"Cinema showed me places that I didn't know existed and introduced me to people and ways of life that I would never experience," the actress Cara Jade Myers reminisces of falling in love with film at a young age.
Of Wichita and Kiowa descent, Myers says her childhood growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, was not a particularly easy one. "I used film and TV as a way to escape what was going on around me," she recalls. "For the time I was watching, I wasn't focused on what was happening in my household; I could escape for a couple of hours."
What Myers wasn't seeing on the screen was anyone who felt like her or those around her. "For far too long, our Native stories have been told by non-Natives who don’t truly understand what it means to be us, especially as an indigenous woman," she says. "That's why working on Killers of the Flower Moon was truly special."
In Killers of the Flower Moon, Myers plays Anna Kyle Brown, the tragic sister of Lily Gladstone's Mollie Burkhart. The film was nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Directing for Martin Scorsese, and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Lily Gladstone.
"Even though it was written by two white men" — Eric Roth adapted Killers of the Flower Moon with Scorsese — "Marty gave us the freedom to make the characters our own," says the actress. "When we pointed out that something was inaccurate, we were never met with, 'Let's run it up the flagpole.' It was always, 'Okay, we'll let Marty know.'"
Myers will next be seen in director Stefan Ruzowitzky's thriller, Ice Fall, opposite Joel Kinnaman. "I play a strong Native woman running with a poacher and fighting bad guys!" she teases. "I like action films that feature strong women… For my next movie, I'm manifesting aliens."
Below, Myers shares with A.frame five of her favorite films, all of which feature dynamic turns by the women in them. "These women have made an impact on me and my career by showing the strength of women," the actress says. "When put in extraordinary circumstances, we are still fighters, lovers, caretakers, and are extremely powerful. There's literally nothing we can't do. And if no one will give us a chance, we will make a way ourselves."
Directed by: Ridley Scott | Written by: Dan O'Bannon
When I first watched Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, I did not realize how groundbreaking it was to see a woman in charge and with a strong sense of self. Even when her crew was contradicting her, she still did what was right and stayed true to herself. Ripley was smart, resourceful, and a badass. She didn't rely on a man to save her. She fought for her life, and for her crew. She experienced terror, but wouldn't give up.
I also love sci-fi and aliens, we’re not limited to what is in our world — literally anything is possible. These are the types of roles that inspire me, I look for independent, strong women who kick ass. These roles will hopefully inspire future generations to do what's right, and to be fair and compassionate leaders. Plus, the cat survived in the end.
Directed by: Gary Ross | Written by: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray
Oh my goodness, I love The Hunger Games series. The way Jennifer Lawrence portrayed the role of Katniss Everdeen really resonated with me, because she was hard on the surface but also kind and compassionate. She showed multi-dimensional characteristics and emotions that we typically don't see portrayed in strong female characters. Katniss is a girl who is in over her head, but she refuses to give up — not just to save herself but everyone she loves. She puts her life on the line to protect those who can't protect themselves. She becomes a symbol for the rebellion, a role she never asked for, but steps up to. Katniss grew up with humble beginnings, and it's inspiring to think that someone can grow up with nothing but still have the power to change the world for the better, even when it comes at great cost. It's also inspiring to see that, even though the turmoil she goes through stays with her, she learns to cope with it and is free in the end.
Directed by: Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft | Written by: Rita Hsiao, Chris Sanders, Philip LaZebnik, Raymond Singer and Eugenia Bostwick-Singer
To see a woman in a society that oppresses women, save China, was inspiring to watch as a kid. In the beginning, Mulan shows us that she doesn't fit into the traditional role of a woman. However, when she pretends to be a man and tries to fit into their world, she can't. It's when she's fighting that she's finally seen as an equal. She works harder than everyone to be the best and she even teaches the men with the skills she's learned as a female. Even with the threat of death, she does what’s right to save her friends and country.
Ultimately she earns the respect of the Emperor as Mulan the woman, not her male alter-ego, Ping. The story teaches you to be true to yourself. Also, even though she ends up with a man at the end of the film, that was not her end goal.
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg | Written by: Patrick Aison
I cried when I saw this! As a Native growing up, I didn't see myself reflected in the media. Even though it's a period piece, which I typically don’t relate to, that all fell away as I watched Amber Midthunder's Naru fight to be a warrior and a protector of her people. When everyone doubts her and tells her to stay in her lane, she knows what she wants and goes for it. When no one will listen to her, she has to use her skills, intelligence, and strength to go against everyone and protect the tribe. She's so smart, she can kill an advanced being hellbent on destroying everything in its path to be the ultimate predator, with simple weapons and knowledge of her land.
I was so happy to be watching this amazing young Native change the narrative of Natives and the perceived role of women. This is the type of role that Native Americans and women everywhere would love to be a part of. Growing up, I wish I had a badass young indigenous woman to look up to and aspire to be.
Directed by: Roland Emmerich | Written by: Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich
This film is not female-led but does feature a strong group of women persevering through extraordinary circumstances. I love the way the First Lady is saved by an exotic dancer, showing how we're all equal in the end. Every character has a different arc, but each arc takes them to the same place. The character who is considered the biggest screw-up ends up saving the world with his sacrifice.
The film also shows that, if humans band together, there's nothing we can't do. When we come together, it doesn't matter what color your skin is, your religious beliefs, or your social standing; we can do anything.
