For many, the holiday season is closely linked with a love of film; be it a family outing to see the latest offerings at the movie theater, or winter nights spent gathered around the TV to watch a beloved classic, cinema feels that extra bit special in December. And fortunately, this December offers plenty of new films to discover.
The month kicks off with the limited release of Céline Sciamma’s swooningly romantic “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” (December 6), a French period piece about the romance that sparks between Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a young woman to be married off into wealth, and Marianne (Noémie Merlant), the painter commissioned to capture her portrait without the noncompliant Héloïse realizing it. Having won a top prize at Cannes earlier this year, the film has earned glowing critical praise around the world. A wider release is planned for Valentine’s Day.
Sciamma is not the only established director with a new film opening. Also releasing December 6 are Sam Taylor-Johnson’s “A Million Little Pieces” and Jessica Hausner’s first English-language film, “Little Joe.” The former, based on James Frey’s book, follows a troubled young man’s journey through rehab. The latter is a Cannes-winning sci-fi pic about a mother, son, and the creation of a possibly malevolent plant.
For those who enjoy a few scares among the festive cheer, Sophia Takal’s “Black Christmas” is sure to excite, with its tale of sorority sisters fighting a campus killer against a backdrop of seasonal parties, while fans of straight-up body horror will enjoy the Soska sisters’ remake of Cronenberg’s “Rabid,” about a fashion designer left disfigured after a freak accident (both December 13).
A number of famous women receive the biopic or documentary treatment this month, with Kristen Stewart playing the late French New Wave star, and Black Panthers ally, Jean Seberg in “Seberg” (December 13). Documentary “What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael” (December 13) paints a nuanced portrait of one of the most famous film critics of all time, and another doc, “The Disappearance of My Mother,” tells the story of former fashion model and feminist activist Benedetta Barzini (December 6). The biopic “Bombshell” (December 13) chronicles the women — real and fictional — at Fox News who brought down the infamous Roger Ailes.
Closing out the year is a trio of powerhouse projects. Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency” (December 27) is an affecting portrayal of a prison warden (Alfre Woodard) who is struggling with the emotional and psychological toll of carrying out death row executions. Greta Gerwig’s hugely anticipated “Little Women” adaptation arrives on Christmas Day, with Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen portraying the March sisters. And of course, the cinematic event that few need reminding of, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (December 20), concludes the trilogy tracing Rey’s (Daisy Ridley) journey in a galaxy far, far away.
Here are all of the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films premiering this December. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
December 6
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” – Written and Directed by Céline Sciamma (Opens in NY and LA)
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”
Brittany, France, 1760. Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a painter, is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a young lady who has just left the convent. Héloïse is a reluctant bride-to-be, and Marianne must paint her without her knowing. She observes her by day, and secretly paints her at night. Intimacy and attraction grow between the two women as they share Héloïse’s first and last moments of freedom, all whilst Marianne paints the portrait that will end it all.
“Little Joe” – Directed by Jessica Hausner; Written by Jessica Hausner and Géraldine Bajard
“Little Joe”
“Little Joe” follows Alice (Emily Beecham), a single mother and dedicated senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species. She has engineered a special crimson flower, remarkable not only for its beauty but also for its therapeutic value: if kept at the ideal temperature, fed properly, and spoken to regularly, this plant makes its owner happy. Against company policy, Alice takes one home as a gift for her teenage son, Joe (Kit Connor). They christen it “Little Joe.” But as their plant grows, so too does Alice’s suspicion that her new creation may not be as harmless as its nickname suggests.
“In Fabric”
A lonely woman (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), recently separated from her husband, visits a bewitching London department store in search of a dress that will transform her life. She’s fitted with a perfectly flattering, artery-red gown — which, in time, will come to unleash a malevolent curse and unstoppable evil, threatening everyone who comes into its path.
“Knives and Skin” – Written and Directed by Jennifer Reeder (Also Available on VOD)
“Knives and Skin”
“Knives and Skin” follows the investigation of a young girl’s disappearance in a stylized version of a rural Midwest town that hovers just above reality, led by an inexperienced local sheriff. Unusual coping techniques develop among the traumatized small-town residents with each new secret revealed. The ripple of fear and suspicion destroys some relationships and strengthens others. The backdrop of trauma colors quintessential rituals — classrooms, dances, courtship, football games — in which the teenagers experience an accelerated loss of innocence while their parents are forced to confront adulthood failures.
“The Disappearance of My Mother” (Documentary)
“The Disappearance of My Mother”
Benedetta wants to disappear. An iconic fashion model in the 1960s, she became a muse to Warhol, Dali, Penn, and Avedon. As a radical feminist in the 1970s, she fought for the rights and emancipation of women. But at the age of 75, she becomes fed up with all the roles that life has imposed upon her and decides to leave everything and everybody behind, to disappear to a place as far as possible from the world she knows. Hiding behind the camera, her son Beniamino witnesses her journey. Having filmed her since he was a child in spite of all her resistance, he now wants to make a film about her, to keep her close for as long as possible — or, at least, as long as his camera keeps running.
“A Million Little Pieces” – Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson; Written by Sam Taylor-Johnson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Also Available on VOD)
An alcoholic and a drug addict, 23 year-old James (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has two options: treatment or death. After waking up on a plane with a smashed up face and no memory of the past few weeks, he heads to rehab where he discovers much more than detox and therapy. As James endures the white-knuckle journey of mending his broken body, he heals his broken soul by connecting with other kindred spirits who also yearn and fight for a better life.
“Ordinary Love” – Directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (Opens in the UK)
“Ordinary Love”
Joan and Tom (Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson) have been married for many years. An everyday couple with a remarkable love, there is an ease to their relationship which only comes from spending a lifetime together. When Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer, the course of her treatment shines a light on their enduring devotion, as they must find the humor and grace to survive a year of adversity.
“The Last Right” – Written and Directed by Aoife Crehan (Opens in the UK)
A comedy-drama road movie telling the story of a man bringing the body of someone he barely knows for burial with his family. His good intentions are motivated by trying to patch up his relationship with his own brother. However, en route from West Cork to Rathlin Island, both romance and family secrets emerge to complicate the trip.
“Playmobil: The Movie”
“Playmobil: The Movie”
When her younger brother suddenly disappears into the magical, animated universe of Playmobil, Marla (Anya Taylor-Joy) embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to bring him home. Setting off on an incredible journey through new and exciting themed worlds, Marla teams up with various strange and heroic companions, including a crazed food truck driver; a suave and fearless secret agent; a loyal and endearing robot; and a hilarious fairy-godmother.
“The Wolf Hour”
“The Wolf Hour”
It’s July 1977, and New York City is awash with escalating violence. A citywide blackout is triggering fires, looting, and countless arrests, and the Son of Sam murders are riddling the city with panic. June (Naomi Watts), once a celebrated counterculture figure, attempts to retreat from the chaos by shutting herself inside the yellowed walls of her grandmother’s South Bronx apartment. But her doorbell is ringing incessantly, the heat is unbearable, and creeping paranoia and fear are taking hold. Visitors, some invited, some unsolicited, arrive one by one, and June must determine whom she can trust, and whether she can find a path back to her former self.
“The Islands” – Written by Amanda Lauer, Timothy A. Chey, and Umi Perkins
Shot entirely in Hawaii, “The Islands” is based on the incredible true story of Chiefess Kapiolani (Teuira Shanti Napa) who descended into an active volcano to demonstrate her new-found faith, and ushered in a new beginning in Hawaii.
“Most Likely to Succeed” (Documentary) – Directed by Pamela Littky
In the spring of 2007, four American teenagers graduate from high school. From diverse socio-economic backgrounds, geographic regions, and families, these individuals have little in common except for one thing: they have each been voted Most Likely to Succeed. Then what? “Most Likely to Succeed” follows and documents these young adults over the course of 10 years as they leave home and encounter the real world. Beginning at their graduations in 2007 and concluding in 2017, we watch as the subjects’ dreams and goals turn into triumphs and setbacks, and their expectations become realities.
“Human Nature” (Documentary) – Written by Regina Sobel and Adam Bolt (Opens in the UK)
“Human Nature”
A breakthrough called CRISPR has given us unprecedented control over the basic building blocks of life. It opens the door to curing diseases, reshaping the biosphere, and designing our own children. “Human Nature” is a provocative exploration of CRISPR’s far-reaching implications, through the eyes of the scientists who discovered it, the families it’s affecting, and the bioengineers who are testing its limits.
“So Long, My Son” – Written by Mei Ah and Xiaoshuai Wang (Opens in the UK)
“So Long, My Song”
“So Long, My Son” traces the lives of two families over three decades of social, political and human upheaval in China. Following the loss of a child in a tragic accident, their paths separate. Destinies ebb and flow, and fortunes are transformed under the impact of a country’s changing face. Yet even as their lives diverge, a common search for truth and reconciliation around the tragedy remains. But sometimes it can take a lifetime to say farewell.
“Dark Light”
A woman returns to her family home and discovers it to be inhabited by monsters.
December 13
“Black Christmas” – Directed by Sophia Takal; Written by Sophia Takal and April Wolfe
“Black Christmas”
Hawthorne College is quieting down for the holidays. But as Riley Stone (Imogen Poots) and her Mu Kappa Epsilon sisters — athlete Marty (Lily Donoghue), rebel Kris (Aleyse Shannon), and foodie Jesse (Brittany O’Grady) — prepare to deck the halls with a series of seasonal parties, a black-masked stalker begins killing sorority women one by one. As the body count rises, Riley and her squad start to question whether they can trust any man. Whoever the killer is, he’s about to discover that this generation’s young women aren’t about to be anybody’s victims.
“Bombshell” (Opens in Limited Release; Opens in Wider Release December 20)
“Bombshell”
Based on the real scandal, “Bombshell” is a revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time, Fox News, and the explosive story of the women (Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie) who brought down the infamous man, Roger Ailes (John Lithgow), who created it.
“Rabid” – Directed by Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska; Written by Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska, and John Serge (Also Available on VOD)
“Rabid”
Aspiring fashion designer Rose Miller (Laura Vandervoort) has her dreams turned into a nightmarish reality when a freak accident leaves her horribly disfigured. After receiving a miracle procedure involving an experimental skin graft from the mysterious Burroughs Clinic, Rose is transformed into the beauty of her dreams. But nothing comes without a cost and Rose begins to feel terrifying side effects that tear at her last threads of sanity. What price will Rose have to pay to have everything she ever wanted? It may just cost her her humanity.
“Seberg” – Written by Anna Waterhouse and Joe Shrapnel
“Seberg”
“Seberg” is inspired by true events about the French New Wave darling and “Breathless” star, Jean Seberg (Kristen Stewart), who in the late 1960s was targeted by the FBI because of her support of the civil rights movement, and romantic involvement with Hakim Jamal (Anthony Mackie), among others. Seberg’s life and career are destroyed by Hoover’s overreaching surveillance and harassment in an effort to suppress and discredit her activism.
“What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael” (Documentary) (Opens in LA; Opens in NY December 25)
“What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael”
The New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael battled to make her mark — fueled by brilliance, unshakable self-confidence, a complicated past, and a deep love of the arts. With over 35 new interviews and never-before seen archival material, “What She Said” is an unvarnished portrait of a pioneer who was both admired and resented for what she said about art in an era of great moviemaking.
“Spiral Farm”
“Spiral Farm”
When two outsiders arrive on an isolated intentional community, 17-year old Anahita (Piper De Palma) begins to question her role at home, and what a future out in the world-at-large could be.
“Cunningham” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Alla Kovgan
“Cunningham”
“Cunningham” traces Merce Cunningham’s artistic evolution over three decades of risk and discovery (1944-1972), from his early years as a struggling dancer in postwar New York, to his emergence as one of the world’s most visionary choreographers. The 3D technology weaves together Merce’s philosophies and stories, creating a visceral journey into his innovative work. A breathtaking explosion of dance, music, and never-before-seen archival material, “Cunningham” is a timely tribute to one of the world’s greatest modern dance artists.
December 20
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
No one’s ever really gone… Rey’s (Daisy Ridley) journey continues, and the Skywalker saga concludes.
“Invisible Life” – Written by Inés Bortagaray, Karim Aïnouz, and Murilo Hauser
Set in a brilliantly recreated 1950s Rio de Janeiro, “Invisible Life” revolves around two inseparable sisters, 18 and 20 years old, living restricted lives with their conservative parents. However, each nourishes a passionate dream: Eurídice (Carol Duarte) of becoming a renowned pianist; Guida (Julia Stockler) of finding true love. In a shocking turn of events, they are separated and forced to live apart.
December 25
“Little Women” – Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig
“Little Women”
Writer-director Greta Gerwig has crafted a “Little Women” that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author’s alter ego, Jo March (Saoirse Ronan), reflects back and forth on her fictional life. In Gerwig’s take, the beloved story of the March sisters — four young women each determined to live life on her own terms — is both timeless and timely.
“1917” – Written by Krysty Wilson-Cairns and Sam Mendes (Opens in Limited Release; Opens Wide January 10)
“1917”
At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman), are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory, and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers — Blake’s own brother among them.
December 27
“Clemency” – Written and Directed by Chinonye Chukwu
“Clemency”: Sundance Institute
Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard). The emotional wedge in her marriage grows. Memories of a recently botched execution plague her daily. As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill.
“Belong to Us” – Written by Amber Rapp
An injured dog finds its way into the hearts of a family after escaping an underground dog-fighting ring.
