Weekly Update for November 3: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You

Films About Women Opening This Week

Lady Bird — Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig

Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated, and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird’s father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, “Lady Bird” is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Greta Gerwig.

Find tickets and screening info here.

It Happened in L.A. — Written and Directed by Michelle Morgan (Opens in NY; Opens in LA November 10) (Available on VOD November 14)

Annette (Michelle Morgan) and Elliot (Jorma Taccone) are a mostly happy, moderately neurotic LA couple. Maybe Annette doesn’t enjoy game nights or taco stands as much as Elliot does, but no relationship is perfect, right? Rather than embracing their differences, Annette can only compare their relationship to their happy couple friends. This cannot be endorsed by Annette’s beautiful but romantically troubled best friend, Baker (Dree Hemingway), who is very well-versed on the bleakness of the LA dating scene. Taking its cues from classic mid-20th century comedies with a stylish and contemporary spin, “It Happened in L.A.” is an irreverent tale of life and the search for elusive love in the 21st century. (Press materials)

Most Beautiful Island — Written and Directed by Ana Asensio (Also Available on VOD)

“Most Beautiful Island” chronicles one harrowing day in the life of Luciana (Ana Asensio), a young immigrant woman struggling to make ends meet while striving to escape her past. As Luciana’s day unfolds, she is whisked, physically and emotionally, through a series of troublesome and unforeseeable extremes. Before her day is done, she inadvertently finds herself a central participant in a cruel game where lives are placed at risk, and psyches are twisted and broken for the perverse entertainment of a privileged few. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Ana Asensio.

Find tickets and screening info here.

Wait for Your Laugh (Documentary) (Opens in NY; Opens in LA November 17)

Rose Marie’s rise to fame began at the age of four with her own NBC radio show. As she grew, she went from the stages of vaudeville to the bright lights of Vegas to some of the most iconic television shows. But it’s not just credits like “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Hollywood Squares” that make her life so memorable. Characters like Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, and Jerry Lewis all played a part in this woman’s story of fame, love, tragedy, and success. A woman’s 90-year career is also the greatest untold story in show business. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Princess Cyd

Sixteen-year-old Cyd (Jessie Pinnick) decides to take a break from her depressive single father and spend a summer in Chicago with her aunt Miranda (Rebecca Spence), a well-known novelist. Soon after her arrival, Cyd encounters Katie (Malic White), a young barista behind the counter. The two make plans to meet up after Katie’s shift and a new, charged relationship begins. The Chicago landscape expands, and we navigate intimate and fragile moments between Cyd and Katie as they explore their new attraction. Miranda functions as a counterpart to young Cyd’s new explorations of sexuality and love, and as the summer continues, they develop a strong relationship founded on a shared openness and healthy criticism of particular personal moments. (Press materials)

Find tickets and screening info here.

Parker’s Anchor — Co-Written by Jennica Schwartzman (Currently Playing in Select Theaters)

Krystal Parker’s (Jennica Schwartzman) life fell apart when she discovered she couldn’t have children. Everything she knew was gone, but letting go is just the beginning. (Press materials)

Read Jennica Schwartzman’s guest post for Women and Hollywood.

Find screening info here.

Uncle Gloria: One Helluva Ride (Documentary) — Directed by Robyn Symon (Available on VOD November 7)

“Uncle Gloria: One Helluva Ride” recounts the astonishing true story of Butch, the macho owner of a South Florida auto-wrecking company, who in a desperate search of a way to hide from the law, transformed himself into a woman named Gloria. But what started out as a trick to beat the system ended up changing Butch’s life forever. Now in her 80’s, Gloria’s stranger-than-fiction life has been filled with risky surgeries, sex work, family dysfunction, activism, and a gender-bending love story. Full of humor, warmth, and sass, “Uncle Gloria” is a rollicking ride that must be seen to be believed. (Press materials)

Films About Women Currently Playing

The Light of the Moon — Written and Directed by Jessica M. Thompson
A Bad Moms Christmas
Amityville: The Awakening (Also Available on VOD)
Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill!
Mansfield 66/67 (Documentary)
Wexford Plaza — Written and Directed by Joyce Wong
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (Documentary) — Directed by Sophie Fiennes (UK)
Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold (Documentary) (Also Available on Netflix)
Mr. Roosevelt — Written and Directed by Noël Wells
Suck It Up — Directed by Jordan Canning; Written by Julia Hoff
Maya Dardel — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Magdalena Zyzak
Félicité — Co-Written by Delphine Zingg
All I See Is You
The Divine Order — Written and Directed by Petra Volpe
Novitiate — Written and Directed by Margaret Betts
Tragedy Girls
Jane (Documentary)
I Am Not a Witch — Written and Directed by Rungano Nyoni (UK)
Happy Death Day
The Florida Project
Dina (Documentary)
So B. It
My Little Pony: The Movie — Co-Written by Meghan McCarthy and Rita Hsiao
Better Watch Out
Signature Move — Directed by Jennifer Reeder; Written by Lisa Donato and Fawzia Mirza
Chavela (Documentary) — Directed by Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi
Te Ata — Written by Esther Luttrell
Battle of the Sexes — Co-Directed by Valerie Faris
Victoria & Abdul
Friend Request
mother!
Home Again — Written and Directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer
The Unknown Girl
Dolores (Documentary)
Tulip Fever
Polina — Written and Co-Directed by Valérie Müller
Leap! — Co-Written by Carol Noble
The Villainess
The Teacher
Marjorie Prime
Annabelle: Creation
Kidnap
The Midwife
Maudie — Directed by Aisling Walsh; Written by Sherry White
Lost in Paris — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Fiona Gordon
Wonder Woman — Directed by Patty Jenkins

Films Directed by Women Opening This Week

No Dress Code Required (Documentary) — Directed by Cristina Herrera Borquez (Opens in NY)

In this up-to-the-minute documentary, Victor and Fernando run a beauty salon in Baja California, Mexico. For many of their customers they were a lovely gay couple, until they decided to marry. They become the first ones in their state to fight for their rights in a place filled with homophobia and inequality, facing down the city council of Mexicali, which defies the Supreme Court ruling that allows gay marriage. Through their struggle, both in the courts and in the community, they manage to open the eyes of Mexican society, and affirm a love that fills every frame of this moving new film. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Cristina Herrera Borquez.

Find tickets and screening info here.

Battlecreek — Directed by Alison Eastwood; Written by Anthea Anka

Henry Pearl’s (Bill Skarsgård) rare skin disease has left him hiding from the sun in the shadows of small town Battlecreek. His overprotective mother, the local diner, and his night time job at the gas station provide him a nocturnal and mundane existence. When a beautiful, yet tormented girl (Claire van der Boom) becomes stranded in town, Henry is awakened by love, forcing them both to face their turbulent pasts in light of the future. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

11/8/16 (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Sheena M. Joyce, Petra Epperlein, Alma Har’el, Alison Klayman, Ciara Lacy, Martha Shane, and Elaine Mcmillion Sheldon (Also Available on VOD)

On the morning of Election Day 2016, Americans of all stripes woke up and went about living their radically different lives. These were the hours leading up to Donald Trump’s unexpected, earth-shaking victory, but, of course, no one knew that yet. Featuring footage captured by a carefully curated group of some of America’s finest documentary filmmakers, “11/8/16” follows 16 subjects spanning the country’s geographic, socioeconomic, and political divides throughout the course of that history-altering day. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

The Journey Is the Destination — Co-Written and Directed by Bronwen Hughes (Available on Netflix November 7)

Director Bronwen Hughes and screenwriter Jan Sardi recreate the inspiring life story of the late photojournalist, artist, and activist Dan Eldon (Ben Schnetzer), who documented the struggle, heartbreak, and hope of a war-torn and famine-ridden region of Africa. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Bronwen Hughes.

Elliot the Littlest Reindeer — Written and Directed by Jennifer Westcott

When Blitzen announces his retirement on December 21, a miniature horse (voiced by Josh Hutcherson) has three days to fulfill his lifelong dream of earning a spot on Santa’s team at the North Pole tryouts. (Press materials)

Films Directed by Women Currently Playing

“The Departure”: Drifting Cloud Productions

The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards (Anthology) — Co-Directed by Lauren Hoekstra, Sarah Kruchowski, and Vanita Shastry; Co-Written by Roxanne Beck, Marissa Matteo, Mona Nahm, Jessica Nikkel, Nicole Riegel, Teresa Sullivan, and Jacqueline Vleck
Atomic Homefront (Documentary) — Directed by Rebecca Cammisa
Heal (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Kelly Noonan Gores
The Departure (Documentary) — Co-Written and Directed by Lana Wilson
The Party — Written and Directed by Sally Potter (UK)
Professor Marston and the Wonder Women — Written and Directed by Angela Robinson
Faces Places (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Agnès Varda
Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton (Documentary) — Directed by Rory Kennedy (Also Available on VOD)
Loving Vincent — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Dorota Kobiela
Trophy (Documentary) — Co-Directed Christina Clusiau
School Life (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Neasa Ní Chianáin (Also Available on VOD)
Viceroy’s House — Written and Directed by Gurinder Chadha; Co-Written by Moira Buffini
Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (Documentary) — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Catherine Bainbridge
Pop Aye — Written and Directed by Kirsten Tan

Films Written by Women Opening This Week

None.

Films Written by Women Currently Playing

Let There Be Light — Co-Written by Sam Sorbo
Kingsman: The Golden Circle — Co-Written by Jane Goldman
Logan Lucky — Written by Rebecca Blunt
The Fencer — Written by Anna Heinämaa
Cars 3 — Co-Written by Kiel Murray

TV Premieres This Week

Alias Grace — Directed by Mary Harron; Written by and Sarah Polley (Premieres November 3 on Netflix)

In 19th-century Canada, a psychiatrist (Edward Holcroft) weighs whether a murderess (Sarah Gadon) should be pardoned due to insanity. Based on Margaret Atwood’s award-winning novel. (Press materials)

SMILF — Created by Frankie Shaw (Premieres November 5 on Showtime)

Bridgette Bird (Frankie Shaw) is a smart, scrappy, young single mom trying to navigate life in South Boston with an extremely unconventional family. She struggles to make ends meet, which leads her too impulsive and at times immature decisions. Above all, Bridgette wants to make a better life for her son. (Press materials)

Rebecka Martinsson (Premieres November 6 on Acorn TV)

Based on Åsa Larsson’s celebrated crime novels, this riveting Swedish drama follows a successful lawyer on the hunt for the murderer of her childhood friend. While in pursuit, Rebecka (Ida Engvoll) is forced to face the terrible trauma that caused her to flee her remote hometown above the Arctic Circle. (Press materials)

Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Blair Foster (Premieres November 6 on HBO)

Two-part special “Rolling Stone: Stories From the Edge” chronicles the last 50 years of American music, politics, and popular culture through the perspective of a magazine that understood rock ’n’ roll was more than music — it was a cultural force that helped shape America and defined generations. An exhilarating visual and musical experience of the magazine’s history, the film features performances by a dazzling array of artists, including The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Ice-T and music from some of the cultural icons it heralded, including Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Fleetwood Mac, and Chance the Rapper, and showcases the superb, groundbreaking work of its writers, spotlighting Rolling Stone’s impact on society. Part 1 airs November 6 and Part 2 airs November 7. (Press materials)

Danica (Documentary) — Directed by Hannah Storm (Premieres November 8 on Epix)

Danica Patrick: Nascarking/Wikimedia Commons

The racing superstar reveals herself like never before: as a competitor eagerly preparing for her next race, a woman confidently considering when she wants to start a family, and a budding mogul carefully thinking about her next steps. (Press materials)

VOD/DVD Releasing This Week

Champion — Written by Missy Reedy and Sarah Inabnit (VOD/DVD, November 7)
The Glass Castle (VOD/DVD, November 7)
Ingrid Goes West (VOD/DVD, November 7)
The Limehouse Golem — Written by Jane Goldman (DVD, November 7)
Te Ata — Written by Esther Luttrell (VOD/DVD, November 7)
The Untamed (DVD, November 7)

Women and Hollywood Invites You to Screenings of Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird”

Saoirse Ronan and writer/director Greta Gerwig on the set of “Lady Bird”: A24

We’re working* with the folks at A24 to offer the Women and Hollywood community the opportunity to see an advance screening of “Lady Bird,” written and directed by Greta Gerwig.

This is a film that we all love here at Women and Hollywood and we are so excited to give you all the chance to see this film as it rolls out and takes the country by storm.

We promise you will enjoy “Lady Bird.”

Here is a list of the screening dates and cities:

November 6: Phoenix, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
November 7: Austin and Sacramento
November 8: Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle
November 13: Detroit, Houston, and Tampa
November 14: Miami
November 15: Orlando and Portland

What you need to do to attend:

Email ladybirdwah@gmail.com with 1) the city you would like to see the film in, 2) your affiliation (if any), and 3) where you heard about the screenings. You will get an email back with the time and location of the screening and a pair of tickets. Please don’t email if you are not sure if you want to attend. We have a limited amount of tickets and don’t want to hold seats for people will not be in attendance.
Your name will be on the list with the press team at the theater. Just say you are with Women and Hollywood.

Disclaimer of transparency — I wrote above that Women and Hollywood is working with A24. Women and Hollywood has been hired by A24 to help reach our community because they believe that we are the targeted market for this film. I agree with them and that’s why I signed up to get the word out. This is a very special movie that is in keeping with the values and commitment of Women and Hollywood. Spreading the word about films that we can get behind and support is one of the missions of our work.

Follow. Women and Hollywood on Twitter @WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein @melsil.

To contact Women and Hollywood, email melissa@womenandhollywood.com.