World Premiere

Synopsis
A diverse group of women work to establish the world’s first feminist political party in Sweden in the spring of 2005. The film charts every trail-blazing step (and misstep) of the party from their energetic start to their inspiring, celebrity-supported rally. The party, however, comes to face internal discord, public backlash, and a worrisome lack of funds. The Feminist Initiative tells an invaluable story about the struggle to have women’s voices heard in a patriarchal, modern society.

Program Note
The Feminist Initiative is a documentary that chronicles the journey of a diverse group of women who work to establish the world\'s first feminist political party in Sweden in the spring of 2005. Even in Sweden, the most gender equal country, it takes a revolution to challenge the patriarchy and advance a feminist agenda. The feminist political party \'Fi\' makes their presence well known even from the start by carrying out the revolutionary and democratic decision to elect three party representatives and also by receiving the support of famous celebrities such as Jane Fonda. Fi declares that the greatest strength of the feminist political party lies in the diversity it embraces. However, as the members of this political party, who come from different backgrounds and generations, begin concentrating their efforts on simply asserting their own opinions, this diversity is a difference that becomes a fatal weakness, rather than a strength. Overwhelmed by interparty discord, public backlash, and insufficiency of funds, the members of Fi find themselves having to critically reflect on many important questions: what do women want from the government and congress, how should leadership change when the gender changes, and which political issues and policies should be included in their main agenda? Throughout this process, the blatant differences between the young feminists and the feminist legends from the \'70s, lesbian and heterosexual family-centric feminists, feminism as a grassroots movement and that as a political party rise to the surface and collide with each other. On top of that, the society\'s patriarchal and male-centered views are more deeply rooted than expected. However, although extremely disconcerting, the reality of its internal discord and incompetence as a political party act as the impetus for Fi to realize and reestablish the party\'s true political ideology and identity. A fascinating film that shows what happens when women try to take power and wield it for themselves, and how difficult – yet extremely valuable and important – it is to have these diverse groups of women\'s voices and opinions heard in society. [CHO HyeYoung]