Films About Women Opening This Week
The Keeping Room — Written by Julia Hart
Unlike most war narratives, this one tells the story of women left behind after the men go to war and never return. It is the end of the Civil War, and Brit Marling is trying to keep the farm intact in hopes that the men of her family — or someone known to them — will return from the front. As they wait, the farm and the women are assaulted by men with nothing left to lose. The women — Marling as well as her sister (Hailee Steinfeld) and their slave (Muna Otaru) — must fight together in order to survive. (Melissa Silverstein)
A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story (Documentary) — Directed by Sara Hirsh Bordo
A documentary following the life of Lizzie Velasquez, her triumphant journey to the other side of bullying and her mission to inspire and empower a more positive online environment. (Press Materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Sara Hirsh Bordo.
Wildlike (Also Available on VOD)
Mackenzie (Ella Purnell), a troubled but daring teenage girl, is sent by her struggling mother to live with her uncle (Brian Geraghty) in Juneau, Alaska. Although Uncle seems like a supportive caretaker and friend, the relationship turns and Mackenzie is forced to run. Trying to make her way back to Seattle alone to find her absent mother, Mackenzie only winds up deeper in the Alaskan interior. Lost and with no one else to turn to, she shadows a loner backpacker, Bartlett (Bruce Greenwood), an unlikely father figure with scars of his own. Together, they cross the wilderness and discover sanctuary in the last frontier. (Press materials)
Misunderstood/Incompresa — Directed by Asia Argento, Co-Written by Barbara Alberti and Asia Argento
Set in an awesomely retro, day-glo vision of 1980s Rome, “Misunderstood” follows nine-year-old Aria (Giulia Salerno), a precocious girl finding her way amidst the unraveling marriage of her temperamental artist parents (played by Charlotte Gainsbourg and Gabriel Garko). Despite the turmoil swirling around her, Aria’s spirit remains irrepressible, buoyed by her vivid imagination and budding talent as a writer. With a soundtrack that runs the gamut from punk to Mozart, “Misunderstood” is a fresh, frank look at the good, the bad, and the strange of growing up. (Press Materials)
Sleepless in New York (Documentary)
Paralyzing, tormenting and overwhelming — often laughed off as nothing more than an affliction of adolescence, lovesickness is the topic of a new, sensitive and compelling documentary film. Renowned anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher reveals the astounding and profound processes that unfold in the brains of the lovesick. She says: “The game of love matters. It matters big time.” Exploring the difficult path out of self-destructive obsessive behavior toward a new self, “Sleepless in New York” is a film for those in love, out of love or looking for love. (Press materials)
Films About Women Currently Playing
Sicario
East Side Sushi
The New Girlfriend
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
Mistress America — Co-Written by Greta Gerwig
Ricki and the Flash — Written by Diablo Cody
The Diary of a Teenage Girl — Written and Directed by Marielle Heller
Phoenix
Trainwreck — Written by Amy Schumer
Inside Out
Spy
Tangerine
Testament of Youth -Written by Juliette Towhidi
Films Directed by Women Opening This Week
The Intern — Written and Directed by Nancy Meyers
70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (Robert DeNiro) has discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). (Press Materials)
Endgame — Written and Directed by Carmen Marron
Since he was 5 five years old, Jose’s Abuelita (Ivonne Coll) taught him to play chess like his grandfather who was a champion in Mexico. Now as part of the Brownsville school team, Jose (José D. Cantú) has the chance to use his skills and for once in his life, finds himself in the spotlight, as he tries to help his team make it to the Texas state finals. As their coach, Mr. Alvarado (Efren Ramirez), teaches his students the meaning of perseverance and team effort in the face of adversity, Jose discovers his own strengths and uses them to bring his broken family together. (Press materials)
Mississippi Grind — Co-Directed and Co-Written by Anna Boden
Down on his luck and facing financial hardship, Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) teams up with younger charismatic poker player, Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), in an attempt to change his luck. The two set off on a road trip through the South with visions of winning back what’s been lost. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Anna Boden.
Films Directed by Women Currently Playing
Prophet’s Prey (Documentary) — Directed by Amy Berg
Songs From the North (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Soon-Mi Yoo
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
Rosenwald (Documentary) — Directed by Aviva Kempner
Meru (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelvi
Infinitely Polar Bear — Written and Directed by Maya Forbes
Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet — Co-Directed by Joan C. Gratz and Nina Paley
The Wolfpack (Documentary) — Directed by Crystal Moselle
Films Written by Women Opening This Week
A Labyrinth of Lies/Im Labyrinth des Schweigens — Co-Written by Elisabeth Bartel
A story that exposes the conspiracy of prominent German institutions and government branches to cover up the crimes of Nazis during World War II. (Press materials)
Films Written by Women Currently Playing
We Are Your Friends — Co-Written by Meaghan Oppenheimer
Straight Outta Compton — Co-Written by Andrea Berloff
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation — Co-Written by Laeta Kalogridis
Jurassic World — Co-Written by Amanda Silver
TV Pick of The Week
American Masters: Women’s List — PBS, Friday, September 25
Read our column: The Many Faces of Feminism in the Women’s List
VOD/DVD Releasing This Week
Zipper (DVD) — Written and Directed by Mora Stephens
Unexpected (VOD and DVD) — Directed by Kris Swanberg; Written by Kris Swanberg and Megan Mercier
Lyle (VOD and DVD) — Written and Directed by Stewart Thorndike
