From Sundance pics to blockbusters, there are a variety of films made by or about women to check out this February. Starting off the month is the highly anticipated “Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn),” which premieres February 7. Margot Robbie’s newly Joker-free Harley Quinn bands together with other prominent Gotham city heroes and villains to protect a young girl named Cassandra Cain from a crime lord. This tale from DC puts women front and center, with its primarily female cast and creative team, including director Cathy Yan and writer Christina Hodson.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day are a diverse number of love stories. Netflix’s “To All the Boys: P.S I Still Love You” (February 12), the sequel to the 2018 hit “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” revisits teenager Lara Jean as she navigates her first serious relationship — and a love triangle. “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” written and directed by Céline Sciamma, has its wide release on February 14. In this critically acclaimed film, intimacy and attraction grow between an artist and the bride-to-be she’s hired to paint. Opening the same day, Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn’s “Ordinary Love” showcases the enduring love of an everyday couple in the event of a breast cancer diagnosis, while Stella Meghie’s “The Photograph” follows a woman embarking on a new relationship in the wake of her mother’s death.
Two literary adaptations arrive February 21. Dee Rees’ Netflix pic “The Last Thing He Wanted,” based on Joan Didion’s novel, centers on a journalist who becomes embroiled in arms trading and Contra activity in Central America. Meanwhile, Autumn de Wilde’s feature directorial debut is a stylish take on Jane Austen’s beloved social satire, “Emma.”
We’ll also see several films that deal with the supernatural and the surreal in February, such as Netflix’s “Horse Girl” (February 7) and “The Invisible Man” (February 28). In the former, a lonely introvert, who usually finds more solace with horses than people, begins to lose her grip on reality. In “The Invisible Man,” a woman escapes her abusive relationship and goes into hiding. When her ex commits suicide, and a series of eerie events put her family in harm’s way, she must prove that she is being victimized by something no one can see.
Here are all of the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films debuting this February. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
February 7
“Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” – Directed by Cathy Yan; Written by Christina Hodson
“Birds of Prey”
You ever hear the one about the cop, the songbird, the psycho, and the mafia princess? Directed by Cathy Yan from a script by Christina Hodson, “Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only Harley can tell it. Margot Robbie returns as Harley Quinn, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Chris Messina, Ewan McGregor, and Ella Jay Basco also star.
“Horse Girl” – Written by Alison Brie and Jeff Baena (Also Available on Netflix)
“Horse Girl”: Sundance Institute
Sarah (Alison Brie), a socially isolated arts and crafts store employee, finds herself more content in the company of horses and supernatural crime shows than people. But when a series of strangely surreal dreams upend the simplicity of her waking life, Sarah struggles to distinguish her visions from reality.
“Mr. Jones” – Directed by Agnieszka Holland; Written by Andrea Chalupa (Opens in UK)
In March 1933, Welsh journalist Gareth Jones (James Norton) takes a train from Moscow to Kharkov in the Ukraine. He disembarks at a small station and sets off on foot on a journey through the country where he experiences firsthand the horrors of a famine. Everywhere there are dead people, and everywhere he goes he meets henchmen of the Soviet secret service who are determined to prevent news about the catastrophe from getting out to the general public. Supported by Ada Brooks (Vanessa Kirby), a New York Times reporter, Jones succeeds in spreading the shocking news in the West, thereby putting his powerful rival, the Pulitzer Prize-winning, pro-Stalin journalist Walter Duranty (Peter Sarsgaard), firmly in his place.
“The Lodge” – Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala; Written by Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, and Sergio Casci
A bone-chilling nightmare, “The Lodge” follows a family who retreat to their remote winter cabin over the holidays. When the father (Richard Armitage) is forced to abruptly depart for work, he leaves his children, Aidan (Jaeden Martell) and Mia (Lia McHugh) in the care of his new girlfriend, Grace (Riley Keough). Isolated and alone, a blizzard traps them inside the lodge as terrifying events summon specters from Grace’s dark past.
February 12
“To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” – Written by Sofia Alvarez (Available on Netflix)
“To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You”: Netflix/Bettina Strauss
It’s a new year and Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Centineo) are no longer pretending to be a couple. They are a couple. And, as Lara Jean navigates a trove of official firsts with Peter — her first real kiss, her first real date, her first Valentine’s Day — she finds herself leaning more on Kitty and Margot (Anna Cathcart and Janel Parrish), Chris (Madeleine Arthur), and an unexpected new confidant, Stormy (Holland Taylor). But when John Ambros (Jordan Fisher), another recipient of one of Lara Jean’s old love letters, enters her life again she must rely on herself more than ever as she’s confronted with her first real dilemma: Can she love two boys at the same time?
“Wild: Life, Death and Love in a Wildlife Hospital” (Documentary) – Directed by Danel Elpeleg and Uriel Sinai (Opens in NY)
“Wild” visits an Israeli hospital where injured owls, snakes — including one with a “shoulder wound” — hyenas, and leopards are given medical care so they may be released back into the wild. But the hospital’s medical staff must also contend with parallel personal issues that take their toll.
February 14
“The Photograph” – Written and Directed by Stella Meghie
“The Photograph”
When famed photographer Christina Eames unexpectedly dies, she leaves her estranged daughter Mae Morton (Issa Rae) hurt, angry, and full of questions. When a photograph tucked away in a safe-deposit box is found, Mae finds herself on a journey delving into her mother’s early life and ignites a powerful, unexpected romance with a rising-star journalist, Michael Block (Lakeith Stanfield).
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” – Written and Directed by Céline Sciamma (Opens in Wide Release)
“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.
“Buffaloed” – Directed by Tanya Wexler
“Buffaloed”
Peg Dahl (Zoey Deutch) has never run with the Buffalo pack. As a young girl obsessed with making enough cash to get out of her blue collar existence, she’s betting on her sharp mind — and even sharper mouth — to get her into an Ivy League university. But when an acceptance letter to the school of her dreams arrives, she quickly realizes the impossibility of paying tuition. One scalping scheme, stint in prison, and chance phone conversation with a debt collector later changes everything.
“Ordinary Love” – Directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn
“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 Kindness of Strangers” – Written and Directed by Lone Scherfig (Also Available on VOD)
Clara (Zoe Kazan) arrives in wintry New York with her two sons in the back seat of her car. The journey, which she has disguised as an adventure for her children’s sake, is soon revealed to be an escape from an abusive husband and father. The three have little more than their car, and when this is towed away, they are left penniless on the street. While stealing food at a Russian restaurant called “Winter Palace,” Clara meets an ex-con, Marc (Tahar Rahim,) who has been given the chance to help the old eatery regain its former glory. The “Winter Palace” soon becomes a place of unexpected encounters between people who are all undergoing some sort of crisis and whom fate has now brought together.
“Olympic Dreams” – Written by Alexi Pappas, Nick Kroll, and Jeremy Teicher (Also Available on VOD)
Penelope (Alexi Pappas) is a first time Olympian and introverted cross-country skier, who, after finishing her event early on in the games, finds herself spending time in Athletes Village with the gregarious and outgoing volunteer dentist, Ezra (Nick Kroll). While both are eager to form connections at the Olympic Games, they are held back by the very thing that has propelled them to this point: what do you do once your lifelong dream has come true, and you’re faced with taking the next step?
“Fantasy Island” – Written by Jillian Jacobs, Jeff Wadlow, and Christopher Roach
In Blumhouse’s new spin on “Fantasy Island,” the enigmatic Mr. Roarke (Michael Peña) makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island’s mystery in order to escape with their lives.
“You Go to My Head” – Written by Rosemary Ricchio, Dimitri de Clercq, and Pierre Bourdy
In a desolate stretch of the Sahara, a mysterious car accident leaves a young woman (Delfine Bafort) lost and alone. Jake (Svetozar Cvetkovic), a reclusive architect, finds her unconscious. He drives her to the nearest doctor, to discover that she’s suffering from post-traumatic amnesia. Intoxicated by the woman’s beauty, Jake claims to be her husband. He names her Kitty and takes her to his remote desert home to recuperate. Little by little, Kitty begins to fall in love with him. But when shreds of her past begin to surface, Jake takes steps to ensure he will not lose the love of his life.
“First Lady” – Written and Directed by Nina May
Katherine Morales (Nancy Stafford), a woman not married to the president, runs for First Lady, but she winds up getting a better proposal than she ever expected.
February 19
“Ride Your Wave” – Written by Reiko Yoshida
Hinako (Rina Kawaei) is a surf-loving college student who has just moved to a small seaside town. When a sudden fire breaks out at her apartment building, she is rescued by Minato (Ryôta Katayose), a handsome firefighter, and the two soon fall in love. Just as they become inseparable, Minato loses his life in an accident at sea. Hinako is so distraught that she can no longer even look at the ocean, but one day she sings a song that reminds her of their time together, and Minato appears in the water. From then on, she can summon him in any watery surface as soon as she sings their song, but can the two really remain together forever?
February 21
“Emma” – Directed by Autumn de Wilde; Written by Eleanor Catton
“Emma”
Jane Austen’s beloved comedy about finding your equal and earning your happy ending is reimagined in this delicious new film adaptation of “Emma.” Handsome, clever, and rich Emma Woodhouse (Anya Taylor-Joy) is a restless queen bee without rivals in her sleepy little town. In this glittering satire of social class and the pain of growing up, Emma must adventure through misguided matches and romantic missteps to find the love that has been there all along.
“The Last Thing He Wanted” – Directed by Dee Rees; Written by Dee Rees and Marco Villalobos (Available on Netflix)
“The Last Thing He Wanted”: Sundance Institute
At the tipping point of the Iran Contra affair’s arms for drugs plot, hardscrabble news journalist Elena McMahon (Anne Hathaway) finds herself on dangerous ground when she abandons coverage of the 1984 presidential campaign to fulfill her bed-ridden father’s (Willem Dafoe) last wish. Cast into an international melee of politics and covert ops, Elena insists on revealing the players and causes of a region in turmoil.
“The Woman Who Loves Giraffes” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Alison Reid (Opens in LA)
Dr. Anne Innis Dagg re-traces the steps of her groundbreaking 1956 journey to South Africa to study giraffes in the wild — and discovers a startling contrast between the world of giraffes she once knew and the one it has become. Weaving through the past and present, her harrowing journey gives us an intimate look into the factors that destroyed her career and the forces that brought her back.
“Premature” – Written by Zora Howard and Rashaad Ernesto Green (Also Available on VOD)
On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, 17-year-old poet Ayanna (Zora Howard) meets Isaiah (Joshua Boone), a charming music producer who has just moved to the city. It’s not long before these two artistic souls are drawn together in a passionate summer romance. But as the highs of young love give way to jealousy, suspicion, and all-too-real consequences, Ayanna must confront the complexities of the adult world — whether she is ready or not.
“Vitalina Varela” – Written by Vitalina Varela and Pedro Costa
Vitalina Varela, a 55-year-old woman from Cape Verde, arrives in Lisbon three days after her husband’s funeral. She’s been waiting for her plane ticket for more than 25 years.
“Goldie”
Goldie (Slick Woods) is a star — well, not quite yet, but at least in the eyes of her little sisters Sherrie and Supreme (Alanna Renee Tyler-Tompkins and Jazmyn C Dorsey) she is. The rest of the world is bound to take note soon too. Her big break surely awaits, she’s just got to pick up that golden fur coat she’s had her eye on first. And land a role as a dancer in a hip-hop video. And keep child welfare services from separating her from Sherrie and Supreme, after their mother is locked up. Holding onto those dreams isn’t easy when fate has placed such daunting obstacles in her path.
February 28
“Saint Frances” – Written by Kelly O’Sullivan (Opens in NY)
“Saint Frances:” Corey Stein
Flailing 34-year-old Bridget (Kelly O’Sullivan) finally catches a break when she meets a nice guy and lands a much-needed job nannying six-year-old Frances (Ramona Edith-Williams.) But an unwanted pregnancy introduces an unexpected complication. To make matters worse, she clashes with the obstinate Frances and struggles to navigate a growing tension between Frances’ moms. Amidst her tempestuous personal relationships, a reluctant friendship with Frances emerges, and Bridget contends with the inevitable joys and shit-shows of becoming a part of someone else’s family.
“Wendy” – Written by Eliza Zeitlin and Benh Zeitlin
The classic story of Peter Pan is wildly reimagined in this ragtag epic. Lost on a mysterious island where aging and time have come unglued, Wendy (Tommie Lynn Milazzo) must fight to save her family, her freedom, and the joyous spirit of youth from the deadly peril of growing up.
“The Invisible Man”
Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass (Elizabeth Moss) escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister (Harriet Dyer), their childhood friend (Aldis Hodge), and his teenage daughter (Storm Reid.) But when Cecilia’s abusive ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.
“All the Bright Places” – Written by Liz Hannah and Jennifer Niven (Available on Netflix)
“All the Bright Places”
Based on the internationally bestselling novel by Jennifer Niven, “All the Bright Places” tells the story of Violet Markey (Elle Fanning) and Theodore Finch (Justice Smith,) who meet and change each other’s lives forever. As they struggle with the emotional and physical scars of their past, they come together, discovering that even the smallest places and moments can mean something. This compelling drama provides a refreshing and human take on the experience of mental illness, its impact on relationships, as well as the beauty and lasting impact of young love.
“Disappearance at Clifton Hill”
Following the death of her mother, Abby (Tuppence Middleton), a troubled young woman with a checkered past, returns to her hometown of Niagara Falls and the dilapidated motel her family used to run. While there, she finds herself drawn once again into a mystery that has haunted her since childhood: what happened to the young boy she saw being violently abducted in the woods 25 years ago? As Abby sets out to find out the truth, she must confront both a shocking, long-buried conspiracy that runs as deep as the falls themselves as well as her own inner demons.
