Three filmmakers dive deep into the storied and complex legacy of Ms. magazine through the lens of some of its most iconic covers, featuring never-before-seen archival footage and engaging intervie...
The powerful (if slightly overstuffed) documentary “Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print” traces the radical legacy of “Ms.” magazine, the 1970s-era feminist publication that rewrote the rules of journalism and sparked national dialogue. Told in three parts by three different female directors (Slima Koroma, Alice Gu, and Cecilia Aldarondo), the film is a celebration of feminist journalism, highlighting the magazine’s bold cover stories and taboo-breaking articles while also addressing its growing pains around race, representation, and internal ideological conflict.
Using volumes of archival footage and packed with insightful interviews with “Ms.” Co-founders Gloria Steinem and Suzanne Braun Levine, the documentary explores not just what the magazine published, but the behind-the-scenes look at how each issue was made. From navigating censorship and negotiating with advertisers to the very real hurtles of surviving in a male-dominated publishing world, these women blazed trails to create one of the most influential magazines in history.
By cleverly dividing the content into three distinct segments, the documentary focuses on iconic issues in a format that makes sense. Each piece centers on iconic issues, from the trailblazing first edition, to the more controversial takes on domestic violence and sexual harassment, to the fierce critiques of media representation and pornography.
With this ambitious structure as well as so many topics tackled in such a short amount of time, the pacing quickly grows repetitive (the content presented here is nothing short of overwhelming). For that reason, I think this documentary would’ve worked much better as an extended docuseries, but the film’s scope and relevance are undeniable.
The film is at its best when it unpacks the bold editorial decisions that helped define “Ms.,” from publishing stories on abortion in the early ’70s, centering Black women’s voices under editor-in-chief Marcia Ann Gillespie, and igniting public discourse on domestic abuse, workplace harassment, and the complexity of female sexuality. There’s a deep sense of reverence here, but also a refreshing honesty.
“Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print” is a compelling portrait of feminist media that celebrates outspoken disruption, questions legacy and tradition, honors the courageous women who dared to change the narrative, and invites a new generation to keep the conversation going. This is a terrific documentary about a publication that didn’t just cover the women’s movement, but actively shaped it forever.
