Films About Women Opening This Week
Ayanda — Directed by Sara Blecher; Written by Trish Malone
In a community vibrant with migrants from across the African continent, against the backdrop of unspoken love, a young woman (Fulu Moguvhani) tries to navigate a path for herself. But this is a world where everything keeps shifting — everything except the one thing that really does need to change. “Ayanda” is a coming-of-age story of a twenty-one-year-old Afro hipster who embarks on a journey of self discovery. (Press materials)
Read Sara Blecher’s guest post on Women and Hollywood
Ingrid Bergman — In Her Own Words (Documentary) — Co-Written by Dominika Daubenbüchel
Through never-before-seen home movies — along with Bergman’s personal notes, letters and diaries — “In Her Own Words” presents an intimate and moving portrait of one of the most acclaimed film actresses of all time. (Press materials)
Films About Women Currently Playing
Miss You Already — Directed by Catherine Hardwicke; Written by Morwenna Banks
Brooklyn
Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict (Documentary) — Directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland; Co-Written by Lisa Immordino Vreeland and Bernadine Colish
Sand Dollars — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Laura Amelia Guzmán
The Outskirts — Co-Written by Suzanne Wrubel
Wrecker
10 Days in a Madhouse
Our Brand is Crisis
The Wonders/Le Meraviglie — Written and Directed by Alice Rohrwacher
Flowers/Loreak
Suffragette — Directed by Sarah Gavron; Written by Abi Morgan
I Smile Back — Written by Amy Koppelman and Paige Dylan
Difret
The Scarapist
Jem and the Holograms
Truth
Crimson Peak
The Assassin
A Ballerina’s Tale (Documentary)
Big Stone Gap — Written and Directed by Adriana Trigiani
Freeheld
He Named Me Malala (Documentary)
The Keeping Room — Written by Julia Hart
Sicario
Breathe — Written and Directed by Mélanie Laurent
The Second Mother — Written and Directed by Anna Muylaert
Grandma
Learning to Drive — Directed by Isabel Coixet; Written by Sarah Kernochan
Phoenix
Inside Out
Films Directed by Women Opening This Week
The 33 — Directed by Patricia Riggen
The harrowing true tale of 33 Chilean miners trapped in a mine for 69 long days, the film explores what the men endured to survive, how the rescuers worked to reach them and the families’ fear and desperation to get their loved ones rescued. Starring: Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche and Rodrigo Santoro. (Melissa Silverstein)
By the Sea — Written and Directed by Angelina Jolie
Set in France during the mid-’70s, Vanessa (Angelina Jolie), a former dancer, and her husband Roland (Brad Pitt), an American writer, travel the country together. They seem to be growing apart, but when they linger in one quiet, seaside town, they begin to draw close to some of its more vibrant inhabitants, such as a local bar/café-keeper and a hotel owner. (Press materials)
Love the Coopers — Directed by Jessie Nelson
When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday. (Press materials). Starring: Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried and Marisa Tomei.
Song of Lahore (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
“Song of Lahore” follows several Pakistani musicians and asks if there is still room for them in a society roiled by conflict. Featuring the music of the Sachal Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
Democrats (Documentary) — Directed by Camilla Nielsson (Opens November 18)
In politically unstable Zimbabwe, a new constitution is being put together by the ruling party of strongman Robert Mugabe and the divided opposition. Various political, local and personal interests are bogging the process down. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Camilla Nielsson
Funny Bunny — Directed by Alison Bagnall; Co-Written by Alison Bagnall and Joslyn Jensen
A hapless anti-childhood obesity crusader (Kentucker Audley) and a maternally neglected trust-funder (Olly Alexander) bond as they vie for the heart of a troubled animal activist (Joslyn Jensen). (Press materials)
Moana With Sound (Restoration — opening in Film Forum) — Originally Co-Directed by Frances Hubbard Flaherty
A new restoration of “Moana With Sound” (1926/1980), directed by legendary documentary filmmakers Robert J. Flaherty and Frances Hubbard Flaherty in 1926, with synchronized sound recorded decades later by the filmmakers’ daughter Monica Flaherty, will run at Film Forum from Friday, November 13 through Thursday, November 19 (one week), screening once daily.
In 1923, Flaherty journeyed with his wife Frances and their children to the South Seas island to film the exotic lifestyles of the Samoan people, resurrecting recently vanished customs before modernization permanently altered their way of life. Over fifty years later, Flaherty’s daughter Monica returned to the island with vérité legend Ricky Leacock, recording authentic location sound, dialogue and folk songs to complement her parents’ exquisite images. (Press materials)
Films Directed by Women Currently Playing
Frame by Frame (Documentary) — Directed by Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli
Making Rounds (Documentary) — Directed by Muffie Meyer
The Armor of Light (Documentary) — Directed by Abigail Disney
Heart of a Dog (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Laurie Anderson
The Intern — Written and Directed by Nancy Meyers
Sleeping With Other People — Written and Directed by Leslye Headland
Meet the Patels (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Geeta Patel
Goodnight Mommy — Co-Directed and Co-Written by Veronika Franz
Meru (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelvi
Prophet’s Prey (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Amy J. Berg
Rosenwald (Documentary) — Directed by Aviva Kempner
Films Written by Women Opening This Week
Man Up — Written by Tess Morris
Nancy (Lake Bell) is done with dating. 10 times bitten, 100 times shy, she’s exhausted by the circus. So when Jack (Simon Pegg) blindly mistakes her for his date, no one is more surprised than her when she does the unthinkable and just — goes with it. (Press materials)
Casa Grande — Co-Written by Karen Sztajnberg
Exploring issues of class privilege among Rio’s decadent elite, “Casa Grande” depicts a teenage boy’s (Thales Cavalcanti) struggle to escape his overprotective parents as they covertly spiral into bankruptcy. (Press materials)
Films Written by Women Currently Playing
Room — Written by Emma Donoghue
Labyrinth of Lies/Im Labyrinth des Schweigens — Co-Written by Elisabeth Bartel
VOD/DVD Releasing This Week
Meru (VOD) — Co-Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Swim Little Fish Swim (DVD) — Co-Directed and Co-Written by Lola Bessis
We Are Your Friends — Co-Written by Meaghan Oppenheimer
TV Premieres This Week
“India’s Daughter” (Documentary) — Directed by Leslee Udwin (PBS, November 16, 10 pm EST)
