Today (well, now yesterday, I just got in from seeing it!), “The Women” opened in theaters across America.

I am very excited about this movie, and since here at Beyond Beauty Basics we have the opportunity to see some clips (before the release date – sneak peak!) and a documentary about the movie production sponsored by Dove.

The Movie

A remake of a movie originally released in 1939, this version – written, produced, and directed by the extraordinarily talented Diane English, “The Women” has been updated with stronger, more independent female characters and stars some of the most famous, loved, and critically acclaimed actresses of our time: Annette Bening, Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Debra Messing, Eva Mendes, Candace Bergen, Cloris Leachman, Carrie Fisher, Debi Mazar, and let’s not forget THE DIVINE MISS M. – Bette Midler. And all of them are beautiful in their own unique way.

Dove Campaign for Real Beauty

The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is a perfect fit for a movie like “The Women,” which features all all-female cast ranging in age from just 11 to 80, and highlights themes such as female empowerment, body image issues, and self esteem.

Some of our favorite topics here at Beyond Beauty Basics!

As you likely already know, approximately four years ago (seems like yesterday!), Dove launched its “Campaign for Real Beauty,” which featured real women – NOT models – in their print, television and online advertising. [Of course this is not to say that models are “fake” women, but as Annette Bening’s character, Sylvie Fowler says, “Nobody looks like those girls - not even them. They’re all airbrushed and retouched.”]

The Campaign for Real Beauty is more than just a marketing campaign. It’s a global campaign aiming to be catalyst for societal change. At Dove, they believe that the definition of beauty is too narrow and that approximately only two percent of women worldwide describe themselves as beautiful

The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty invites women to talk about their views of beauty, beauty ideals, self esteem and body image issues with other women all over the world. Join the discussion at www.campaignforrealbeauty.com.

“The Women” Can Do Anything

Working with the film’s director, Diane English, Dove created a short documentary entitled The Women Behind “The Women,” which is available to view only on Dove.com. Junior journalist Cammy Nelson, 16, of Redwing Minnesota goes behind-the-scenes to witness the making of a movie, highlighting the roles of the female cast and crew members that are essential to production, and interviewing them about what their views of beauty are.
The short documentary highlights the challenges all women face when it comes to their ideas of beauty and their views of themselves. The interviews explore just how diverse beauty can be. If Debra Messing was teased in school for her gorgeous curls and Jada Pinkett Smith for her skinny (read: slim and slender!) legs; you can only imagine what women, teens, preteens and even younger girls go through everyday.

Women are pressured to fit beauty ideals. Maybe it’s a size 2, size 4, size 0. Small noses or straight hair. But we don’t all look alike, and we can all be beautiful!

Cammy got to see firsthand the work that goes into making actresses “set ready.” Hours or makeup and hair. Lighting. Touchups between scenes (Can I have this in my everyday life — PLEASE!?). She then got a makeover from the crew of makeup artists and hair stylists to show how the beautiful women onscreen get that way. (And we have to add; Cammy is just adorable either way!)

The junior journalist also got to interview a number of the cast and crew. There are women working on the set from production, to set design, lighting, as “cameramen,” script supervisors, editors, makeup artists and hair stylists – and let’s not forget our actresses and our director, Diane English.

When asked what makes a woman beautiful, everyone had a different answer, but it was never slim thighs, full lips, or straight hair.

“Sense of self.”

“Sense of humor.”

“Comedic timing.”

“Confidence.”

“How we feel about ourselves.”

“Authenticity.”

And my favorite: “Be kind to yourself.”

As the documentary comes to an end, we are left with these words from Diane English, “Each of us has our own unique beauty, and each of us recognizes different things as beautiful: confidence, humor, compassion, wisdom, happiness. That is what really beauty is all about.”
Visit Dove.com today to:

* View exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of The Women & The Women Behind “The Women”
* Read the Director’s Diary, written by Diane English
* Go Behind-the-Scenes with Dove teen journalist Cammy Nelson
* Download self-esteem building tools for girls, moms and mentors
* Enter for a chance to win one of 100 pairs of movie tickets each day between 9/3 and 9/19. (No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.)

Win “The Women” tickets & Gift Bag on Beyond Beauty Basics!

Leave us a comment here on Beyond Beauty Basics and WIN a pair of tickets to see “The Women” in theaters and a gift bag with some fresh goodies from Dove!

Contest ends Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:59pm EST. One (1) lucky winner will be chosen at random on Sept. 17th. This contest is only open to U.S. residents and winners will be notified via email.

Photos courtesy of Dove.com

**Winner update:  Congratulations to Diane Polchinski in NJ!