A workers’ rights activist, a movie star-turned-inventor, and a retiring prima ballerina are just a few of the characters at the center of our favorite documentaries by and about women this year. These films — and the women they chronicle — inspired and educated us. They also offered something that’s often ignored in history books: a female perspective. In short, they should be essential viewing.
“Chavela” — Directed by Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi
“Chavela” directors Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi said it best: Chavela Vargas was a “badass butch.” There was a lot that could have prevented the singer from finding success. She began performing as a homeless runaway. She was also a lesbian and refused to closet herself in a time when homosexuality was considered an illness at best, a crime at worst. Vargas lived her entire life the way she wanted, no matter what — and thank god for that. Gund and Kyi’s film is an in-depth look at the singer, her life and death, and the way she continues to move audiences through her music and as a queer icon.
“Chavela” is currently in theaters. Find screening information here. It will be available on VOD and DVD January 2.
Visit “Chavela’s” official website.
“Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” — Written and Directed by Alexandra Dean
“‘Bombshell’ is a film about a girl who wanted to make her mark in the world, but the world could not see past her face,” director Alexandra Dean told us. Widely considered among the most beautiful women in the world in the 1940s, actress Hedy Lamarr’s legacy involves much more than her screen credits. She invented a secret communication system for Allied warships to aim accurately at Nazi submarines, and the communication system later served as the basis for secure Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and cell phone technology. Lamarr led a truly extraordinary life, and her contributions to science and technology haven’t received nearly enough recognition. “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” celebrates a remarkable woman who deserves to be included in the history books.
“Bombshell” is currently in theaters. Find screening info here.
Check out “Bombshell’s” official website.
“Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan” — Co-Directed by Linda Saffire
In our culture, a woman’s body is intrinsically tied to her worth as a person. But what if her body is also the basis of her work? That’s the dilemma in “Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan.” The doc follows prima ballerina Wendy Whelan who, at 47, is preparing to retire from the New York City Ballet after 30 years. While Wendy is upset that her career with the company is over, it’s clear that she still loves to dance and perform. So, she finds a way to keep doing just that. ”Restless Creature” is a compelling story about aging, injury, determination, and resilience. Most of all, it makes the case that a woman is defined by much more than just her body.
“Restless Creature” is streaming on Netflix. It’s available to rent on iTunes and Amazon and is on DVD.
Visit “Restless Creature’s” website.
“Unrest” — Directed by Jennifer Brea; Written by Jennifer Brea and Kim Roberts
Jennifer Brea is an academic on the road to marriage when she is literally stuck down by a disease that no one can name. She’s told it’s all in her mind. And yet there’s times when she can’t walk across a room. Bedridden, she uses the internet and begins asking questions of others’ suffering. Those questions have turned into an incredible, moving documentary about a disease that is dismissed by so many professionals. “Unrest” premiered at Sundance 2017 and has become a movement to recognize and acknowledge the effects of M.E. (known as Common Fatigue Syndrome) and those who suffer from it.
You can purchase “Unrest” on iTunes and Amazon Video.
Check out “Unrest’s” official website.
“Motherland” — Directed by Ramona S. Diaz
“Motherland” takes us into one of the busiest maternity hospitals in the world, the Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in the Philippines. Director Ramona S. Diaz first visited the hospital as part of a research and development trip for a project about reproductive and maternal rights. “I knew immediately that there was a film to be made about the place. The hospital never lets up: it draws you in with its kinetic and overwrought energy,” she told us. That energy is palpable on-screen. Overcrowded and equipped with only limited resources, the hospital is treating expectant and new mothers facing issues such as poverty and a lack of education and access to family planning services. But “Motherland” is so very far from a doom and gloom take on the maternity hospital. There’s a strong, beautiful sense of community there, and we’re immersed in some of the biggest moments of the characters’ lives. As Diaz explained to us, “My job as a filmmaker is to introduce audiences to people and places that they would otherwise not encounter, and to create empathy toward characters they wouldn’t normally meet in their daily lives. And rather than think of the mothers — and fathers — in the film as ‘the other,’ I want the audience to feel a universal kinship with the folks they meet on screen.”
“Motherland” is streaming on Amazon Prime. It’s available to rent on iTunes and Amazon, and is on Blu-ray/DVD.
Visit “Motherland’s” official website.
“This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous” — Directed by Barbara Kopple
Oscar-winning director Barbara Kopple tackles fame, family, and staying true to oneself in “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.” The film is about a professional diver’s transition from male to female, which she documents on YouTube, as well as her family’s struggle to accept her. As Gigi embarks on her journey her family — her father in particular — realizes she still is who she always was: brave, open, and honest. With its focus on trans identities, the influence of social media, and the impact families have on members of the LGBTQ community, “This Is Everything” succeeds in making the personal political and vice versa.
“This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous” is streaming on YouTube Red.
Check out “This Is Everything’s” official website.
“Girl Unbound” — Directed by Erin Heidenreich
Squash prodigy Maria Toorpakai pretends to be a boy so she’s eligible to compete in Pakistan. As she grows in stature her gender is revealed and it leads to threats for her and her family. She leaves Pakistan, continues to excel at squash, and becomes a global advocate for female athletes and embracing who you are and what you can be.
“Girl Unbound” is not currently available on streaming or DVD, but you can check for release info/updates on the doc’s Facebook page or official website.
“A Better Man” — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Attiya Khan
Attiya Khan is an advocate and counselor for abused women and children, and her directorial debut, “A Better Man,” sees her reconnecting with an ex-partner — a man who abused her. She and Steve revisit the past in an effort to better understand what happened and how it impacted their present selves. “In my work, I have had the privilege of hearing hundreds of difficult stories from women who deserve safety, healing, and justice. I came to realize that domestic violence will not end until we provide help for people who are choosing to use violence, so they can learn how to have healthy, caring relationships,” Khan explained to us. “By sitting down with Steve on camera, I hoped that our conversations could help others.” These conversations are difficult to watch play out, but so meaningful. It’s incredibly powerful to hear abuse spoken about so candidly, especially since domestic abuse is shockingly common yet little discussed. “A Better Man” digs right into this horrible, painful issue rather than glossing over it. This is a doc that will likely spark conversations among those who view it — important conversations that we all need to be having.
“A Better Man” is streaming on TVO. It’s also currently playing in select Canadian theaters. Find screening info here.
Check out “A Better Man’s” official website.
“Step” — Directed by Amanda Lipitz
The Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women opened in 2009 with the goal of sending every one of its students to college. Amanda Lipitz’s “Step” follows three senior girls — Blessin Giraldo, Cori Grainger, and Tayla Solomon — and the rest of their dance team as they make their way through the emotionally-charged college application process and compete in the state step competition. We simply fell in love with these amazing girls and their amazing dance skills. This powerful documentary shows passionate, thoughtful, hilarious teens fighting to overcome the odds and make their dreams come true. “Step” is inspiring. “Step” is heartbreaking and heartwarming. As Blessin says, “Step is life.”
“Step” is available to rent on iTunes and Amazon. It’s also on DVD.
Visit “Step’s” official website.
“Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds” — Co-Directed by Alexis Bloom
Everyone has a complicated relationship with their mother. Mother and daughter/Hollywood legends Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher are no exception. The duo, who died within days of each other in late 2016, are the subjects of “Bright Lights.” Living in the same compound, Carrie and Debbie annoy and delight each other in equal measure. They also continue to work: Debbie in a Las Vegas act, Carrie as a screen actress in projects including the new “Star Wars” films and “Catastrophe.” “Bright Lights” is a great flick for fans of Fisher and/or Reynolds, but it’s also a touching film, period. Watch “Bright Lights” for a good cry, for a closer look at two of the most talented performers ever, and for a better understanding of the uniquely complex bond between a mother and her child.
“Bright Lights” is streaming on HBO. It’s also available on DVD.
Check out “Bright Lights’” official website.
“Dolores”
When most people think about the farm workers movement, they think of Cesar Chavez. But the reality is that Chavez always had a partner in the fight and her name was Dolores Huerta. This woman has been an activist for decades. The film digs into the price her family had to pay for her activism and the realities of dedicating yourself to social justice. Dolores is a towering figure in feminism and workers’ rights. It’s about time her story is told.
“Dolores” is currently in theaters. Find screening info here.
Check out “Dolores’” official website.
“Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold”
An inspiration to countless aspiring — and award-winning — writers, Joan Didion’s novels, screenplays, and essays have helped define a generation. “Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold” includes an informative overview of some of her most influential works and the inspirations behind them, including “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” and “The Year of Magical Thinking,” but also offers an intimate look into Didion herself, who features prominently in the doc through interviews. The film was directed by Griffin Dunne, Didion’s nephew, and it shows. “The Center Will Not Hold” feels very personal, and is a moving tribute to one of the most celebrated writers living today.
“Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold” is streaming on Netflix.
Visit “The Center Will Not Hold’s” official website.
“Jane”
Jane Goodall changed the way the world looked a chimps. “Jane” is based on footage that was found in vaults and takes us into the jungle with Goodall as she develops her initial relationships with the chimps. The footage is breathtaking. Her commitment is staggering. The film is riveting.
“Jane” is in theaters now. Find screening info here.
