By Beandrea July and Sophie Willard
While the summer is often associated with big budget films, like the “Mamma Mia!” sequel (July 20), this July is defying expectations by releasing a bunch of women-centric and -made independent features and documentaries.
Though not the first major documentary about Whitney Houston to be released since the singer’s tragic death, “Whitney” (July 6) is being lauded by film critics following its festival run, much like the A24-produced coming-of-age drama “Eighth Grade” (July 13), about a teenage girl trying to survive the disastrous final week of middle school. “What Will People Say” (July 13), from writer-director Iram Haq, is another exploration of adolescence: it follows a teen girl, Nisha, navigating her identities while growing up in Norway as the child of Pakistani parents.
Meanwhile, Kimberly Reed’s documentary “Dark Money” (July 13) delves into the unethical campaign financing and essential buying of elections in the U.S. Another doc, Lauren Greenfield’s “Generation Wealth” (July 20), exposes the economic underpinnings of modern capitalism.
This month is also a celebration of new female filmmaking talent rising, as Deborah Haywood and Priscilla Cameron make their feature directorial debuts with “Pin Cushion” (July 13 in the UK, July 20 in the U.S.) and “The Butterfly Tree” (July 13), respectively.
July rounds out on the 27th with veteran director Melanie Mayron’s feature “Snapshots,” about secrets revealed during a multi-generational family “girls’ weekend,” and with the refreshingly simple premise of “Puzzle,” about a suburban mom who discovers a passion for solving jigsaw puzzles.
Here are all of the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films debuting in July. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
July 3
“Fireworks”
“Fireworks”
Shy Norimichi (Masaki Suda) and fast-talking Yusuke (Mamoru Miyano), are goo-goo-eyed over the same elusive classmate, Nazuna (Suzu Hirose). But Nazuna, unhappy over her mother’s decision to remarry and leave their countryside town, plans to run away and has secretly chosen Norimichi to accompany her. When things don’t go as planned, Norimichi discovers that a glowing multi-color ball found in the sea has the power to reset the clock and give them a second chance to be together. But each reset adds new complications and takes them farther and farther away from the real world — until they risk losing sight of reality altogether.
July 6
“Whitney” (Documentary)
“Whitney”
With over 200 million album sales worldwide, and remaining the only artist to chart seven consecutive U.S. No. 1’s, Whitney Houston was the voice of a generation. Coming from an esteemed lineage of singers, Whitney was destined to be plucked from her gospel-singing roots to rule the world stage. She inspired a generation of singers from Mariah Carey to Beyoncé, and her unforgettable performance of The Star-Spangled Banner unlocked an anthem that had for so long been dismissed by many black artists. But all these achievements have become a footnote to a story of addiction and self-destruction. With salacious stories filling the columns of tabloid papers and magazines, Whitney had the voice of an angel onstage, but was being torn apart by her demons offstage. “Whitney” will, for the first time, give audiences an unprecedented and unique look into Whitney’s life.
“The More You Ignore Me” – Written by Jo Brand (Opens in the UK)
“The More You Ignore Me”
A warm comedy drama focusing on the life of an unconventional family in 1980s rural England. Gina’s (Sheridan Smith) efforts to be a loving mother and wife are undermined by her declining mental health. Things deteriorate when she develops an obsession with the local weatherman, which leads to an admission to the nearby psychiatric hospital. Over the years, as she grows up, her daughter Alice (Ella Hunt) struggles to relate to her heavily medicated mom, and causes chaos when she comes up with a plan to reconnect with her, which divides the family forever.
“Bleeding Steel” – Co-Written by Erica Xia-Hou (Also Available on VOD)
“Bleeding Steel”
Lin (Jackie Chan) is a police inspector in modern Hong Kong. While tracking down a deranged, mecha-enhanced villain, Lin discovers that a geneticist’s lost bio-chemical invention has been surgically implanted into his missing daughter. With the help of a young hacker, Lin connects the dots between the device that haunts his daughter, his enemy’s sinister army, and a strange cultural phenomenon called “Bleeding Steel.”
“Sunset Society” – Co-Written and Co-Directed by Phoebe Dollar (Available on VOD July 24)
Welcome to the Sunset Society, a secret organization in Hollywood where parties are held, musicians gather, and blood flows freely. Ace (Lemmy) is the head vampire in charge who likes to keep the fun going while keeping the profile low. However, due to a few rebels in his midst, humans are starting to catch on to his vampire ways. In an attempt to keep a lid on his organization, Ace enlists the help of Frankie (Ron Jeremy), Sophia (Phoebe Dollar), and Mr. Cross (Robert Donavan) to stop the leak of information.
July 10
“The Broken Ones” – Directed by Elyse Niblett-Russell; Written by Cece King
Based on a true story from writer Cece King, “The Broken Ones” is about one woman’s struggle to cope with the loss of her father in the 9/11 attacks. This intense, romantic drama carefully delves into the struggles of depression as two troubled strangers meet and help each other overcome personal fears and tragedies.
July 11
“Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti” – Co-Written by Sarah Kaminsky
“Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti”
French artist Paul Gauguin (Vincent Cassel) was an innovator of modern art, known for experimenting with bold color and distorted proportions, along with his contemporaries Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne. By 1891, Gauguin was already well-known in artistic circles, but had grown tired of the civilized world and its political and moral conventions. Leaving his wife and children behind, he ventures alone to Tahiti, consumed with a yearning for new inspiration. Pushing deep into the Tahitian jungle, Gauguin meets Tehura (Tuheï Adams), his muse, who will consume his mind, and inspire his most iconic works of art.
July 13
“Eighth Grade” (Opens in NY)
“Eighth Grade”
“Eighth Grade” follows Kayla (Elsie Fisher) — a shy girl who expresses herself through posting YouTube makeup tutorials — as she navigates a difficult final week of eighth grade before entering high school. (Summer 2018 Preview)
“What Will People Say” – Written and Directed by Iram Haq
“What Will People Say”
Fifteen-year-old Nisha (Maria Mozhdah) lives a double life. At home in Oslo, she obeys the traditions and values of Pakistani family life, but outside with her friends she is just like any other Norwegian teenager. One day, Nisha’s two worlds brutally collide when her father catches her in bed with her white, Norwegian boyfriend. Nisha is kidnapped by her parents, and sent to live in Pakistan. At first, Nisha feels alone and afraid in the strange land, but then slowly, she starts to discover her parents’ culture in a new way.
“Dark Money” (Documentary) – Co-Written and Directed by Kimberly Reed (Opens in NY)
“Dark Money”
“Dark Money,” a political thriller, examines one of the greatest present threats to American democracy: the influence of untraceable corporate money on our elections and elected officials. The film takes viewers to Montana — a frontline in the fight to preserve fair elections nationwide — to follow an intrepid local journalist working to expose the real-life impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Through this gripping story, “Dark Money” uncovers the shocking and vital truth of how American elections are bought and sold.
“Pin Cushion” – Written and Directed by Deborah Haywood (Opens in UK; Opens in U.S. July 20)
“Pin Cushion”
Super close mother Lyn (Joanna Scanlan) and daughter Iona (Lily Newmark) are excited for their new life in a new town. Determined to make a success of things after a tricky start, Iona becomes “best friends” with Keely, Stacie, and Chelsea. Used to being Iona’s bestie herself, Lyn feels left out. So Lyn also makes friends with Belinda, her neighbor. As much as Lyn and Iona pretend to each other that things are going great, things aren’t going great for either of them. Iona struggles with the girls, who act more like frenemies than friends, and Belinda won’t give Lyn her stepladders back. Both mother and daughter retreat into fantasy and lies.
“A Second Chance” – Directed by Susanne Bier (Opens in LA)
Andreas and Simon are both police officers and best friends. They both lead very different lives. Andreas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is in a loving marriage with his beautiful wife and their newborn. Simon (Ulrich Thomsen) is divorced and often spends his free nights getting drunk in seedy city bars. One morning they respond to a call from a neighbor about a violent domestic dispute. Arriving at the home of a couple of junkies, Andreas discovers a baby abandoned in a closet. A young father himself, the case becomes a traumatic experience and will have dramatic and unexpected repercussions in his private life.
“The Butterfly Tree” – Written and Directed by Priscilla Cameron (Opens in UK)
“The Butterfly Tree”
Evelyn (Melissa George), a burlesque queen, bewitches single dad Al (Ewen Leslie), and his teenage son, Fin (Ed Oxenbould), with her zest for life. When father and son discover they are competing for the affections of the same woman, old wounds are reopened over the death of Fin’s mother. Through the vivacious Evelyn, Fin learns the power of forgiveness, and relinquishes his goddess in return for a family. In this seductive and heart-warming story, both men will discover the power of selfless love.
“The Devil’s Doorway” – Co-Written and Directed by Aislinn Clarke (Also Available on VOD)
“The Devil’s Doorway”
What unholy terrors lurk behind the walls of a secretive Irish convent? Northern Ireland, 1960: Father Thomas Riley (Lalor Roddy) and Father John Thornton (Ciaran Flynn) are dispatched by the Vatican to investigate reports of a miracle — a statue of the Virgin Mary weeping blood — at a remote Catholic asylum for “immoral” women. Armed with 16mm film cameras to record their findings, the priests instead discover a depraved horror show of sadistic nuns, satanism, and demonic possession. Supernatural forces are at work here, but they are not the doing of God. Inspired by the infamous true histories of Magdalene Laundries — in which “fallen women” were held captive by the Irish Catholic Church — this found footage occult shocker is a chilling encounter with unspeakable evil.
July 20
“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”
“Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again”
This sequel to 2008’s “Mamma Mia!” follows a pregnant Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) as she learns about her mother’s (Meryl Streep) past. Streep’s character, Donna, will be played by “Cinderella” star Lily James in flashbacks. (Summer Preview)
“Generation Wealth” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Lauren Greenfield
Lauren Greenfield’s postcard from the edge of the American Empire captures a portrait of a materialistic, image-obsessed culture. Simultaneously photographic journey, memoir, and historical essay, the film bears witness to the global boom-bust economy, the corrupted American Dream, and the human costs of late stage capitalism, narcissism, and greed.
“Wanda” (Theatrical Re-Release) – Written and Directed by Barbara Loden (Opens in NY)
“Wanda”
Wanda (Barbara Loden), a girl from a remote mining town, timidly searches for security and love in the Big City. After several desultory and abusive relationships, Wanda is “saved” by Norman Dennis (Michael Higgins), who turns out to be a petty crook.
“Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms” – Written and Directed by Mari Okada
“Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms”
The people of Iorph live far away from the lands of men, weaving the happenings of each day into a fabric called Hibiol. They live for centuries while maintaining their youthful appearance. Maquia (Manaka Iwami), an orphaned Iorph girl, lives her life in an oasis surrounded by friends, yet somehow feels alone. But the tranquil lives of the Iorph are shattered in an instant when the Mezarte army invades their territory on a dragon fleet, seeking the blood that grants the Iorph long life. Maquia manages to escape, but loses her friends and her home in the chaos. She then encounters an orphaned baby. Maquia raises this boy, Ariel, with the help of some new friends. But as the era changes, the bond between Maquia and Ariel changes too, amidst a backdrop of racial tensions between the Iorph and the Mezarte. This is a story of irreplaceable time, woven by two lonely people who can only find solace in each other.
“Far from the Tree” (Documentary) – Directed by Rachel Dretzin
“Far from the Tree”: DOC NYC
“Far from the Tree” follows families meeting extraordinary challenges through love, empathy, and understanding. This life-affirming documentary encourages us to cherish loved ones for all they are, not who they might have been. Based on Andrew Solomon’s award-winning, critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling non-fiction book, “Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity.”
“Damascus Cover” – Co-Written by Samantha Newton (Also Available on VOD)
“Damascus Cover”
Ari Ben-Sion (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), haunted by the death of his son, is assigned by the Mossad to smuggle a chemical weapons scientist out of Syria. Within days his mission goes wrong. To survive, Ari reaches out to a deep cover agent code named, The Angel. He soon discovers that he is a pawn in a much bigger plan.
“Broken Star” (Also Available on VOD)
“Broken Star” is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Markey Marlowe (Analeigh Tipton), a young, ambitious actress, who will stop at nothing to ensure everlasting fame. After many encounters with the law, she is sentenced to house arrest where she manipulates her recluse landlord (Tyler Labine) to fulfill her demonic desires.
July 25
“93Queen” (Documentary) – Directed by Paula Eiselt
Set in the Hasidic enclave of Borough Park, Brooklyn, “93Queen” follows a group of tenacious Hasidic women who are smashing the patriarchy in their community by creating Ezras Nashim, the first all-female volunteer ambulance corps in the United States.
July 26
“The Longest Game” (Documentary) – Co-Written and Directed by Camille Thoman
“The Longest Game”
Meet Hal, 87, Charlie, 87, and Maurie, 87: three of a group of friends who gather every day at 1 p.m. in the village of Dorset, Vermont to play a game called “paddle tennis.” They have been playing together for years. Moving beyond paddle tennis, “The Longest Game” takes on the game of life, the stories we tell, and the underlying forces that connect us all.
July 27
“Snapshots” – Directed by Melanie Mayron; Written by Jan Miller Corran and Katherine Cortez (Opens in LA)
“Snapshots”
Three women. Three generations. Two summers 50 years apart. With an old Brownie camera and developed old film in hand, Patty (Brooke Adams), and her daughter Allison (Emily Baldoni) arrive at Gran’s (Piper Laurie) lake house for their annual girls’ weekend. Within that envelope lies a secret that shatters long held images of the grandmother and mother they know, and changes their lives forever.
“Puzzle”
“Puzzle”
Agnes (Kelly Macdonald), taken for granted as a suburban mother, discovers a passion for solving jigsaw puzzles, which unexpectedly draws her into a new world – where her life unfolds in ways she could never have imagined.
“Apostasy” (Opens in UK)
“Apostasy”
As devout Jehovah’s Witnesses, sisters Alex (Molly Wright) and Luisa (Sacha Parkinson) and their mother, Ivanna (Siobhan Finneran), are united in The Truth. Alex looks up to her confident older sister, while striving to follow in Ivanna’s footsteps as a “good Witness.” But when Luisa starts to question the advice of the Elders, she makes a life-altering transgression that threatens to expel her from the congregation. Unless Ivanna and Alex can persuade her to return, they must shun her completely. This challenge becomes more painful when their family is faced with another heartbreaking test of faith.
“Good Manners” – Co-Written and Co-Directed by Juliana Rojas (Opens in NY; Opens in LA August 17)
“Good Manners”
Clara (Isabél Zuaa), a lonely nurse from the outskirts of São Paulo, is hired by mysterious and wealthy Ana (Marjorie Estiano) to be the nanny of her soon-to-be-born child. Against all odds, the two women develop a strong bond. But a fateful night marked by a full moon changes their plans.
“The Row” – Written by Sarah Scougal (Also Available on VOD)
A college freshman trying to get into a sorority discovers a dark secret about the house she’s pledging for after a series of murders terrorize the campus.
