FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING
Frozen II – Directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck; Written by Allison Schroeder
Why was Elsa (Idina Menzel) born with magical powers? What truths about the past await Elsa as she ventures into the unknown to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle? The answers are calling her but also threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Olaf (Josh Gad), and Sven the reindeer, she’ll face a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In “Frozen II,” she must hope they are enough.
Find screening info here.
Varda by Agnès (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Agnès Varda (Opens in NY)
“Varda by Agnès”
This final film from Agnès Varda is a characteristically playful, profound, and personal summation of the director’s own brilliant career. At once impish and wise, she acts as our spirit guide on a free-associative tour through her six-decade artistic journey, shedding new light on her films, photography, and recent installation works while offering her one-of-a-kind reflections on everything from filmmaking to feminism to aging. Suffused with the people, places, and things she loved — Jacques Demy, cats, colors, beaches, heart-shaped potatoes — this wonderfully idiosyncratic work of imaginative autobiography is a warmly human, touchingly bittersweet parting gift from one of cinema’s most luminous talents.
Find screening info here.
Hala – Written and Directed by Minhal Baig (Available on Apple TV+ December 6)
“Hala”
From writer-director Minhal Baig, “Hala” marks one of the first acquisitions of Apple TV+. The Sundance pic tells the story of Hala, played by the incredibly talented Geraldine Viswanathan. She’s a hijab-wearing young woman struggling with her strict parents’ expectations in a world of opportunity. She’s not perfect, refreshingly so. Her parents’ relationship is the one thing she can count on and when that falls apart, she falls apart. She also challenges her religion and its hold on girls and their sexuality. “Hala” is a coming-of-age story centering on girls we don’t usually see on-screen — that in itself is reason for celebration. (Melissa Silverstein)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Minhal Baig.
Shooting the Mafia (Documentary) – Directed by Kim Longinotto (Opens in NY and LA)
“Shooting the Mafia”
Sicilian Letizia Battaglia began a lifelong battle with the Mafia when she first dared to point her camera at a brutally slain victim. A woman whose passions led her to ditch traditional family life and become a photojournalist, she found herself on the front lines during one of the bloodiest chapters in Italy’s recent history. She fearlessly and artfully captured everyday Sicilian life — from weddings and funerals to the grisly murders of ordinary citizens — to tell the narrative of the community she loved forced into silence by the Cosa Nostra. “Shooting the Mafia” weaves together Battaglia’s striking black-and-white photographs, rare archival footage, classic Italian films, and the now 84-year-old’s own memories, to paint a portrait of a remarkable woman whose bravery and defiance helped expose the Mafia’s brutal crimes.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Kim Longinotto.
The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open – Written and Directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Kathleen Hepburn (Opens in Chicago and New Orleans) (Available on Netflix November 27)
“The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open”
Two Indigenous women from vastly different backgrounds find their worlds colliding on an East Vancouver, B.C., sidewalk when brutality and fear drives one of them out from her home and into the cold rain. As this intimate yet challenging encounter develops, what began as violent and terrifying tentatively expands as the women’s shared imagery and cultural experience weave a fragile bond between them. Both women now must face their own unique struggle as they navigate the complexities of motherhood, class, race, and the ongoing legacy of colonialism.
Find screening info here.
Judy & Punch – Written and Directed by Mirrah Foulkes (Opens in the UK and Australia)
“Judy & Punch”: Sundance Institute
This visceral and dynamic live-action reinterpretation of the famous 16th-century puppet show follows famous puppeteers Judy (Mia Wasikowska) and her husband, Punch (Damon Herriman), who live in the peculiar and unforgiving town of Seaside — a place gripped by a frenzy of witch hunts and hangings. The townspeople revel in the drama and brutality of the trials and executions, while Judy and Punch endeavor to use their show to escape, with their new baby, to loftier means. However, temptation can be found in every dark corner of Seaside, and the charismatic Punch succumbs to the seduction of the local tavern, and the women, ale, and adulation that await him there. Despairing at her husband’s weakness, Judy forces the hungover Punch to focus on his responsibilities and leaves him to mind their baby for a morning, the repercussions of which are disastrous for all. The brutal consequences see Judy saved by a band of outcast heretics in the depths of the nearby forest. It is here she plots her vengeance on Punch and the town of Seaside, and puts the legend of Punch and Judy to rest, once and for all.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Mirrah Foulkes.
Find screening info here (UK) and here (Australia).
Ophelia – Directed by Claire McCarthy; Written by Semi Chellas (Opens in the UK)
Something is rotten in medieval-era Denmark, where political intrigue swirls around the imperial court like dark magic. Amid it all, the queen’s brightest lady-in-waiting, Ophelia (Daisy Ridley), finds herself drawn to Hamlet (George MacKay), the charismatic and elusive crown prince. As their secretive love affair takes flight, betrayal strikes the court, threatening to derail their union and devastate the royal family for good. Caught between her desires and her loyalty, Ophelia has to decide where her devotion will ultimately lie.
Permission (Opens in the UK) (Also Available on VOD)
Afrooz (Baran Kosari) is the captain of the International Women’s Futsal National Team. After 11 years of hard work, her dream is finally about to become a reality as she will be leading her team in the Women’s Asia Cup’s Final. As she goes through security at Tehran airport, she finds that her husband, a famous television host, has banned her from exiting the country. In Iran, a husband has the legal right to ban his wife from travelling abroad. Supported by her close friend and teammate, her only option is to persuade her estranged husband to let her leave the country, as well as fight the conservative and hypocritical ways of the Futsal federation.
Find screening info here.
The Courier – Written by Nicky Tate, Andy Conway, Zackary Adler, and James Edward Barker (Also Available on VOD)
A courier in London (Olga Kurylenko) discovers that one of the packages she’s transporting is a bomb.
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN OPENING
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – Directed by Marielle Heller
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Let’s face it: the world is a hot mess. That’s one of the reasons to go and see “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” It is the perfect antidote to our current times. It’s a reminder — for those of us old enough to remember — of a time when things weren’t this insane. The film, based on Tom Junod’s article, brings us the impeccably cast Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers. And yet the film is not about Mister Rogers: it is about his teaching journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) how to love and live. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” slows us down and reminds us that connecting with people, looking them in the eye, listening to them, is something valuable. The film is much-needed on-screen comfort food. (MS)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Marielle Heller.
Find screening info here.
Here for Life (Documentary) – Directed by Andrea Luka Zimmerman and Adrian Jackson (Opens in the UK)
An uncommon story told on common ground by 10 Londoners. All have lives shaped by loss and love, trauma and bravery, struggle, and resistance. They grapple with a system stacked against them. They dance, steal, and eat together; agree and disagree; celebrate their differences and share their talents. The lines between one person’s story and another’s performance are blurred and the borders between reality and fiction are porous. Eventually coming together on a makeshift stage, “Here for Life” marks the culmination of a long collaboration between filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and theater-maker Adrian Jackson, a group of Londoners, and a dog.
Find screening info here.
TV PREMIERES
The Accident (Miniseries) – Directed by Sandra Goldbacher (Premieres November 22 on Hulu)
In a community that has been left behind, a large construction project offers hope for a better future. But that future disappears when a local politician’s rebellious daughter leads a gang of friends onto the site. An explosion causes the building to collapse, killing everyone but her. In the aftermath of the tragedy, grief quickly turns to anger. Unwilling to accept that their children were to blame, the families cry for justice. And as the gears of justice slowly turn, challenging truths begin to emerge. When the spotlight shifts onto one of the town’s own sons, the town threatens to tear itself apart. It falls to the Council Leader’s long-suffering wife, now caring for a daughter with a lifelong disability, to hold the community together. And as those in charge fail to deliver closure for the town, it’s up to her to lead them on the march for justice, no matter what the cost.
Carole’s Christmas (TV Movie) (Premieres November 22 on OWN)
“Carole’s Christmas” tells the story of Carole Jordan (Kimberly Elise), an overworked businesswoman who learns the meaning of “be careful what you wish for” after she off-handedly wishes she had taken another path in life. When Carole’s wish is granted, her world is turned upside down and the only person she can confide in is Iris (Jackée Harry), a woman she recognizes from her “past life.” Carole no longer has time for the things that mattered most to her — family, friends, and her annual Christmas party. She quickly learns how grateful she was for the previous life she was living.
Dino Girl Gauko (Premieres November 22 on Netflix)
When she gets angry, middle schooler Naoko turns into fierce dinosaur Gauko! Thanks to friends, aliens, and more, her life is full of wacky incidents.
Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings (Anthology) (Premieres November 22 on Netflix)
“Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings”
The Dolly music you love, the stories you’ve been waiting for. “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings” is an anthology series that showcases the stories, memories, and inspirations behind her most beloved songs. New and classic Dolly music will score every episode. Each story will vary in tone, from love stories and inspirational tales to family dramas, westerns, and revenge comedies.
The Feed – Created by Channing Powell (Premieres November 22 on Amazon Prime)
In the near future, a high-tech implant connects our minds to “The Feed.” Every interaction, emotion, and memory can be shared instantly. Tom (Guy Burnet) and Kate (Nina Toussaint-White) are a young couple trying to resist their addiction to tech. Tom’s father, Lawrence (David Thewlis), invented “The Feed,” and his mother, Meredith (Michelle Fairley), is the CEO overseeing its daily operation. When strange and violent things begin to happen to its users, Tom must do all he can to protect his wife and baby daughter from his father’s twisted creation.
Turkey Drop (TV Movie) – Written by Tiffany Paulsen (Premieres November 23 on Freeform)
Lucy Jacobs (Olivia Holt) is a small-town girl who has started her freshman year at a big-city university. When Lucy returns home for Thanksgiving break, she suspects she is about to get turkey dropped — dumped by her high school sweetheart. To avoid a Turkey Day travesty, Lucy steps out of her comfort zone during her hometown visit, proving she’s not the same, play-it-safe girl she was with her high school boyfriend. As she takes control of her own life and makes choices that put herself first, she learns to let go of what’s been holding her back, helping achieve what she truly wants out of life.
College Behind Bars (Docuseries) – Directed by Lynn Novick (Premieres November 25 on PBS)
“College Behind Bars”
A four-part documentary film series, Lynn Novick’s “College Behind Bars” turns the camera on a small group of incarcerated men and women pursuing their college degrees in the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI), a privately funded prison education program in the U.S. We see the students/prisoners discussing “Moby Dick,” studying Chinese, and exploring different fields of study with passion and enthusiasm, composing draft after draft in pursuit of excellence, despite difficult conditions. “College Behind Bars” isn’t just an important, educational call to arms. The doc is also a moving portrait of individuals determined to defy the odds and build a better future for themselves. (Laura Berger)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Lynn Novick.
Balthazar – Created by Clélia Constantine and Clothilde Jamin (Premieres November 25 on Acorn TV)
Facing a series of complex murder cases, new police commander Hélène Bach (Hélène de Fougerolles) must learn to work with the brilliant yet exasperating Raphaël (Tomer Sisley), who can make the dead speak like no one else.
Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season (Documentary) (Premieres November 26 on HBO)
“Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season”
“Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season” looks back on the four-time Olympian’s transcendent career and offers an intimate look at the final chapter of her skiing journey.
Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry (Music Special) (Premieres November 26 on NBC)
The special is a celebration of Dolly Parton’s 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It will feature new interviews as well as a performance from Parton on the Opry stage where she’ll deliver some of her biggest hits in front of a live audience. In addition, her superstar friends — Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Chris Janson, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Margo Price, Hank Williams Jr., and others — will also be on board to celebrate Parton’s career and perform.
VOD/STREAMING RELEASES
“Hustlers”
Brittany Runs a Marathon (Amazon Prime, November 22)
Agatha and the Truth of Murder (VOD, November 25)
Angel Has Fallen – Written by Katrin Benedikt, Ric Roman Waugh, Creighton Rothenberger, and Robert Mark Kamen (VOD, November 26)
Hustlers – Written and Directed by Lorene Scafaria (VOD, November 26)
Official Secrets – Written by Sara Bernstein, Gregory Bernstein, and Gavin Hood (VOD, November 26)
Ready or Not (VOD, November 26)
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD IN THE NEWS
“Frozen 2” is more than a princess movie (CNN)
JOIN WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD FOR A MEET-UP IN LONDON
Melissa Silverstein will be hosting a meet-up at the Curzon Soho theater on December 4. Please join her and the W&H community for some drinks and conversation!
Details are below. No RSVP needed.
Hope to see you there!
Women and Hollywood London Meet-Up
December 4, 2019
Curzon Soho, Downstairs Alcove
99 Shaftesbury Ave
Soho, London W1D 5DY
6:30-8 p.m.
Cash Bar
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BLOG
Credit: The Hollywood Commission
“The Farewell,” “Booksmart,” & “Clemency” Among 2020 Film Indie Spirit Award Nominees
Directors UK Releases Guidelines for Directing Nudity and Sex Scenes
Anita Hill’s Commission on Sexual Harassment Launches Industry Worker Survey
Variety’s 2020 Directors to Watch List Includes Mati Diop, Shannon Murphy, & More
DGA Report: Women & POC Directed Half of All TV Episodes in 2018-2019 Season, Marking a First
PGA Awards: Over 70 Percent of Doc Nominees Are Directed or Co-Directed by Women
Paramount’s 2020 Slate Includes 16 Movies, and Just One Is Directed by a Woman
French Culture Ministry and Film Board Unveil New Guidelines to Combat Sexual Misconduct
Lynette Howell Taylor and Stephanie Allain Will Produce the 2020 Oscars
Women and Non-Binary Directors Helmed 40 Percent of Whistler Film Festival’s 2019 Lineup
Note: All descriptions are from press materials, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Women and Hollywood on Twitter @WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein @melsil.
To contact Women and Hollywood, email melissa@womenandhollywood.com.
