February is when many of us need a mid-winter pick-me-up. Luckily, there are plenty of theatrical releases this month that make for the perfect antidote to cabin fever. Kicking things off is “A Fantastic Woman,” about a trans nightclub singer who endures discrimination from the family of her late lover whilst she grieves his sudden death.
A week later will see the release of “Becks,” a charming indie that follows a Brooklyn musician who moves back to her hometown after a breakup. Elizabeth Rohrbaugh co-directed the film and co-wrote it alongside Rebecca Drysdale.
Hitting Netflix February 9 is Sophie Sartain and Roberta Grossman’s fresh-from-Sundance “Seeing Allred.” The documentary charts women’s rights lawyer Gloria Allred’s rise to household name status and follows her in her continued battle against sexual violence. At the height of #MeToo , and #TimesUp, the doc will serve the much-needed conversation around the culture of sexual harassment and assault.
After premiering to critical success in the UK last fall, Sally Potter’s satirical “The Party” will arrive in the States February 16. Boasting an all-star cast — including Patricia Clarkson, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Emily Mortimer — the black comedy centers on a celebratory dinner party that goes off the rails. Another comedic flick is Heather Graham’s directorial debut, “Half Magic,” out February 23. Graham, Angela Kinsey (“The Office”), and Stephanie Beatriz (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) play friends who empower each other to find happiness outside of romance.
Finally, a group of women comes together in the sci-fi thriller “Annihilation,” premiering February 23. Adapted from the novel of the same name, “Annihilation” sees a crew of female explorers, led by Natalie Portman’s Biologist, racing to unravel the mysteries of a strange, uncharted environment.
Here are all of the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films debuting in February. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
February 2
“Winchester”
On an isolated stretch of land 50 miles outside of San Francisco sits the most haunted house in the world. Built by Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren), heiress to the Winchester fortune, it is a house that knows no end. Constructed in an incessant 24 hour a day, seven day a week mania for decades, it stands seven stories tall and contains hundreds of rooms. To the outsider it looks like a monstrous monument to a disturbed woman’s madness. But Sarah is not building it for herself, for her niece (Sarah Snook), or for the troubled Doctor Eric Price (Jason Clarke), whom she has summoned to the house. She is building a prison, an asylum for hundreds of vengeful ghosts, and the most terrifying among them have a score to settle with the Winchesters.
“A Fantastic Woman”
Marina (Daniela Vega) and Orlando (Francisco Reyes) are in love and planning for the future. Marina is a young waitress and aspiring singer. Orlando is 20 years older than her, and owns a printing company. After celebrating Marina’s birthday one evening, Orlando falls seriously ill. Marina rushes him to the emergency room, but he passes away just after arriving at the hospital. Instead of being able to mourn her lover, suddenly Marina is treated with suspicion. Marina is a trans woman and for most of Orlando’s family, her sexual identity is an aberration, a perversion. So Marina struggles for the right to be herself. She battles the very same forces that she has spent a lifetime fighting just to become the woman she is now — a complex, strong, forthright, and fantastic woman.
“Scorched Earth” (Also Available on VOD)
The planet suffered an environmental collapse; the air became dangerous to breathe, the water became toxic, and billions of people died. Generations later, mankind has finally re-established a rudimentary society, in which bounty hunters roam the land in search of wanted eco-criminals. Bounty hunter Attica Gage (Gina Carano) has the chance at the bounty of a lifetime: bringing down the ruthless outlaw, Thomas Jackson (Ryan Robbins). Gage infiltrates Jackson’s gang, and everything is going to plan until she meets a slave girl that reminds her of her dead sister. With her loyalty to only herself now tested, Gage learns that there might be more to life than just survival.
“Before We Vanish” — Co-Written by Sachiko Tanaka
Three aliens travel to Earth on a reconnaissance mission in preparation for a mass invasion. Having taken possession of human bodies, the visitors rob the hosts of their essence — good, evil, property, family, belongings — leaving only hollow shells, which are all but unrecognizable to their loved ones. Equally hilarious, thrilling, and profound, “Before We Vanish” reminds audiences of the value of the human spirit.
“The Music of Silence”— Co-Written by Anna Pavignano (Also Available on VOD)
“The Music of Silence” is based on the extraordinary true story of Andrea Bocelli, a blind boy who, against all odds, becomes one of the world’s most renowned opera singers. Born with a serious eye condition that eventually leads to his blindness, Bocelli nevertheless rises above the challenges, driven by great ambitions towards his passion.
February 9
“Becks” — Co-Directed by Elizabeth Rohrbaugh; Co-Written by Elizabeth Rohrbaugh and Rebecca Drysdale (Also Available on VOD)
Inspired by the real life of singer-songwriter Alyssa Robbins, the film follows a Brooklyn musician named Becks (Lena Hall) who, after a crushing breakup with her girlfriend, moves back in with her Midwestern mother (Christine Lahti). As she navigates her hometown, playing for tip money in her old friend Dave’s (Dan Fogler) bar, an unexpected relationship begins to take shape. Driven by an original score by Robbins, the film’s musical numbers bring a unique new voice to the American movie musical.
“The Female Brain” — Directed by Whitney Cummings; Co-Written by Whitney Cummings and Louann Brizendine (Also Available on VOD)
What makes a woman swipe right for Mr. Wrong and left for Mr. Right? Co-writer-director Whitney Cummings (“2 Broke Girls”) stars as no-nonsense neuroscientist Julia, whose research into the biochemistry of the female brain is illustrated by three couples: newlyweds Zoe (Cecily Strong) and Greg (Blake Griffin), whose career troubles seep into their relationship; Lisa (Sofia Vergara) and Steven (Deon Cole), who are looking to spice up their stuck-in-a-rut marriage; and Lexi (Lucy Punch), who can’t help trying to change her boyfriend Adam (James Marsden). Meanwhile, the straight-laced Julia’s own synapses start to fire when a handsome new subject (Toby Kebbell) joins her study.
“Basmati Blues” (Also Available on VOD)
Dr. Linda Watt (Brie Larson) is a sheltered but brilliant young scientist who is sent on a work trip to India. She is welcomed by almost everyone, and embraces a world she is unfamiliar with. Linda is assigned a guide, an ambitious young bureaucrat (Saahil Sehgal) who immediately takes a liking to her. But when Linda meets Rajit (Utkarsh Ambudkar), a rebellious college student forced to drop out by lack of funds, there’s instant chemistry. And through their playful antagonism, Linda’s eyes are ultimately opened to the fact she has unknowingly become part of a destructive plan against the farmers. When she and the villagers discover her company’s greedy agenda, they work together to fight against the abusive agricultural giant.
“Fourplay” — Co-Written by Emanuela Galliussi
A story of friendship, love, marriage, secrets, and lies that unfolds between two couples in one apartment during a Sunday brunch that will affect their lives forever.
“Seeing Allred” (Documentary) — Directed by Sophie Sartain and Roberta Grossman (Available on Netflix)
As sexual-violence allegations grip the nation, “Seeing Allred” provides a candid look at one of the most public crusaders against the war on women. Through rare archival footage and revealing interviews with both her supporters and critics, this fascinating biographical portrait examines Gloria Allred’s personal trauma and assesses both her wins and setbacks on high-profile cases against Bill Cosby and Donald Trump.
“The 15:17 to Paris” — Written by Dorothy Blyskal
In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence as the media reported a thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train #9364 bound for Paris — an attempt prevented by three courageous young Americans traveling through Europe. The film follows the course of the friends’ lives, from the struggles of childhood through finding their footing in life, to the series of unlikely events leading up to the attack. Throughout the harrowing ordeal, their friendship never wavers, making it their greatest weapon and allowing them to save the lives of the more than 500 passengers on board.
“Still/Born” (Also Available on VOD)
Mary (Christie Burke), a new mother, gives birth to two twins but only one of them is alive. While taking care of her surviving child, Adam, she suspects that something, a supernatural entity, has chosen him and will stop at nothing to take him from her.
“La Boda de Valentina” — Co-Written by Issa López
Valentina (Marimar Vega) seems to have the perfect life in New York, with a perfect job and a perfect boyfriend, Jason Tate (Ryan Carnes), far, far away from her scandalous political family in Mexico. When Jason proposes to her and wants to go to home to meet the family she has been keeping a secret, her two worlds clash. Adding to the hilarious chaos, her family brings her ex, Angel (Omar Chaparro), into the picture and convinces Valentina to go along with a sham marriage to him in an effort to stop further negative press as her father runs for re-election. In the end, Valentina must choose where her heart belongs.
“Monster Family” — Co-Written by Catharina Junk and Kirstie Falkous (Also Available on VOD)
The Wishbone family is far from happy. With a struggling bookshop, an overworked husband, and two misunderstood teenagers, Emma (Emily Watson) is at her wit’s end trying to be the perfect mom. After dragging her family to a costume party on Halloween night, they are cursed by an evil witch and transformed into a Vampire, a Mummy, a Werewolf, and Frankenstein’s monster. Now Emma will fight to keep her Monster Family together and uncover the secret of their curse — eventually leading them to the Prince of Darkness himself, Dracula!
February 14
“Double Lover”
Chloé (Marine Vacth), a fragile young woman, falls in love with her psychoanalyst, Paul (Jérémie Renier). A few months later she moves in with him, but soon discovers that her lover is concealing a part of his identity.
“Tehran Taboo”
In this gorgeously animated drama, the lives of several strong-willed women and a young musician intersect. Their stories reveal the hypocrisies of modern Iranian society, where sex, drugs, and corruption coexist with strict religious law. In the bustling metropolis of Tehran, avoiding prohibitions has become an everyday sport and breaking taboos can be a means of personal emancipation. Nevertheless, women invariably end up on the bottom rung of the social order. A young woman needs an operation to “restore” her virginity. A judge in the Islamic Revolutionary Court exhorts favors from a prostitute in exchange for a favorable ruling. The wife of an imprisoned drug addict is denied the divorce she needs in order to live independently.
February 16
“The Boy Downstairs” — Written and Directed by Sophie Brooks (Opens in NY February 16; Opens in LA February 23)
Diana (Zosia Mamet) moves back to New York City after a few years abroad and finds the perfect Brooklyn apartment for a fresh start. Yet on the first night in her new home, she discovers that her ex-boyfriend Ben (Matthew Shear) lives in the apartment below hers. After an awkward reunion, Diana proclaims her intentions for a genuine friendship. But as old wounds are opened, both Diana and Ben are forced to confront the true nature of their feelings.
“Oh Lucy!” — Co-Written and Directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi
Setsuko (Shinobu Terajima) is a single, emotionally unfulfilled woman, seemingly stuck with a drab, meaningless life in Tokyo. At least until she’s convinced by her niece, Mika (Shioli Kutsuna), to enroll in an unorthodox English class that requires her to wear a blonde wig and take on an American alter ego named “Lucy.” This new identity awakens something dormant in Setsuko, and she quickly develops romantic feelings for her American instructor, John (Josh Hartnett). When John suddenly disappears from class and Setsuko learns that he and her niece were secretly dating, Setsuko enlists the help of her sister, Ayako (Kaori Momoi), and the pair fly halfway across the world to the outskirts of Southern California in search of the runaway couple. In a brave new world of tattoo parlors and seedy motels, family ties and past lives are tested as Setsuko struggles to preserve the dream and promise of Lucy.
“The Party” — Written and Directed by Sally Potter
Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) has just been appointed to a key ministerial position in the shadow cabinet — the crowning achievement of her political career. She and her husband Bill (Timothy Spall) plan to celebrate this with a few close friends. As the guests arrive at their home in London, the party takes an unexpected turn when Bill suddenly makes some explosive revelations that take everyone present by surprise. Love, friendships, and political convictions are soon called into question in this hilarious comedy of tragic proportions.
“Western” — Written and Directed by Valeska Grisebach (Opens in NY)
“Western” follows a group of German construction workers installing a hydroelectric plant in remote rural Bulgaria. The foreign land awakens the men’s sense of adventure, but tensions mount when, Meinhard (Meinhard Neumann), the strong, silent newcomer to the group, starts mixing with the local villagers. The two sides speak different languages and share a troubled history. Can they learn to trust each other — or is the stage being set for a showdown?
“Irreplaceable You” — Directed by Stephanie Laing; Written by Bess Wohl (Available on Netflix)
A stunning cancer diagnosis spurs Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) to seek a future girlfriend for fiancé and childhood sweetheart Sam (Michiel Huisman), who’s clueless when it comes to dating.
“The Housemaid” (Also Available on VOD)
Vietnam, 1953: Linh (Nhung Kate), a poor, orphaned young woman, finds employment as a housemaid in a crumbling rubber plantation presided over by the emotionally fragile French officer Sebastien Laurent (Jean-Michel Richaud). Soon, a torrid love affair develops between the two — a taboo romance that rouses the ghost of Laurent’s dead wife, who won’t rest until blood flows.
February 23
“Annihilation”
After her husband disappears, a biologist (Natalie Portman) signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition in an environmental disaster zone where the laws of nature don’t apply. The expedition team is made up of the biologist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, a surveyor, and a linguist.
“Hannah”
“Hannah” is the intimate portrait of a woman’s loss of identity as she teeters between denial and reality. Left alone grappling with the consequences of her husband’s imprisonment, Hannah (Charlotte Rampling) begins to unravel. Through the exploration of her fractured sense of identity and loss of self-control, the film investigates modern day alienation, the struggle to connect, and the dividing lines between individual identity, personal relationships, and societal pressures.
“Curvature” (Also Available on VOD)
A scientist must break into a top-secret facility in order to travel back in time and prevent a murder after receiving a mysterious phone call from herself.
“Half Magic” — Written and Directed by Heather Graham (Also Available on VOD)
Three women (Heather Graham, Stephanie Beatriz, and Angela Kinsey) use their newly formed sisterhood to fight against sexism and low self-esteem. Through embracing their wild adventures, they learn the secret to ultimate fulfillment.
“Dark River” — Written and Directed by Clio Barnard (Opens in the UK)
Following the death of her father, Alice (Ruth Wilson) returns home to Yorkshire for the first time in 15 years to claim the tenancy of the family farm she believes is rightfully hers. Once there she encounters her older brother, Joe (Mark Stanley), a man she barely recognizes, worn down by years of struggling to keep the farm going whilst caring for their sick father. Joe is thrown by Alice’s sudden arrival, angered by her claim, and finds her presence increasingly impossible to deal with. Battling to regain control in a fraught and fragile situation, Alice must confront traumatic memories and family betrayals to find a way to restore the farm and salvage the bond with her brother before both are irrevocably lost.
“Finding Your Feet” — Co-Written by Meg Leonard (Opens in the UK)
On the eve of retirement a middle class, judgmental snob discovers her husband has been having an affair with her best friend and is forced into exile with her bohemian sister, who lives on an impoverished inner-city council estate.
“The War with Grandpa” — Co-Written by Lisa Addario
Upset that he has to share the room he loves with his grandfather (Robert De Niro), Peter (Oakes Fegley) decides to declare war in an attempt to get it back.
