Films About Women Opening This Week
Mad Max: Fury Road — Women-Centric Pick of the Week
This post-apocalyptic feminist action-adventure story features Charlize Theron in her most kick-ass role yet. Her Imperator Furiosa goes rogue and tried to break out the female slaves being held by the warlord Immortan Joe. Along the way, Mad Max, played by Tom Hardy, joins the traveling rebels and they punch, shoot, and vroom down a seemingly never-ending desert to find a new way of life. (Melissa Silverstein)
I’ll See You In My Dreams — Women-Centric Pick of the Week
Blythe Danner is exquisite in this Sundance hit about life near death. In my review for TheWrap, I wrote, “A far cry from the Nancy Meyers rom-com promised by its trailer, Brett Haley’s directorial debut is a poignant if slight drama elevated by its impressive candor and by Danner’s radiant performance. Widowed and retired for two decades, Carol has little to do, especially after she relieves her cancer-ridden Labrador retriever from his suffering. … The thin but just-enough plot finds the mourning senior attempting to fill up her days with something other than bottles of afternoon chardonnay.” Unsurprisingly, she ultimately finds new loves and friends. “It’s all familiar material, of course, down to the ‘Golden Girls’-broad scene in which Carol and her girlfriends get goofy on some medicinal wacky tobacky. But it’s impossible to take issue with the formula here; Carol is such good company… and Haley transports this well-worn narrative into a life stage rarely explored at the multiplex.” (Inkoo Kang)
Pitch Perfect 2 — Directed by Elizabeth Banks; Written by Kay Cannon — Women-Written and Women-Directed Pick of the Week
The Barden Bellas (Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld) are back and need to redeem themselves after a humiliation at a competition. Elizabrth Banks takes the directing reins of the film, and these girls will put a smile of your face while you are humming the awesome soundtrack. (Melissa Silverstein)
Every Secret Thing — Directed by Amy Berg; Written by Nicole Holofcener
A detective looks to unravel a mystery surrounding missing children and its prime suspects: two young women who, seven years ago, were put away for an infant’s death. Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks and Dakota Fanning star. (Press materials)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with “Every Secret Thing” director Amy Berg.
In the Name of My Daughter
When her marriage falls apart, Agnes Le Roux moves back to the South of France from Africa to live with her mother, Renee (Catherine Deneuve), owner of the Palais de la Mediterranee casino in Nice. There, Agnes falls in love with Maurice Agnelet (Guillaume Canet), a lawyer and Renee’s business adviser, who is ten years her senior. Behind the scenes hangs the shadow of the mafia and Fratoni, the owner of the rival casino, who wants to take over the Palais de la Mediterranee. In November of 1977, after a failed suicide attempt, Agnes disappears. Her body is never found. Thirty years on, Maurice Agnelet remains the prime suspect in a murder case with no body and no proof of his guilt. Convinced of his involvement, Renee is prepared to fight to the bitter end to see him put behind bars. (Press materials)
Films About Women Currently Playing
Hot Pursuit — Directed by Anne Fletcher
Piku — Written by Juhi Chaturvedi
Noble
Preggoland — Written by Sonja Bennett (Available on VOD)
Sister Code
Ride — Written and Directed by Helen Hunt
Welcome to Me — Directed by Shira Piven
Marie’s Story
Maya the Bee Movie
The Age of Adaline
See You In Valhalla
Iris (doc)
Félix & Meira
Monkey Kingdom
Clouds of Sils Maria
Woman in Gold
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Cinderella — Co-Written by Aline Brosh McKenna
It Follows
Films Directed by Women Opening This Week
Dark Star: H.R. Ginger’s World (doc) — Directed and Written by Belinda Sallin
This documentary brings viewers into the home and life of surrealist goth artist H.R. Giger, who won an Academy Award for designing the legendary character from Ridley Scott’s “Alien” films, starring Sigourney Weaver opposite creatures of Giger’s creation. In addition to his contributions to the nightmares of generations of moviegoers, Giger (1940–2014) was an accomplished sculptor and painter. His work lives on in album covers, tattoos and in a museum dedicated to his work. (Press materials)
Films Directed by Women Currently Playing
One Cut, One Life (doc) — Co-Directed by Lucia Small
Just Before You Go — Directed by Courteney Cox
The Road Within — Written and Directed by Gren Wells
The Human Experiment — Co-Directed by Dana Nachman
The Hand That Feeds (doc) — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Rachel Lears
Serena — Directed by Susanne Bier
Films Written by Women Opening This Week
The Connection — Co-Written by Audrey Diwan
A stylish, ‘70s-period crime thriller inspired by true events, it tells the story of real-life Marseilles magistrate Pierre Michel (Jean Dujardin) and his relentless crusade to dismantle the most notorious drug smuggling operation in history: the French Connection. (Press materials)
Films Written by Women Currently Playing
She’s Funny That Way (Squirrels to the Nuts) — Co-Written by Louise Stratten
Adult Beginners — Co-Written by Liz Flahive
24 Days — Co-Written by Emilie Frèche
White God — Co-Written by Viktória Petrányi and Kata Wéber
Cas & Dylan — Written by Jessie Gabe
Chappie — Co-Written by Terri Tatchell
VOD/DVD Releasing This Week
A Lot Like You — Directed and Co-Written by Eliaichi Kimaro (VOD)
Welcome to Me — Directed by Shira Piven (VOD)
Preggoland — Directed by Sonja Bennett (VOD)
Last Hijack (doc) — Co-Written by Femme Wolting (DVD
Strange Magic — Co-Written by Irene Mecchi (DVD)
The Sleepwalker — Directed and Co-Written by Mona Lerche (DVD)
