The New York Woman is being celebrated at Quad Cinema with the theater's biggest retrospective to date. Succinctly titled "The New York Woman," the series focuses entirely on "the female protagonist’s experience of the Big Apple," aiming to celebrate the "shopgirls, party girls, working girls, funny girls, unmarried women, society dames, mad housewives, and ladies about town," though they are quick to emphasize that there's not one typical New York experience, just as there's not a typical New York woman. The female-driven films included in the series reflect this sentiment, and are just as diverse as the real-life women who populate New York.

Below are some of the highlights from the retrospective, which runs through July 19th. It's just too bad they aren't all female-directed films... and that they felt the need to include a Woody Allen picture.

An Unmarried Woman (dir. Paul Mazursky, 1978)
One of the better picks in the retrospective, An Unmarried Woman tells the story of the seemingly perfect marriage of a wealthy Manhattan couple falling apart. You then follow the ex-wife, Erica (Jill Clayburgh), as she navigates the city as a newly single woman.

Roger Ebert gave it 5 stars when it came out, noting that Clayburgh "takes chances in this movie. She's out on an emotional limb. She's letting us see and experience things that many actresses simply couldn't reveal. Mazursky takes chances, too. He wants [the movie] to be true, for starters: We have to believe at every moment that life itself is being considered here. But the movie has to be funny, too. He won't settle for less than the truth and the humor, and the wonder of An Unmarried Woman is that he gets it. I've been reviewing movies for a long time now without ever feeling the need to use dumb lines like 'You'll laugh you'll cry.' But I did cry, and I did laugh." Screening July 13th.

Just Another Girl On The I.R.T. (dir. Leslie Harris, 1992)
Director Leslie Harris took only 17 days to make this film, which tells the story of a young African-American woman in Brooklyn trying desperately to get into college. Harris was later praised at Sundance and the Gotham Awards for her inclusive storytelling, and will be present at the July 14th screening of her film at Quad.

Ms. 45 (dir. Abel Ferrara, 1981)
A revenge thriller that was critically panned when it first premiered, Ms. 45 is now highly regarded in independent film circles, and holds an 89% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film focuses on Thana, a mute garment worker who is brutally raped twice in one night. Following her assaults, she becomes a red-lipsticked vigilante, shooting and killing New York men with no abandon. Screening July 18th.

Breakfast at Tiffany's (dir. Blake Edwards, 1961)
Blake Edwards' adaptation of Truman Capote's novel needs no introduction— it's been providing the inspiration for Audrey Hepburn-wannabes across the nation for years now. Starring Hepburn as Holly Golightly, the quintessential New York party girl, Edwards' film screens July 7th.

The Last Days of Disco (dir. Whit Stillman, 1998)
If you long for the storied days of disco clubs like Studio 54, then Stillman's film will be right up your alley. Chloe Sevigny and Kate Beckinsale star as two friends climbing the corporate ladder in New York's publishing scene and sharing a railroad style apartment, all while navigating the pitfalls of dating and nightlife. Screening July 10th.

Moonstruck (dir. Norman Jewison, 1987)
Cher and Nicholas Cage's tumultuous romance is the focus of this romantic comedy about an Italian-American family in Brooklyn. Engaged to the older brother of Cage's character, Cher's protagonist is a real tour de force. In addition, the highly-quotable film won several Oscars and also features Nick Cage with a wooden hand—what more do you need? Screening today, July 6th.

There are plenty more, including Crossing Delancey, An Unmarried Woman, The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann, Rosemary's Baby and I Like It Like That.