By Kara Headley and Vicki A. Lee
This is the first Black History Month since the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others sparked a new wave of activism in the Black Lives Matter movement. The ongoing global movement prompted a paradigm of unlearning and relearning, particularly for non-Black allies. It has also underscored the urgency for allies to take initiative, both to interrogate our internal biases and to dismantle the systemic injustices from which we may benefit. Of the many things the racial justice movement of the past year has taught us, a major lesson is to never stop educating ourselves. Film is a powerful port of entry into a person’s lived experience, inviting the viewer to surrender themselves, their ego, and their biases — for 90 minutes or so — to behold the world from someone else’s eyes. Besides its ability to cultivate empathy, film can also be a vehicle for expressing and grappling with trauma, and has the potential to facilitate collective healing. When filmmakers tell their story, we, the audience, open our hearts and listen. This month, we’re especially looking forward to four unique stories told by and about Black women, and hope you will celebrate these inspiring trailblazers on and off screen with us.
Hitting theaters for one night only on February 2 is the Nichelle Nichols documentary “Woman in Motion,” highlighting the former “Star Trek” actor’s work to transform NASA. Viewers will learn how Nichols’ influence helped to create one of the most diverse U.S. government programs and change the future of space travel for the better.
“Breaking News in Yuba County” (February 12), written by Amanda Idoko, is a comedy about a woman who capitalizes on her newfound fame when the police and media believe her dead husband is missing.
Shatara Michelle Ford’s “Test Pattern” (February 19) highlights the inequities faced by Black women in the U.S. health care system. The drama tackles the systemic factors that women, particularly Black women, must confront when navigating the world of sexuality, consent, and trauma.
The biopic “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” penned by Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, comes to Hulu February 26. The Andra Day-starrer depicts the federal government’s targeting of the titular jazz musician in their attempt to escalate the war on drugs.
Among the other notable releases this month are the theatrical expansion and Hulu launch of Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” (February 19), Mona Fastvold’s queer period romance “The World to Come” (February 12), the new Lara Jean Covey story “To All The Boys: Always and Forever” (February 12), Julie Delpy’s latest, “My Zoe” (February 26), and the Billie Eilish doc “The World’s a Little Blurry” (February 26).
Here are the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films debuting in February. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
February 2
“Woman in Motion: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek and the Remaking of NASA” (Documentary) (In Theaters for One Night Only)
“Woman in Motion: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek and the Remaking of NASA”
The film chronicles how Nichelle Nichols transformed her sci-fi television stardom into a real-life science career when, in 1977, she embarked on a campaign to bring diversity to NASA. Nichols formed the company Women In Motion, Inc. and recruited more than 8,000 African American, Asian, and Latino women and men for the agency. Nichelle and her program continue to influence the younger generation of astronauts as well, including Mae Jemison, the first female African American astronaut in space. Despite an uphill battle against a bureaucracy that was hesitant to let her get involved, Nichols persevered and is credited by NASA for turning it into one of the most diverse independent agencies in the United States Federal Government.
“Tribes on the Edge” (Documentary) – Directed by Céline Cousteau; Written by Céline Cousteau and Joseph Kwong (Available on VOD)
Building on a family legacy of exploration and environmental filmmaking, director Céline Cousteau journeys to the Brazilian Amazon at the request of tribal leaders in order to bear witness to the Indigenous communities’ fight for survival. Cousteau shares their rarely seen stories of cultural pride and traditional way of life set against the legacy of colonialism, and documents the ever-present threats to their land and health crises triggered by contact with outsiders. “Tribes on the Edge” follows these Indigenous communities fighting to protect their home — a home that is critical to the ecological balance of our planet, and as a result, these communities protect us.
“Central Park Dark” – Written and Directed by Cybil Lake (Available on VOD)
“Central Park Dark” is a thriller/horror about a one night stand that turns into a never-ending nightmare. Thomas (Tom Sizemore), an alcoholic, married doctor reconnects with Anna (Cybil Lake), an unstable woman with whom he has a past. After a heated argument, she jumps out of his window, then begins to torment him, though it’s unclear if she’s alive or not. Appearing in his dreams, Anna lets him in on a secret about the long history of dark forces in Central Park. Working with these dark forces, Anna takes revenge on Thomas through a series of ancient rituals. As Thomas struggles to return to his normal life, and keep his secret from his wife, a descent into darkness ensues.
“100 Days to Live” (Available on VOD)
“100 Days to Live” follows a woman (Heidi Johanningmeier) who grapples with her inner demons by running a suicide support group in Chicago. But when her fiancé (Colin Egglesfield) is kidnapped by a known murderer, she must race against the clock to discover the identity of the killer, and more importantly, his motive.
February 3
“Earwig and the Witch” – Written by Keiko Niwa and Emi Gunji (In Theaters; Available on HBO Max February 5)
“Earwig and the Witch”
Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig (Taylor Henderson) has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life changes dramatically when a strange couple takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch (Vanessa Marshall). As the headstrong young girl sets out to uncover the secrets of her new guardians, she discovers a world of spells and potions, and a mysterious song that may be the key to finding the family she has always wanted.
February 4
“A Nightmare Wakes” – Written and Directed by Nora Unkel (Available on Shudder)
While composing her famous novel “Frankenstein,” Mary Shelley (Alix Wilton Regan) descends into an opium-fueled fever dream while carrying on a torrid love affair with Percy Shelley (Giullian Yao Gioiello). As she writes, the characters of her novel come to life and begin to plague her relationship with Percy. Before long, she must choose between true love and her literary masterpiece.
February 5
“Strip Down, Rise Up” (Documentary) – Directed by Michèle Ohayon (Available on Netflix)
“Strip Down, Rise Up”
From Academy Award-nominated director/producer Michèle Ohayon comes “Strip Down, Rise Up,” a new feature documentary about women who come together to heal through sensual movement, specifically pole dance. The vérité-style film follows a diverse group of women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and body types, who reclaim themselves through pole dance either as a sport, an art, or as a way of unlocking their body in order to heal from trauma, release shame, and restore self acceptance. Shot by an all-female crew with rare access, “Strip Down, Rise Up” offers an emotionally gratifying, visually astounding, and unexpected look at the fascinating behind-the-scenes world of pole artistry and expression.
“Two of Us” – Written by Malysone Bovorasmy and Filippo Meneghetti (Available on VOD)
“Two of Us”
Nina (Barbara Sukowa) and Madeleine (Martine Chevallier), two retired women, have been secretly, deeply in love for decades. From everybody’s point of view, including Madeleine’s family, they are simply neighbors living on the top floor of their building. They come and go between their two apartments, sharing the tender delights of everyday life together — until the day their relationship is turned upside down by an unexpected event leading Madeleine’s daughter to slowly unveil the truth about them.
“The Reckoning” – Written by Charlotte Kirk, Edward Evers-Swindell, and Neil Marshall (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
After losing her husband during the Great Plague, Grace Haverstock (Charlotte Kirk) is unjustly accused of being a witch and placed in the custody of England’s most ruthless witch-hunter, Judge Moorcroft (Sean Pertwee). Forced to endure physical and emotional torture while steadfastly maintaining her innocence, Grace must face her own inner demons as the Devil himself starts to work his way into her mind.
“Dara in Jasenovac” – Written by Natasa Drakulic (In Theaters)
Set in 1940s Croatia, “Dara in Jasenovac” tells story of young Dara (Biljana Cekic), who comes face-to-face with the horrors of the Holocaust era after she, her mother, and siblings are sent to the concentration camp known as Jasenovac. Considered one of the most overlooked parts of history, Jasenovac is run by the fascist Ustase, who brutally murdered Jews, Serbs, and Roma people, which included many children. As unspeakable atrocities start to unfold, Dara must summon tremendous courage to protect her infant brother from a terrible fate while she safeguards her own survival and plots a precarious path towards freedom.
February 9
“The Little Prince” – Written by Irena Brignull and Bob Persichetti (Available on VOD)
At the heart of this adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s masterpiece is The Little Girl (Mackenzie Foy), who’s being prepared by her mother (Rachel McAdams) for the very grown-up world in which they live — only to be interrupted by her eccentric, kind-hearted neighbor, The Aviator (Jeff Bridges). The Aviator introduces his new friend to an extraordinary world where anything is possible. A world that he himself was initiated into long ago by The Little Prince (Riley Osborne). It’s here that The Little Girl’s magical and emotional journey into the universe of The Little Prince begins. And it’s where The Little Girl rediscovers her childhood and learns that ultimately, it’s human connections that matter most, and that it is only with heart that one can see what is essentially invisible to the eye.
“You Go to My Head” – Written by Rosemary Ricchio, Dimitri de Clercq, and Pierre Bourdy (Available on VOD)
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. As Kitty struggles to come to grips with who she is, Jake invents an elaborate life they can share — the life he has always yearned for. Little by little, Kitty begins to fall in love with him. But when shreds of her past begin to surface, Jake increasingly lives in fear of losing the love of his life.
February 10
“Music” – Directed by Sia; Written by Sia and Dallas Clayton (In IMAX Theaters One Night Only; Available on VOD February 12)
Zu (Kate Hudson) is newly sober when she receives news that she is to become the sole guardian of her half-sister named Music (Maddie Ziegler), a young girl on the autism spectrum. The film explores two of Sia’s favorite themes: finding your voice and creating family.
February 12
“The World to Come” – Directed by Mona Fastvold (In Theaters)
“The World to Come”
In this powerful 19th-century romance set in the American Northeast, Abigail (Katherine Waterston), a farmer’s wife, and her new neighbor Tallie (Vanessa Kirby) find themselves irrevocably drawn to each other. A grieving Abigail tends to her withdrawn husband Dyer (Casey Affleck) as free-spirit Tallie bristles at the jealous control of her husband Finney (Christopher Abbott), when together their intimacy begins to fill a void in each other’s lives they never knew existed.
“Land” – Directed by Robin Wright; Written by Erin Dignam and Jesse Chatham (In Theaters)
Robin Wright’s directorial debut, “Land,” is the poignant story of one woman’s search for meaning in the vast and harsh American wilderness. Edee (Wright), in the aftermath of an unfathomable event, finds herself unable to stay connected to the world she once knew and in the face of that uncertainty, retreats to the magnificent, but unforgiving, wilds of the Rockies. After a local hunter (Demián Bichir) brings her back from the brink of death, she must find a way to live again.
“To All The Boys: Always and Forever” – Written by Katie Lovejoy (Available on Netflix)
“To All The Boys: Always and Forever”
As Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) prepares for the end of high school and the start of adulthood, a pair of life-changing trips lead her to reimagine what life with her family, friends, and Peter (Noah Centineo) will look like after graduation.
“Dead Pigs” – Written and Directed by Cathy Yan (Available on MUBI)
“Dead Pigs”
Based on remarkable true events, “Dead Pigs” is a bitingly humorous social satire about the trials and tribulations connecting a disparate group of characters as thousands of dead pigs mysteriously float down river towards a rapidly modernizing Shanghai, China. A universal human story set against the backdrop of globalization, drastic social change, and increasing wealth inequality, the film is the masterful first feature of Cathy Yan (“Birds of Prey”), and stars an international ensemble including Vivian Wu and Zazie Beetz.
“Ruth: Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Freida Lee Mock (Available in Virtual Cinemas)
How does a person with three strikes against her rise to the highest court in the land, the U.S. Supreme Court? How did this happen despite closed doors and legal and social barriers facing Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the 1950s? What personal, social, and political forces intersected to make this happen? “Ruth: Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words” seeks to answer these questions by taking an intimate look at the prolific Justice and her incredible rise to the Supreme Court.
“Show Me What You Got” – Directed by Svetlana Cvetko; Written by Svetlana Cvetko and David Scott Smith (Available in Virtual Cinemas)
“Show Me What You Got”
Three late-20-somethings come together to create a wholehearted ménage à trois in this playfully erotic tale that sparks with the restless energy of the French New Wave. In a richly filmed black-and-white Los Angeles, each member of the threesome is in transition: fun-loving Marcello (Mattia Minasi) from under the thumb of his Italian soap star father, soulful French-Iranian actor Nassim (Neyssan Falahi) toward a more fulfilling career, and artist Christine (Cristina Rambaldi) through the grief following the death of her grandfather. The frolicsome trio finds joy and release together — exploring their sexuality, joining political protests, making art, and falling deeper into their unconventional amour — until Marcello must return to Italy and their experience there threatens the delicate balance of their relationship.
“Young Hearts” – Directed by Sarah Sherman and Zachary Ray Sherman; Written by Sarah Sherman (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Tilly (Quinn Liebling) and Harper (Anjini Taneja Azhar) have lived across the street from each other since they were small children. Harper’s older brother (Alex Jarmon) is Tilly’s best friend. When Harper enters high school, she and Tilly find themselves in an unexpected relationship that challenges social expectations, self identities, and family standings, providing us with an honest look into the naive yet complex social and cultural worlds of today’s young people.
“I Blame Society” – Written and Directed by Gillian Wallace Horvat (Available on VOD)
“I Blame Society” stars Gillian Horvat as a warped version of herself, a struggling filmmaker in LA who has been having an impossible time getting her latest project off the ground. Inspired by the “murderer” compliment and her own deep-seated resentments, she decides to make a documentary about her own transformation into a serial killer. And after she accidentally kills her friend, she realizes that she is indeed a pretty good murderer and sets off a killing spree, all captured by her own camera. But the one problem with being a good murderer is that she can’t get the recognition she deserves without going to jail, which proves very frustrating.
“Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar” – Written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo (Available on VOD)
“Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar”
Lifelong friends Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time ever.
“Fear of Rain” – Written and Directed by Castille Landon (Available on VOD)
A girl (Madison Iseman) living with schizophrenia struggles with terrifying hallucinations as she begins to suspect her neighbor has kidnapped a child. The only person who believes her is Caleb (Israel Broussard) — a boy she isn’t even sure exists.
“Cowboys” – Written and Directed by Anna Kerrigan (Available on VOD)
Steve Zahn stars as Troy, a troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife Sally (Jillian Bell). Aghast at Sally’s refusal to let their trans son Joe (Sasha Knight) live as his authentic self, Troy runs off with Joe into the Montana wilderness. Meanwhile, a police detective (Ann Dowd) pursues them, but her resolve about the case is tested the more she learns about Joe’s family. “Cowboys,” a modern day Western from director Anna Kerrigan, is a tale of rescue, family betrayal, and a father and son on the run.
“Breaking News in Yuba County” – Written by Amanda Idoko (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
A woman (Allison Janney) takes advantage of her growing celebrity status when the police and the public think her dead husband is just missing.
“Happy Cleaners” – Written by Kat Kim, Julian Kim, and Peter S. Lee (Available on VOD)
When a new landlord comes around, Mr. and Mrs. Choi (Charles Ryu, Hyang-hwa Lim) find their dry cleaning business, Happy Cleaners in Flushing, Queens, in jeopardy of closing after 17 years. While they make every effort to save the business, their daughter Hyunny (Yeena Sung) and son Kevin (Yun Jeong) are also at their own tough crossroads of life under the pressure of their parents’ high hopes. Struggling through economic turmoil, cultural clashes, and generational divide, the Choi family realizes that the only way to be stronger is to embrace each other.
“French Exit” (In Theaters)
A widowed New York socialite and her aimless son move to Paris after she spends the last of her husband’s inheritance.
February 16
“Ruby in Paradise” (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Ruby Lee Gissing (Ashley Judd) is on the run, determined to find something better than the closed rough life in the mountains of East Tennessee. She flees to a place once visited as a child, the “Redneck Riviera” of Panama City Beach. Arriving during the off-season, Ruby finds work in a gift shop owned by Mildred Chambers (Dorothy Lyman). Always on an emotional and economic edge, Ruby begins to keep a journal, “trying to figure out the whys of running off, of coming here.” Ruby’s desire to find her own way, to make her own choices, to explore her appetites in her own good time, gets her in and out of trouble as she moves through Winter into the frantic madness of Spring Break and beyond. The resolution of Ruby’s journey is both unexpected and hopeful as Ruby indeed finds her own way in “paradise.”
February 19
“Nomadland” – Written and Directed by Chloé Zhao (In Theaters and Available on Hulu)
“Nomadland”
Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The third feature film from director Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland” features real nomads Linda May, Swankie, and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.
“Test Pattern” – Written and Directed by Shatara Michelle Ford (Available in Virtual Cinemas)
“Test Pattern”
“Test Pattern” is part psychological horror, part realist drama set against the backdrop of national discussions around inequitable health care and policing, the #MeToo movement, and race in America. The film follows an interracial couple whose relationship is put to the test after a Black woman is sexually assaulted and her white boyfriend drives her from hospital to hospital in search of a rape kit. The film analyzes the effects of the systemic factors and social conditioning women face when navigating sex and consent within the American patriarchy, along with exploring institutional racism from a Black female point of view.
“Flora & Ulysses” – Directed by Lena Khan (Available on Disney+)
“Flora & Ulysses”
The film is based on the Newbery Award-winning book about 10-year-old Flora (Matilda Lawler), an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, whose parents have recently separated. After rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses (John Kassir), Flora is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora’s life — and her outlook — forever.
“The Sinners” – Directed by Courtney Paige; Written by Courtney Paige, Erin Hazlehurst, and Madison Smith (Available on VOD)
Seven schoolgirls, part of a clique dubbed The Sins, become the lethal target of an unknown killer after a harmless prank goes horribly wrong.
“Joe Bell” – Written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry (In Theaters)
Joe Bell (Mark Wahlberg) walks from La Grande, Oregon, to New York City to pay tribute to his son, Jadin (Reid Miller), a gay teen who committed suicide after being bullied.
“Sin” – Written by Elena Kiseleva and Andrei Konchalovsky (Available in Virtual Cinemas)
Florence, early XVI century. Although widely considered a genius by his contemporaries, Michelangelo Buonarroti (Alberto Testone) is reduced to poverty and depleted by his struggle to finish the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. When his commissioner and head of the Della Rovere nobility Pope Julius II (Massimo De Francovich) dies, Michelangelo becomes obsessed with sourcing the finest marble to complete his tomb. The artist’s loyalty is tested when Leo X (Simone Toffanin), of the rival Medici family, ascends to the papacy and charges him with a lucrative new commission – the façade of the San Lorenzo basilica. Forced to lie to maintain favor with both families, Michelangelo is progressively tormented by suspicion and hallucinations, leading him to ruthlessly examine his own moral and artistic failings.
“Days of the Bagnold Summer” – Written by Lisa Owens (In Theaters and Virtual Cinemas and Available on VOD)
Based on the critically acclaimed graphic novel, “Days of the Bagnold Summer” is a funny yet sweet coming-of-age story about single motherhood and Metallica. Daniel (Earl Cave) was supposed to spend the summer with his dad and his dad’s new wife in Florida, but when his dad cancels the trip Daniel and his mom (Monica Dolan) suddenly face the prospect of six long weeks together. An epic war of wills ensues in their suburban home as Daniel just wants to listen to heavy metal and start a band while his mom hopes to rekindle the fun times they used to have together.
“Blithe Spirit” – Written by Meg Leonard, Piers Ashworth, and Nick Moorcroft (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Best-selling crime novelist Charles (Dan Stevens) suffers from terrible writer’s block and is struggling to finish his first screenplay. His picture-perfect new wife Ruth (Isla Fisher) is doing her best to keep him focused so they can fulfill her dream of leaving London for Hollywood. Charles’ quest for inspiration leads him to invite the eccentric mystic Madame Acarti (Judi Dench) to perform a séance in his home. He gets more than he bargained for when Madame Acarti inadvertently summons the spirit of his first wife: the brilliant and fiery Elvira (Leslie Mann). Ready to pick up her life right where she left off, Elvira is shocked to discover the prim and proper Ruth is now married to her husband and running her household. Charles finds himself stuck between his two wives and their increasingly over-the-top attempts to outdo one another in this lethally hilarious comedy.
“I Care a Lot” (Available on Netflix)
A court-appointed guardian defrauds her older clients and traps them under her care. But her latest mark comes with some unexpected baggage.
“Burn It All” (Available on VOD)
With a history of men dominating her fate, a broken woman, Alex (Elizabeth Cotter) returns to her hometown to bury her mother only to find a violent organ smuggling ring already has the body and wants no witnesses, but by trying to extinguish her they spark an inferno.
February 23
“My Name Is Pedro” (Documentary) – Directed by Lillian LaSalle (Available on VOD)
“My Name Is Pedro” is an essential and timely reminder of the importance of great educators that exist within the infrastructure of our country’s public education system. This award-winning film, from first time director Lillian LaSalle, explores the seemingly impossible journey of South Bronx Latino educator and maverick Pedro Santana, a former “special ed” student whose mantra is, “every kid can learn despite their circumstances.” A New York Times profile of his “Out of the Box” teaching techniques thrusts him into the spotlight, which creates great opportunities for change but also has its downside — public school politics which, despite the cries of students and parents alike, threaten to take him down.
“Donna: Stronger Than Pretty” – Written by Pat Branch and Jaret Martino (Available on VOD)
A young mother’s “American Dream” turns into a living nightmare, until she finds the inner strength to listen to a voice she hadn’t heard before: her own.
February 24
“My Darling Supermarket” (Documentary) – Directed by Tali Yankelevich; Written by Tali Yankelevich and Marco Korodi (Available in Virtual Cinemas)
This documentary follows the day-to-day of employees who are just cogs in the wheel of a large supermarket store. As their journey subverts the mundane, we learn their pains and joys, their unlikely dreams and most profound existential questionings. Pushing against the alienating universe of repetitiveness that the store creates, this film looks at the supermarket as a somehow mystical place. A philosophical investigation hides at the heart of this film: How do we negotiate the repetition that lies within so many aspects of our relationship to the material world, and the constant search for meaning in our minds and souls?
February 26
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” – Written by Suzan-Lori Parks (Available on Hulu)
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
The legendary Billie Holiday (Andra Day), one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, spent much of her career being adored by fans across the globe. Beginning in the 1940s in New York City, the federal government targeted Holiday in a growing effort to escalate and racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial and heart-wrenching ballad, “Strange Fruit.” “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” unapologetically presents the icon’s complicated, irrepressible life.
“My Zoe” – Written and Directed by Julie Delpy (In Theaters)
“My Zoe”
Following a divorce, geneticist Isabelle (Julie Delpy) is trying to rebuild her life. She has a new boyfriend and plans to revitalize her career. But ex-husband James (Richard Armitage) can’t accept this and makes her life difficult in the custody battle for their daughter Zoe (Sophia Ally). When a tragedy strikes, the already broken family’s world is shattered. In reaction, Isabelle decides to take fate into her own hands.
“Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” (Documentary) (In Theaters and Available on Apple TV+)
“Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” tells the true coming-of-age story of the singer-songwriter and her rise to global superstardom. The documentary offers a deeply intimate look at this extraordinary teenager’s journey, at just 17 years old, navigating life on the road, on stage, and at home with her family, while writing, recording, and releasing her debut album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”
“’Til Kingdom Come” (Documentary) – Directed by Maya Zinshtein (Available in Virtual Cinemas)
Millions of American Evangelicals are praying for the State of Israel. Among them are the Binghams, a dynasty of Kentucky pastors, and their Evangelical congregants in an impoverished coal mining town. They donate sacrificially to Israel’s foremost philanthropic organization, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, because they fervently believe the Jews are crucial to Jesus’ return. This film traces this unusual relationship, from rural Kentucky to the halls of government in Washington, through the moving of the American Embassy in Jerusalem, and to the annexation plan of the West Bank. With unparalleled access, the film exposes a stunning backstory of the Trump and Netanyahu administrations, where financial, political, and messianic motivations intersect with the apocalyptic worldview that is insistently reshaping American foreign policy toward Israel and the Middle East.
“Cherry” – Written by Angela Russo-Ostot and Jessica Goldberg (In Theaters; Available on Apple TV+ March 12)
“Cherry” follows the wild journey of a disenfranchised young man from Ohio who meets the love of his life, only to risk losing her through a series of bad decisions and challenging life circumstances. Inspired by the best-selling novel of the same name, “Cherry” features Tom Holland in the title role as an unhinged character who drifts from dropping out of college to serving in Iraq as an Army medic and is only anchored by his one true love, Emily (Ciara Bravo). When Cherry returns home a war hero, he battles the demons of undiagnosed PTSD and spirals into drug addiction, surrounding himself with a menagerie of depraved misfits. Draining his finances, Cherry turns to bank robbing to fund his addiction, shattering his relationship with Emily along the way. “Cherry” is a darkly humorous, unflinching coming-of-age story of a man on a universal quest for purpose and human connection.
