Was it really released ten years ago? Think back. In 1991, there were not many good actresses that could play strong characters in a male-dominated field. For example, between 1990 and 1992, we had Goodfellas, Resevoir Dogs, Unforgiven, Terminator 2, Boyz in the Hood, JFK, and The Player. Now, of those, only T2 had a female lead. However kick-ass Linda Hamilton was, she was also neurotic and dangerous, and overall, not a strong character.

Enter Silence of the Lambs. Not only do we have a woman lead, she hasn't quite made it to full FBI status yet. She's still just a student. Clarice Starling isn't a superwoman -- she hurts, she cries, she is terrified. She is a real woman. But she is also strong, physically, mentally and emotionally. She works in a field overflowing with good ol' boys and wanna-be supermen, and they look at her with contempt, thinking surely some she is an only example of affirmative action. They doubt her abilities and worthiness, so she must be smart and strong to prove herself.

Two seperate scenes show how Starling manages to prove her worth. The first is at the beginning of the movie, when Crawford summons her. As Starling enters the elevator, she is surrounded by a number of male trainees. She seems a tad uncomfortable at first, but when the elevator stops, she is alone, which seems to imply that she has a more important task. Or perhaps I'm stretching.

The second scene is at the funeral home with Crawford and the male officers. As the scene begins, Crawford pulls aside the sheriff, so as not to discuss matters in front of the overly-sensitive female. Starling, alone, turns at looks at the faces of all the male officers, who in turn, stare back. When all of them try to crowd in to view the autopsy, Starling voices her authority and asks them to leave. She does so tactfully, and they grudgingly leave the room. Crawford later addresses his own behavior and rationalizes it, as well. "It's just smoke, Starling," he says. "It matters," she replies. "Cops look at you to know how to act. It matters." She throws it back to Crawford, who simply says, "Point taken." She allows him an opportunity to redeem himself, but Crawford fails miserably. He continues to perpetuate the stereotyping of women as inferior in some way.

Dr. Lecter is a very interesting character. The first time we see him, he is standing up, waiting for Starling. At first glance, he doesn't seem that dangerous. But then he asks to see her identification and looks at her with those unblinking blue eyes, and we see the cold calculation lurking there.