By Beandrea July and Sophie Willard
As highlighted in our Summer 2018 Film Preview, this summer is set to impress with its varied range of female-led and woman-helmed films, and that all kicks off in style in June.
Among the month’s biggest releases is “Ocean’s 8,” boasting an impressive cast that includes Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett. Releasing June 8, the film follows Bullock’s Debbie Ocean who hatches a plan to pull off an extravagant heist at the Met Gala, aided by a kooky collection of criminally-minded women.
Documentary fans will be pleased to see “Half the Picture’s” premiere this month (also June 8). Directed by Amy Adrion, the film delivers a timely analysis of the systemic discrimination faced by female filmmakers. Other documentary releases include Donna Zaccaro’s “To A More Perfect Union: U.S. V. Windsor” (June 7), about LGBTQ rights activist Edie Windsor; Lorna Tucker’s “Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist” (June 8), which as its name suggests paints a multifaceted portrait of its subject, Dame Vivienne Westwood; and “Love, Cecil” (June 29) from director Lisa Immordino Vreeland, which documents the life and work of 20th century set and costume designer, photographer, writer, and painter, Cecil Beaton.
Fresh from well-received festival runs are Shana Feste’s “Boundaries” (June 22), a quirky family road-trip story about the strained relationship between a woman (Vera Farmiga) and her father (Christopher Plummer); “Woman Walks Ahead” (June 29), directed by Susanna White, which tells the story of the politicization of artist Catherine Weldon (Jessica Chastain), who travelled to Standing Rock to paint a portrait of Chief Sitting Bull (Michael Greyeyes); and Debra Granik’s “Leave No Trace” (also June 29), about a father and his teenage daughter who have lived off the grid, and whose lives are turned upside-down when they are both taken in by social services.
Elsewhere, Netflix release “Us and Them” (June 22) broke Chinese box office records, and charts the love story of Lin Jianqing (Jing Boran) and Fang Xiaoxiao (Zhou Dongyu), and writer-director Saila Kariat’s “The Valley” (June 8) — our April Under the Radar pick — explores the aftermath of suicide within a wealthy Indian-American family.
Here are all of the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films debuting in June. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
June 1
“One Sings, the Other Doesn’t” (Theatrical Re-Release) – Written and Directed by Agnès Varda (One Week Only in NY)
“One Sings, the Other Doesn’t”
Agnés Varda’s enchanting ode to female friendship and liberation is part blissed-out bohemian musical, part revolutionary cri de cœur. Spanning more than a decade, it traces the ups and downs — abortion, heartbreak, marriage, motherhood — of two friends, Pauline (Valérie Mairesse) and Suzanne (Thérèse Liotard). Even as their lives radically diverge, they remain steadfastly devoted to one another while finding ways to empower other women: one as a traveling feminist folk singer, the other as a reproductive rights activist. Set against France’s pro-choice struggle — of which Varda herself was on the frontlines — this tender and intimate epic celebrates the power of women to lift one another up. (BAMcinématek)
“Social Animals” – Written and Directed by Theresa Bennett (Also Available on VOD)
“Social Animals”
Zoe Crandle’s (Noël Wells) life didn’t exactly turn out the way she planned. She’s facing eviction, her business is going under and she is resigned to a life of one-night stands. Just when it seems her whole world is unraveling, she meets Paul, a fellow loveable loser, and the pair have an instant connection. There’s only one problem: Paul is married. With help from her best friend, Zoe devises a plan to save her business and salvage her love life.
“The Texture of Falling” – Written and Directed by Maria Allred (Opens in NY; Opens in LA June 8) (Also Available on VOD)
“The Texture of Falling” follows Louisa (Julie Webb), a filmmaker reeling from a recent professional dejection, who meets Luke (Patrick Green), a pianist experiencing his own artistic crisis. Despite a long-term relationship with Ati (Donny Persons), Louisa is intrigued by Luke. As Louisa falls for him, her skepticism of romantic love begins to unravel as she surrenders to her passions. But as Louisa and Luke’s romance blooms, a simultaneous story arises as Michael (Benjamin Farmer), a wayward architect estranged from his wife, meets Sylvia (Maria Allred), an enigmatic painter. But are these parallels merely a coincidence? Soon Michael and Sylvia embark on a verboten journey of pleasure and pain. But who is Sylvia? As Michael’s lust crescendos, he realizes that he has chosen the elusive.
June 7
“To A More Perfect Union: U.S. V. Windsor” (Documentary) – Directed by Donna Zaccaro
“To A More Perfect Union: U.S. V. Windsor” shares a rich tapestry of love, marriage, and a fight for equality. The film chronicles unlikely heroes — octogenarian Edie Windsor and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, on their quest for justice. Upon the death of her spouse, Thea Spyer, Windsor was forced to pay a huge estate tax bill because the government denied federal benefits to same-sex couples. Windsor became a renowned LGBTQ civil rights advocate when she chose to sue the United States government to recognize her more than 40 year union — and won.
June 8
“Ocean’s 8” – Co-Written by Olivia Milch
“Ocean’s 8”
Five years, eight months, 12 days and counting — that’s how long Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) has been devising the biggest heist of her life. She knows what it’s going to take — a team of the best people in the field, starting with her partner-in-crime Lou Miller (Cate Blanchett). Together, they recruit a crew of specialists, including jeweler Amita (Mindy Kaling), street con Constance (Awkwafina), suburban mom Tammy (Sarah Paulson), hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna), and fashion designer Rose (Helena Bonham Carter). Their target: a necklace that’s worth more than $150 million.
“Half the Picture” (Documentary) – Directed by Amy Adrion (Opens in NY; Opens in LA June 29)
“Half the Picture”
At a pivotal moment for gender equality in Hollywood, successful women directors tell the stories of their art, lives, and careers. Having endured a long history of systemic discrimination, women filmmakers may be getting the first glimpse of a future that values their voices equally.
“Hereditary”
“Hereditary”
When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited.
“Nancy” – Written and Directed by Christina Choe
“Nancy”
“Nancy” is a provocative psychological thriller about love, intimacy, and trust – and what happens when lies become truth. Craving connection with others, Nancy (Andrea Riseborough) creates elaborate identities and hoaxes under pseudonyms on the internet. When she meets a couple whose daughter went missing 30 years ago, fact and fiction begin to blur in Nancy’s mind, and she becomes increasingly convinced these strangers are her real parents. As their bond deepens, reasonable doubts give way to willful belief — and the power of emotion threatens to overcome all rationality.
“Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist” (Documentary) – Directed by Lorna Tucker (Opens in NY; Opens in LA June 15)
“Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist”
Since igniting the punk movement with ex-partner and Sex Pistols’ manager Malcolm McLaren, Dame Vivienne Westwood has been redefining British fashion for over 40 years, and is responsible for creating many of the most distinctive looks of our time. The film blends archive, beautifully crafted reconstruction, and insightful interviews with Vivienne’s fascinating network of collaborators, guiding us on her journey from a childhood in postwar Derbyshire to the runways of Paris and Milan. This is an intimate and poignant homage to one of the true cultural icons of our time, as she fights to maintain her brand’s integrity, her principles, and her legacy in a business driven by consumerism, profit, and global expansion.
“The Valley” – Written and Directed by Saila Kariat (Also Available on VOD)
“The Valley”
“The Valley” explores the struggle of one family to survive intact amidst a culture in which relationships and human connection are almost impossible to maintain. It is the story of an Indian American entrepreneur, Neal Kumar (Alyy Khan), his wife Roopa (Suchitra Pillai), and his daughters Monica (Salma Khan) and Maya (Agneeta Thacker), who reside in the high octane, technologically driven culture that is Silicon Valley. His ambitions and affluent life appear idyllic from the exterior; however, when his daughter Maya tragically commits suicide, the fractured nature of his interior life becomes apparent to himself, and those around him.
“Hotel Artemis”
“Hotel Artemis”
Jean Thomas, aka The Nurse (Jodie Foster), is the manager of the Hotel Artemis, an ultra-exclusive, members-only hospital hidden in a hotel redolent of faded ‘20s glamour. Tough, sharp, and utterly fearless, The Nurse treats an assortment of assassins, gunrunners, thieves, and gangsters in an unexpected state-of-the-art emergency room. One night as a violent riot rages on the streets of Los Angeles, legendary crime boss Niagara (Jeff Goldblum) arrives needing immediate treatment after a failed attempt on his life. Niagara’s sudden arrival creates a violent clash among the criminals in the hospital. The Nurse makes a decision that could jeopardize the future of the ER, and everyone in it. Now the safest place for criminals in the city has become the most dangerous.
“Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern”
“Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern”
During the Taisho era of 1918, 17-year-old Benio Hanamura (Saori Hayami) thrives on bucking tradition. As a boisterous and quarrelsome tomboy, Miss Hanamura leads a life of kendo and tree-climbing adventure with her best friends Tamaki and Ranmaru. Benio determines to find love on her own, though her family has other plans. Benio will encounter tests of love, independence, and friendship during wartime.
“2036 Origin Unknown”
After the first manned mission to Mars ends in a deadly crash, mission controller Mackenzie “Mac” Wilson (Katee Sackhoff) is summoned to assist an artificial intelligence system — A.R.T.I.
June 15
“The Year of Spectacular Men” – Directed by Lea Thompson; Written by Madelyn Deutch
“The Year of Spectacular Men”
“The Year of Spectacular Men” follows Izzy Klein (Madelyn Deutch), a young woman fresh out of college, as she strikes up and ruins relationships with several men, and struggles to navigate the failures of post-college adulthood, leaning on her mother and older sister for support.
“Set It Up” – Directed by Claire Scanlon; Written by Katie Silberman (Available on Netflix)
Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell) are overworked, underpaid assistants wasting their 20s slaving away for bosses (Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs) who treat them like dirt, and work them ‘round the clock. When they realize that they would have much more free time if the people they worked for weren’t single, they concoct a plan to lure their bosses into a faux-romance.
“Sunday’s Illness” (Available on Netflix)
“Sunday’s Illness”
Anabel (Susi Sánchez) abandoned her daughter Chiara (Bárbara Lennie) when she was barely eight years old. Thirty-five years later Chiara returns with a strange request for her mother: she asks to spend 10 days together. Anabel sees this trip as a chance to get her daughter back, but she doesn’t know that Chiara has a hidden purpose and she’ll have to face the most important decision of her life.
June 22
“Boundaries” – Written and Directed by Shana Feste (Opens in NY and LA)
“Boundaries”
Laura (Vera Farmiga) is a single mother living in Seattle, who has a constant need to put others and animals before her. When her estranged, criminally-minded father Jack (Christopher Plummer) is kicked out of his retirement home, Laura agrees to drive him down the coast to live with her sister JoJo (Kristen Schaal) in LA. Along for the ride is her bright but troubled son Henry (Lewis MacDougall), and an assortment of animal charity cases. Without telling Laura, Jack convinces Henry to help him sell off his copious supply of marijuana at every stop of their journey, resulting in unexpected reunions with old friends and family.
“Us and Them” – Directed by Rene Liu (Available on Netflix)
“Us and Them” follows the love story of Lin Jianqing (Jing Boran) and Fang Xiaoxiao (Zhou Dongyu) spanning over 10 years. The two first meet and fall in love on the train back home for Chinese New Year. The couple’s struggle eventually leads to breakup. Ten years later, they reunite on a flight home.
“Brain on Fire” (Available on Netflix)
“Brain on Fire”
“Brain on Fire” follows Cahalan (Chloë Grace Moretz), a rising journalist at the New York Post who mysteriously starts having seizures and hearing voices. As weeks go by and Susannah rapidly descends into insanity, she moves inexplicably from violence to catatonia. Following a series of outbursts, misdiagnoses, and a prolonged hospital stay, a lucky last-minute intervention by one doctor finally gives her a diagnosis and hope to rebuild her life
“Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town”
“Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town”
Riot grrrl rocker and shameless hot mess Izzy (Mackenzie Davis) wakes up hungover AF to find out that her ex-boyfriend is celebrating his engagement to her ex-best friend tonight at a bougie party across town. Enraged and desperate, Izzy embarks on a frenetic quest across Los Angeles to break up the party in order to fulfill what she believes to be her destiny — before it’s too late.
“Ghostland”
“Ghostland”
Following her aunt’s death, Colleen (Mylène Farmer) and her two daughters inherit her house. However, during their first night in this new home, murderers break-in, pushing Colleen to fight to save her daughters’ lives. During this highly traumatic night, the girls’ disparate personalities diverge even further. Sixteen years later, daughter Beth (Crystal Reed) becomes a famous horror author with a perfect family and life in Chicago, while Vera (Anastasia Phillips) can’t cope. Daughters and mother finally reunite at the house where Colleen and Vera still live. It is only then that strange events begin to take place…
“Racing Colt” – Co-Directed by Heather R. Provost
Manny (Toby Meuli) has always idolized Colt Racer (David Atkinson), especially when he became Colt’s assistant for a few years — that was until Manny had to move and care for his sick wife, and Colt found himself in rehab. Now, Manny finds himself assisting Colt once again, but this time for an Ernest Hemingway biopic. When filming commences, Manny finds that art imitates life as Colt picks up old habits that would even make Hemingway blush. As the storm brews behind the camera, Manny ultimately stands up to Colt, and discovers not only the real hero in himself, but a dark secret that changes Manny’s life forever.
June 29
“Woman Walks Ahead” – Directed by Susanna White (Also Available on DirecTV)
“Woman Walks Ahead”
Based on true events, “Woman Walks Ahead” tells the story of Catherine Weldon (Jessica Chastain), a widowed artist from New York who, in the 1890s, traveled alone to North Dakota to paint a portrait of Chief Sitting Bull (Michael Greyeyes). Her arrival at Standing Rock is welcomed with open hostility by a US Army officer (Sam Rockwell), who has stationed troops around the Lakota reservation to undermine Native American claims to the land. As Catherine and Sitting Bull grow closer, and as their friendship — and his life — are threatened by imperious government forces, Catherine must contend with the violence that underlies her position.
“Leave No Trace” – Directed by Debra Granik; Written by Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini
“Leave No Trace”
Will (Ben Foster) and his teenage daughter, Tom (Thomasin McKenzie), have lived off the grid for years in the forests of Portland, Oregon. When their idyllic life is shattered, both are put into social services. After clashing with their new surroundings, Will and Tom set off on a harrowing journey back to their wild homeland.
“The Hustle” – Written by Jac Schaeffer
A remake of the 1988 comedy “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” in which two down-and-out con artists (Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson) engage in a “loser leaves town” contest.
“Hover” – Written by Cleopatra Coleman (Available on VOD July 3)
“Hover” takes place in the near future, where environmental strain has caused food shortages around the world. Technology provides a narrow path forward, with agricultural drones maximizing the yield from what land remains. Two compassionate care providers, Claudia (Cleopatra Coleman) and her mentor John (Craig muMs Grant), work to assist the sick farmland inhabitants in ending their lives. When John dies under mysterious circumstances, a group of locals help Claudia to uncover a deadly connection between the health of her clients and the technology they are using.
“Love, Cecil” (Documentary) – Directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland (Opens in NY)
“Love, Cecil”: Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby’s
Set and costume designer, photographer, writer, and painter Cecil Beaton was not only a dazzling chronicler, but an arbiter of his time. His world is one of utter fascination: from the Bright Young Things, to the front lines of war, to the international belle monde, and the pages of Vogue, to his relationship with the Royal Family, and his alleged affair with Greta Garbo — her picture was discovered in his bedroom among those of two of his male lovers — Beaton embodied the cultural and political changes of the 20th century.
“The Bookshop” – Written and Directed by Isabel Coixet (Opens in the UK; Opens in the U.S. August 24)
“The Bookshop”
Leaving grief and a dead husband in the past, Florence (Emily Mortimer) takes life into her own hands by opening a bookshop in Hardborough, a quiet Anglian town, and one sheltered from the social and sexual revolutions taking place in the far away urban centers. Through the dissemination of classic contemporary works of fiction, such as Nabokov’s “Lolita” and Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” she stirs long buried feelings in the townsfolk, and in particular in the reclusive Mr. Brundish (Bill Nighy), with whom she subsequently strikes up a deep bond. But her actions bring the wrath of the controlling, vengeful Violet Gamart (Patricia Clarkson), a local social doyenne who is jealously affronted by the changes our heroine has affected.
“Summer of ’67” – Written and Directed by Sharon Wilharm
“Summer of ’67”
Based on real life events, “Summer of ’67” brings to life the turbulent times of the ’60s, and the struggles faced by the men and women impacted by the Vietnam War. Young wife and mother Milly (Rachel Schrey) is forced to live with her mother-in-law while her husband Gerald (Cameron Gilliam) is away on the USS Forrestal. Kate (Bethany Davenport) must choose between Peter (Christopher Dalton), her high school sweetheart, and Van (Sam Brooks), her new hippie boyfriend. Ruby Mae (Sharonne Lanier) finally finds true love with Reggie (Jerrold Edwards), only to have him whisked away by the draft. Each woman faces the question of whether or not their man will return, and even if he does, will life as they know it ever be the same?
