Women Bicycle Adventurers (52')
WOMEN BICYCLE ADVENTURERS (52')
INFORMATION
FR / Fall 2024 / 52’
Drôle de Trame / Iota Productions / Arte GEIE / RTBF / Directed by Juliette Senik
Europe rights available
TAGS
Cora Pearl, Amelia Bloomer, Amélie Rother, Annie Londonderry, Kittie Knox, Hélène Dutrieu, Alfonsina Strada, Violette Morris, Jeanne Bohec, Simone Segouin, Irma Caldow, Yvonne Renders, Jeannie Longo
SYNOPSIS
From its very beginnings, cycling has accompanied the emancipation of women. And from the outset, women's cycling and women's emancipation have met with male reluctance. From the end of the 19th century to the 2nd World War, cycling was a driving force in the fight for equal rights. Considered dangerous, anti-feminine, anti-Christian and immodest, any reason was good enough to ban women from cycling. Yet many have defied the established order. Annie Londonderry was the first woman of any gender to cycle around the world. Marie Marvingt and Lily Sergueiew accomplished unprecedented sporting feats. And Jeanne Bohec recounted how her bike accompanied and enabled her acts of resistance.
The bicycle paved the way for a revolution in clothing, sporting prowess, a desire to discover the world, and a commitment to the cause, as its role in the Resistance teaches us. For all these intrepid, unconventional pioneers, the bicycle was the spearhead of their emancipation. Thanks to their audacity, they set an example for other women, pedaling to the end of their adventure and their courage.