November is here with collection of women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films that range from funny to heartbreaking to eye-opening to game-changing. On November 1, the month begins with “A Bad Moms Christmas.” This sequel follows three frustrated mothers as they try to conquer the upcoming holiday season. On the same day we have Jessica M. Thompson’s “The Light of the Moon,” a portrait of a sexual assault survivor.
November 3 follows with a blend of comedy and drama. First up is Michelle Morgan’s “It Happened in L.A.,” which follows two women navigating modern romance in Los Angeles. Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” traces the journey of the titular character, a self-mythologizing, rebellious teen living in Sacramento, CA. And Ana Asensio’s thriller “Most Beautiful Island” presents one hellish day in the life of an undocumented immigrant in New York.
November 10’s releases will see women making unexpected and bold moves. “Thelma” follows a college student falling in love while simultaneously developing supernatural powers. Marianna Palka’s “Bitch” centers on a stressed housewife adopting the psyche of a dog in order to cope with her life. And “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” stars a foul-mouthed Frances McDormand as a mother putting up signs on a highway in an effort to find her daughter’s murderer and draw attention to the local police’s ineptitude.
Among November’s documentary releases are Christina Herrera’s “No Dress Code Required,” about two men who become lightning rods in the process of getting married, and Alexandra Dean’s “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story,” which highlights the movie star’s hidden life as an inventor who trademarked an element found in all cell phones.
Here are all of the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films debuting in November. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
November 1
“A Bad Moms Christmas”
“A Bad Moms Christmas” follows our three under-appreciated and over-burdened women (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn) as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas. And if creating a more perfect holiday for their families wasn’t hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers (Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and Susan Sarandon).
“The Light of the Moon” — Written and Directed by Jessica M. Thompson
Bonnie (Stephanie Beatriz), a young and successful architect, is sexually assaulted while walking home from an evening out with friends in Brooklyn. At first, she attempts to keep the assault a secret from her long-term boyfriend Matt (Michael Stahl-David), but the truth quickly emerges. Bonnie emphatically denies the impact of what has just happened to her. Another attack in the neighborhood only drives Bonnie further into denial, before an encounter with an at-risk woman causes her to face the truth and confront her own self-blame.
November 3
“Lady Bird” — Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig
Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated, and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird’s father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, “Lady Bird” is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home.
“It Happened in L.A.” — Written and Directed by Michelle Morgan (Opens in NY November 3; Opens in LA November 10) (Available on VOD November 14)
Annette (Michelle Morgan) and Elliot (Jorma Taccone) are a mostly happy, moderately neurotic LA couple. Maybe Annette doesn’t enjoy game nights or taco stands as much as Elliot does, but no relationship is perfect, right? Rather than embracing their differences, Annette can only compare their relationship to their happy couple friends. This cannot be endorsed by Annette’s beautiful but romantically troubled best friend, Baker (Dree Hemingway), who is very well-versed on the bleakness of the LA dating scene. Taking its cues from classic mid-20th century comedies with a stylish and contemporary spin, “It Happened in L.A.” is an irreverent tale of life and the search for elusive love in the 21st century.
“Most Beautiful Island” — Written and Directed by Ana Asensio (Also Available on VOD)
“Most Beautiful Island” is a psychological thriller set in the world of undocumented female immigrants hoping to make a life in New York City. Shot on Super 16mm with an intimate, voyeuristic sensibility, “Most Beautiful Island” chronicles one harrowing day in the life of Luciana (Ana Asensio), a young immigrant woman struggling to make ends meet while striving to escape her past. As Luciana’s day unfolds, she is whisked, physically and emotionally, through a series of troublesome and unforeseeable extremes. Before her day is done, she inadvertently finds herself a central participant in a cruel game where lives are placed at risk, and psyches are twisted and broken for the perverse entertainment of a privileged few.
“No Dress Code Required” (Documentary) — Directed by Christina Herrera (Opens in NY)
A rallying cry for equality, this loving documentary follows Victor and Fernando, two respected stylists from the Baja California border town of Mexicali who became the center of a social firestorm from their simple desire to get married.
“Wait for Your Laugh” (Documentary) (Opens in NY; Opens in LA November 17)
Rose Marie’s rise to fame began at the age of four with her own NBC radio show. As she grew, she went from the stages of Vaudeville to the bright lights of Vegas to some of the most iconic television shows. But it’s not just credits like “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Hollywood Squares” that make her life so memorable. Characters like Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, and Jerry Lewis all played a part in this woman’s story of fame, love, tragedy, and success. A woman’s 90-year career is also the greatest untold story in show business.
“Princess Cyd”
Sixteen-year-old Cyd (Jessie Pinnick) decides to take a break from her depressive single father and spend a summer in Chicago with her aunt Miranda (Rebecca Spence), a well-known novelist. Soon after her arrival, Cyd encounters Katie (Malic White), a young barista behind the counter. The two make plans to meet up after Katie’s shift and a new, charged relationship begins. The Chicago landscape expands, and we navigate intimate and fragile moments between Cyd and Katie as they explore their new attraction. Miranda functions as a counterpart to young Cyd’s new explorations of sexuality and love, and as the summer continues, they develop a strong relationship founded on a shared openness and healthy criticism of particular personal moments.
“Battlecreek” — Directed by Alison Eastwood; Written by Anthea Anka
Henry Pearl’s (Bill Skarsgård) rare skin disease has left him hiding from the sun in the shadows of small town Battlecreek. His overprotective mother, the local diner, and his night time job at the gas station provide him a nocturnal and mundane existence. When a beautiful, yet tormented girl (Claire van der Boom) becomes stranded in town, Henry is awakened by love, forcing them both to face their turbulent pasts in light of the future.
“11/8/16” (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Sheena M. Joyce, Petra Epperlein, Alma Har’el, Alison Klayman, Ciara Lacy, Martha Shane, and Elaine Mcmillion Sheldon (Also Available on VOD)
On the morning of Election Day 2016, Americans of all stripes woke up and went about living their radically different lives. These were the hours leading up to Donald Trump’s unexpected, earth-shaking victory, but, of course, no one knew that yet. Featuring footage captured by a carefully curated group of some of America’s finest documentary filmmakers, “11/8/16” follows 16 subjects spanning the country’s geographic, socioeconomic, and political divides throughout the course of that history-altering day.
“Uncle Gloria: One Helluva Ride” (Documentary) — Directed by Robyn Symon (Available on VOD November 7)
“Uncle Gloria: One Helluva Ride” recounts the astonishing true story of Butch, the macho owner of a South Florida auto-wrecking company, who in a desperate search of a way to hide from the law, transformed himself into a woman named Gloria. But what started out as a trick to beat the system ended up changing Butch’s life forever. Now in her 80s, Gloria’s stranger-than-fiction life has been filled with risky surgeries, sex work, family dysfunction, activism, and a gender-bending love story. Full of humor, warmth, and sass, “Uncle Gloria” is a rollicking ride that must be seen to be believed.
“Elliot the Littlest Reindeer” — Written and Directed by Jennifer Westcott
When Blitzen announces his retirement on December 21, a miniature horse (voiced by Josh Hutcherson) has three days to fulfill his lifelong dream of earning a spot on Santa’s team at the North Pole tryouts.
November 7
“The Journey Is the Destination” — Co-Written and Directed by Bronwen Hughes (Available on Netflix)
Director Bronwen Hughes (“Stander”) and screenwriter Jan Sardi (“Shine”) recreate the inspiring life story of the late photojournalist, artist, and activist Dan Eldon, who documented the struggle, heartbreak, and hope of a war-torn and famine-ridden region of Africa.
November 10
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, commissioning three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), the town’s revered chief of police. When his second-in-command, Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother’s boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing’s law enforcement is only exacerbated.
“Thelma”
A college student (Eli Harboe) starts to experience extreme seizures while studying at a university in Oslo, Norway. She soon learns that the violent episodes are a symptom of inexplicable, and often dangerous, supernatural abilities.
“Bitch” — Written and Directed by Marianna Palka (Also Available on VOD)
“Bitch” tells the powerful and darkly humorous story of a housewife (Marianna Palka) who, after her philandering husband (Jason Ritter) and unruly kids break her psyche, upends the family dynamic by assuming the persona of a vicious dog.
“Gold Star” — Written and Directed by Victoria Negri (Opens in NY) (Also Available on VOD)
After dropping out of music school, Vicki (Victoria Negri) drifts aimlessly between her family’s house in Connecticut and an itinerant existence in New York. When her father suffers a debilitating stroke, she has to become his primary caretaker. Vicki resists connecting with him, and making peace with herself, but finds a way forward thanks to a new friend and a life-changing event.
“Destination Unknown” (Documentary) — Directed by Claire Ferguson (Opens in NY and LA)
“Destination Unknown” blends intimate testimony with immersive archive to bring the stories of 12 Holocaust survivors to the screen. The survivors share their memories, some for the first time, some for the last, bringing their experiences to a new generation. They endured the death camps. They hid in remote farms. They fought as partisans in Polish forests. But when the war ended, those struggles were only just beginning.
November 15
“Song of Granite” — Co-Written by Sharon Whooley
“Song of Granite” revolves around the life of the great traditional Irish singer Joe Heaney. The harsh landscape combined with the myths, fables, and songs of his Connemara childhood helped shape this complex and fascinating character. Enigmatic and complex, Heaney’s devotion to his art came at a huge personal cost.
November 17
“Mudbound” — Co-Written and Directed by Dee Rees — November 17 (Also Available on Netflix)
Set in the rural American South during World War II, Dee Rees’ “Mudbound” is an epic story of two families pitted against one another by a ruthless social hierarchy, yet bound together by the shared farmland of the Mississippi Delta. “Mudbound” follows the McAllan family, newly transplanted from the quiet civility of Memphis and unprepared for the harsh demands of farming. Meanwhile, Hap (Rob Morgan) and Florence Jackson (Mary J. Blige) — sharecroppers who have worked the land for generations — struggle bravely to build a small dream of their own despite the rigidly enforced social barriers they face. The war upends both families’ plans as their returning loved ones, Jamie McAllan (Garrett Hedlund) and Ronsel Jackson (Jason Mitchell), forge a fast but uneasy friendship that challenges the brutal realities of the Jim Crow South in which they live.
“A Fantastic Woman”
Marina and Orlando are in love and planning for the future. Marina (Daniela Vega) is a young waitress and aspiring singer. Orlando (Francisco Reyes) 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. The doctors and Orlando’s family don’t trust her. A detective investigates Marina to see if she was involved in his death. Orlando’s ex-wife forbids her from attending the funeral. And to make matters worse, Orlando’s son threatens to throw Marina out of the flat she shared with Orlando. 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.
“The Breadwinner” — Directed by Nora Twomey; Written by Anita Doron and Deborah Ellis
Parvana (Saara Chaudry) is an 11-year-old girl growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. When her father is wrongfully arrested, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy in order to support her family. Working alongside her friend Shauzia (Soma Chhaya), Parvana discovers a new world of freedom — and danger. With undaunted courage, Parvana draws strength from the fantastical stories she invents, as she embarks on a quest to find her father and reunite her family.
“Cook Off!” — Co-Directed by Cathryn Michon; Co-Written by Cathryn Michon and Wendi McLendon-Covey (Also Available on VOD)
Reality-show shenanigans mix with the fiery-and-fierce world of competitive baking in the deliciously sly mockumentary “Cook Off!” As a buffet of quirky contestants prepare for the renowned Van Rookle Farms Cooking Contest, the heat is on to win a one million-dollar prize. The filmmakers follow them as the foodie media and celebrity judges descend on a hotel convention area to see which contestants rise, which ones fall, who will reveal their true nature, and who will find love with the contest’s costumed Muffin Man mascot.
“Big Sonia” (Documentary) — Co-Directed by Leah Warshawski
In the last store in a defunct shopping mall, 91-year-old Sonia Warshawski — great-grandmother, businesswoman, and Holocaust survivor — runs the tailor shop she’s owned for more than 30 years. But when she’s served an eviction notice, the specter of retirement prompts Sonia to resist her harrowing past as a refugee and witness to genocide. A poignant story of generational trauma and healing, “Big Sonia” also offers a laugh-out-loud-funny portrait of the power of love to triumph over bigotry, and the power of truth-telling to heal us all.
“Soufra” (Documentary) (Opens in LA)
“Soufra” follows the inspirational story of intrepid social entrepreneur Mariam Shaar — a refugee who has spent her entire life in the 69-year-old Burl El Barajneh refugee camp south of Beirut, Lebanon.
“On the Beach at Night Alone”
An actress (Min-hee Kim) wanders around a seaside town, pondering her relationship with a married man.
November 22
“Mr. Roosevelt” — Written and Directed by Noël Wells (Opens in NY)
Emily (Noël Wells), a talented but hard-to-classify comedic performer, left behind her home and boyfriend to pursue career opportunities in LA. When a loved one falls ill, Emily rushes back to Austin where she’s forced to stay with her ex-boyfriend (Nick Thune) and his new-and-improved girlfriend (Britt Lower), a totally together woman with a five-year plan. Though Emily is the same, everything else is different: her house has been smartly redecorated, her rocker boyfriend is training to be a real estate agent, and her old haunts show serious signs of gentrification. Holed up in her own guest room, Emily — who has no idea what she’ll be doing five days from now, let alone five years — is forced to question everyone’s values: are they sell-outs or have they just figured out what makes them happy? And is she following her dreams or is she just a self-absorbed loser?
“The Man Who Invented Christmas” — Written by Susan Coyne
“The Man Who Invented Christmas” tells of the magical journey that led to the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and other classic characters from “A Christmas Carol.” The film shows how Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) mixed real-life inspirations with his vivid imagination to conjure up unforgettable characters and a timeless tale, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration we know today.
November 24
“Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” (Documentary) — Directed by Alexandra Dean
Austrian actress Hedy Lamarr fled an oppressive marriage to create a name for herself as one of Hollywood’s top leading ladies in the 1940s. Behind the glamour and sex appeal, though, was a talented and inquisitive inventor who created a radio system that is now considered the basis of Bluetooth technology.
