgin Suicides; she later won an Oscar for the screenplay of Lost in Translation.
Campion’s career offered Coppola an example of a woman making distinctive films in a male-dominated industry. Their work is part of a wider discussion about whose stories get told and valued in cinema.