“Even though it’s a helter-skelter action movie you have to really prepare the world as much as possible,” Miller explains, adding that Ensler wound up including members of the crew in the workshops as well. And after hearing her speak on Australian radio, Miller invited famed feminist activist Eve Ensler to visit the set in Namibia to lead a workshop for the actresses who played the wives, to give “perspective on violence against women around the world, particularly in war zones,” in Ensler’s words. Women had a major impact behind the scenes, too Miller’s wife, Margaret Sixel, edited the film-“I said, ‘You have to edit this movie, because it won’t look like every other action movie,” Miller recalls. And yet, many of the rapturous reactions to his new film, Mad Max Fury Road, have focused on the dominant role of women in the film, from the fearless Imperator Furiosa played by Charlize Theron to the well-drawn, fascinating quintet of kidnapped wives whom Furiosa spends the film spiriting to safety.

Miller has been many things in his life-a doctor, then a visionary action film director, then a director of an animated franchise about tap-dancing penguins-but “feminist icon” may be a role the 70-year-old filmmaker never expected. I can’t help but be a feminist,” says George Miller. “I’ve gone from being very male dominant to being surrounded by magnificent women.

Mad max fury road wives