by Eboni Boykin and Diana Martinez
This summer will be packed with a broad range of films by and about women for your enjoyment as you escape the summer heat. Kicking off the summer months is “Me Before You,” a romance film directed by Thea Sharrock. This film adaptation of Jojo Moyes’s acclaimed novel was adapted for the screen by Moyes and will be Sharrock’s directorial debut.
Anna Helmer also makes her directorial debut with “The Fits,” about a sports-fixated girl named Toni who becomes enamored with the a local dance group. Soon after joining, the girls on the team become plagued with “fits,” resulting in fainting spells and spasms. Toni must deal with her conflicting fear, with her strong desire to fit in.
Helmed by Penny Lane, the documentary “NUTS!” studies Dr. John Romulus Brinkley, a doctor from the 1930s, who comes up with a curious cure for men’s impotence. Also a bit off kilter is “The Neon Demon,” co-written by Mary Laws and Polly Stenham. The horror-thriller follows an aspiring model (Elle Fanning) who moves to Los Angeles and encounters a pack of women who devour her youth and vitality. It received a mixed reception in its debut in Cannes.
One of the most highly anticipated women-centric films of the summer is “Ghostbusters,” starring SNL favorites Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, with blockbuster powerhouse Melissa McCarthy. Directed by Paul Feig, this all-female remake promises laughs galore — and likely further proof that women-led casts score big numbers at the box office. Another comedy with some major Hollywood names, “Bad Moms” is the “Hangover”-esque fun-filled journey of unappreciated career moms (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn) who have had enough of over-momming.
Towards the end of the summer, there are more serious titles, such as Patricia Rozema’s “Into The Forest,” which follows two sisters (Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood) in the near future with the world as we know it ending, and “Equity,” directed by Meera Meenon that looks at Wall Street through the eyes of a greedy female investment banker. Our summer picks end on a high note with Meryl Streep’s latest character study — “Florence Foster Jenkins,” a film about the 1930s opera singer who is famous for her charismatic, yet terrible singing voice.
Without further ado, here is a list of women-centric, directed, and written films releasing this summer. (Please note that this list is not exhaustive — these are just some highlights of June, July, and August.)
June 3
“Me Before You” — Directed by Thea Sharrock; Written by Jojo Moyes
What it’s about: In this romantic drama based on Jojo Moyes’ hit novel of the same name, Emilia Clarke plays Lou, a whimsical caretaker determined to zap life back into wheelchair user Will (Sam Claflin).
Why we’re excited: This movie marks important career firsts for the women involved. Director Thea Sharrock is a prolific theater and television director, but this film is Sharrock’s feature film debut. This movie also marks a first for star Emilia Clarke. Though her roles as Daenerys Targaryen on HBO’s hit show “Game of Thrones” and as Sarah Connor in last year’s “Terminator Genisys” proves she is a formidable action star, in “Me Before You,” Clarke makes her debut as a romantic heroine. Finally, this film is romance novelist Jojo Moyes’ first big-screen adaptation — and hopefully not her last. Last fall, the author released a sequel to “Me Before You” titled “After You.”
“The Fits” — Written and Directed by Anna Rose Holmer (Opens in NY; Opens in LA June 10)
What it’s about: Tomboy Toni (Royalty Hightower) joins a dance team in Cincinnati and seemingly finds her place among the girls. But when a mysterious plague hits the team, Toni is forced to look at her place with the girls and in the world.
Why we’re excited: “The Fits” premiered at the 2015 Venice Film Festival to rave reviews from Variety, Indiewire, and The Hollywood Reporter. Along with praise for Anna Rose Holmer, who makes her directorial debut, much of the commentary surrounds 10-year-old star Royalty Hightower, who is a captivating lead in this intriguing film. This portrait of the transition from childhood to young adulthood is anchored by Hightower’s nuanced performance. Variety writes, “Hightower expresses little verbally but conveys a world of interior longing, fear, envy and hope with her large, communicative eyes.”
June 17
“Finding Dory”
What it’s about: Forgetful tang fish Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) embarks on a quest to find her own family with the help of new and familiar undersea friends.
Why we’re excited: In a season full of raucous superhero films, the follow-up to the 2003 Pixar hit “Finding Nemo” is the perfect family-friendly film for the summer. Though the trailers for “Finding Dory” only reveal a basic plot, they showcase the film’s awe-inspiring landscapes. The team behind the film has created a world with vibrant colors and sinuous camerawork that will delight audiences. But we are most excited for a new protagonist of the franchise. The focus on Dory is a welcome departure from the original. Her solo sojourn across the sea will surely inspire young girls to “just keep swimming.”
June 22
“NUTS!” (Documentary) — Directed by Penny Lane (Opens in NY)
What it’s about: Dr. John Romulus Brinkley amassed a great fortune in the 1930s hawking a cure-all for men’s impotence: goat testicle transplants. His “discovery” triggers a truly outrageous story chronicling the rise and fall of one of America’s nuttiest entrepreneurs.
Why we’re excited: Penny Lane’s “NUTS!” won the 2016 Sundance U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing. Lane has been working on the film for eight years. She spent that time gathering audio, archival footage, recordings, interviews with experts, and commissioning animated segments for the film. The film’s eclectic style purposefully mirrors the outlandish subject matter. On the film’s site, Lane writes, “I am on a mission to prove that watching documentary films isn’t just about eating your vegetables, the viewer is supposed to have fun while they wrestle with this stuff. Ultimately, ‘NUTS!’ is still just a good old story about a big fat liar, some goat balls, and a million-watt radio station. Because who says smart films have to be boring?”
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Penny Lane.
June 24
“The Neon Demon” — Co-Written by Mary Laws and Polly Stenham
What it’s about: Elle Fanning plays Jesse, an aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles and is greeted by a life-devouring group of beauty-obsessed women.
Why we’re excited: Nicolas Winding Refn’s latest film has drawn incredible controversy, most recently being booed at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for its excessive violence and disturbing subject matter. Yes, this is not an entirely new accusation of one of Refn’s films, although this film is the director’s first with a female protagonist. In an interview, the director stated, “I always set out wanting to make films about women but it always ends up being about men. Maybe it’s because I don’t know how to write them.” To help with the task, he recruited rising British playwright Polly Stenham, who said, “He’s got a lot of stick for doing films some people think are violently misogynistic. So he approached me with the idea of doing something different.” Stenham left the production after writing a first draft to develop a new play, and writer Mary Laws stepped in.
July 1
“The BFG” — Written by Melissa Mathison
What it’s about: Ten-year-old Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) becomes friends with the Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance). When a dangerous situation in Giant Country threatens the human world, Sophie and the BFG go on a quest to warn the Queen (Penelope Wilton) and convince her that the two worlds are more related than we think.
Why we’re excited: Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book becomes a live-action film in this Disney adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison. Mathison, who died in November 2015, was especially brilliant at rendering heart-wrenching stories about young children. She first collaborated with Spielberg in 1982 on the script for “E.T.” Later she adapted “The Indian in the Cupboard,” directed by Frank Oz and adapted from the novel by Lynne Reid Banks. Mathison also wrote the screenplay for Martin Scorsese’s “Kundun,” which tells the story of Tibet’s fourteenth Dalai Lama, who began his reign at 10-years-old. “The BFG” is a fitting final film that showcases Mathison’s ability to see through children’s eyes, bringing to life dreams, magical worlds, and faraway lands.
“Our Kind of Traitor” — Directed by Susanna White
What it’s about: A couple (Ewan McGregor and Naomie Harris) gets involved in a high-stakes international incident when they unwittingly become the go-between for the Russian mafia and MI6.
Why we’re excited: “Our Kind of Traitor” is an adaptation of British novelist John le Carré’s bestselling book of the same name. New York Times book critic Michiko Kakutani called the novel “the author’s most thrilling thriller in years.” With Susanna White’s deft direction, the big-screen adaptation is also a stylish and gripping spy thriller. The trailer for the film showcases it’s careening pace, prepping the audience for a film filled with mystery, suspense and gasp-inducing twists.
“The Innocents” — Directed by Anne Fontaine; Co-Written by Sabrina B. Karine and Alice Vial (Opens in NY and LA)
What it’s about: Based on true events, the movie tells the story of Mathilde (Lou de Laâge), an atheist, French doctor helping a group of Polish pregnant nuns after World War II. Mathilde becomes their lifeline as their faith wavers.
Why we’re excited: War stories rarely feature women, and “The Innocents” has an unusual premise whose origins in true events are especially intriguing. Despite the film’s glum implications (that nuns were attacked and impregnated during WWII), the film’s director hopes the movie inspires viewers in a positive way. In an interview with Women and Hollywood, Anna Fontaine noted that the film “explores how tragic circumstances can bring together people motivated by seemingly opposite beliefs.” Fontaine remarked that she would like the audience to leave the film thinking about how “In spite of all the terrible things that happen in our world, hope can — and must — prevail.”
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Anna Fontaine.
July 8
“Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You” — Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
What it’s about: This documentary explores the career of the creator of hit shows “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Good Times,” and “Maude.” Lear, now 93-years-old, offers insights into his life and creative process, reflecting on the controversial moments and iconic series that earned him his place in television history.
Why we’re excited: Norman Lear is a legendary figure in American television. In the 1970s and 1980s, he wrote a slew of iconic sitcoms that dealt with gender, race, and class in ways unseen before on television. Melissa Silverstein wrote a mini-review of the film when it premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. She writes, “Growing up in the ’80s, I watched all of Lear’s shows. He was ahead of his time on women and on race. But he wasn’t perfect, and I found the conversations and confrontations he had with Esther Rolle about how the (white male) writers on ‘Good Times’ were writing the black characters. Looking at that situation through a lens from 2016 was eye-opening.”
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady.
“Our Little Sister” (Opens in NY and LA)
What it’s about: Three sisters (Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, and Kaho) take in their 13-year-old half-sister, Suzu (Suzu Hirose), when their father dies. Together, they reconcile with their father’s past mistakes and become a family.
Why we’re excited: There are many ensemble films on our summer list, but “Our Little Sister” stands apart for its complex representation of female relationships. Based on the ongoing manga “Umimachi Diary” by artist Akimi Yoshida, the film is a meditation on the dynamics of family and sisterhood. When Suzu is taken in by her older half-sisters, she sees the deep gash her father left on their lives, adding a new dimension to her grief. For the Koda sisters, Suzu’s presence is a reminder of pain, but also of their own resilience following the abandonment of their father, and then their mother. This thoughtful drama is sure to be one to watch with your loved ones.
July 15
“Ghostbusters” — Co-Written by Katie Dippold
What it’s about: Disgraced academics Erin and Abby (Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy) team up with nuclear engineer Jillian (Kate McKinnon) and subway worker Patty (Leslie Jones) to fight ghosts — and one evil demon — invading Manhattan.
Why we’re excited: Prior to its opening, “Ghostbusters” is already making waves. Though the film has sparked reactions that director Paul Feig calls, “some of the most vile, [misogyny] I’ve ever seen in my life,” the film’s unapologetic female bad-assery in the face of criticism is admirable. But our excitement for the film is best summed up by Linda Holmes on a past episode of NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour, “What I am waiting for is the one [film] that is not just big, but mega-big — that takes this comedy stuff and crosses over to even more blockbuster-y [action territory].” We think “Ghostbusters” can be that undeniable, blockbuster success that will once and for all closes the question about the formidable power of women at the box-office.
“My King (Mon roi)” — Written and Directed by Maïwenn
What it’s about: In a rehabilitation center after a ski accident, Tony (Emmanuelle Bercot) reflects on her relationship with lover Georgio (Vincent Cassell). Tony re-evaluates 10 years of joy, pain, and heartache, attempting to understand the complexity of their romance.
Why we’re excited: Actress Emmanuelle Bercot won a Best Actress Award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival for her portrayal of Tony.
July 22
“Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” — Directed by Mandie Fletcher; Written by Jennifer Saunders
What it’s about: In a quest to become her agents, social climbers Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) accidentally maybe kill Kate Moss (playing herself). They flee to the south of France indulging in luxury fashions and extravagant partying to take their minds off the consequences of murdering one of Britain’s most beloved fashion icons.
Why we’re excited: “Ab Fab,” as fans call it, is a legendary show for its portrayal of bawdy, unruly women in a world almost devoid of men. Edina and Patsy are a complicated mess of attributes: they are buffoonish, incompetent, and utterly superficial, yet they are endearing, funny, and searingly insightful about the ridiculousness of social mores, popular culture, and family life. Despite its decades long intermittent run (the first series aired in 1992, and the last special was in 2012), this is the first time the duo tackles the big screen, and they’ve brought out the big guns. The film promises even more outlandish situations for the pair, and with over 60 celebrity cameos, it promises to be a hilarious, campy, absolutely fabulous movie.
“Summertime” — Directed by Catherine Corsini; Written by Catherine Corsini and Laurette Polmanss
What it’s about: Delphine (Izïa Higelin) moves from her conservative, rural home to Paris where she meets Carole (Cécile de France). They fall madly in love, but when a family emergency pulls Delphine back home, the viability of their relationship is called into question.
Why we’re excited: The queer love story is having a mini Renaissance and “Summertime” is surely to be another great film to add to the canon. This melodrama explores the implications family life has on women’s identities, and how family can both inhibit and promote personal growth. Director Catherine Corsini told Women and Hollywood that she would like the movie to create empathy in the viewer for the complicated demands on women in all aspects of their lives. She said, “I would like [the audience] to be moved, to be in tears and to realize that one’s choices in love are a private matter that concern just you and the other person. I would like people to be moved to act collectively again, to militate. I would like the film to make people think about the place of women in the world — the advances and setbacks that they have experienced these past years in terms of their freedom.”
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Catherine Corsini.
July 29
“Bad Moms”
What it’s about: Overworked mom Amy (Mila Kunis) is fed up with the tedious tasks of trying to be the “perfect mom.” When an outburst at a PTA meeting lands her in hot water with the org’s Queen Bee (Christina Applegate), Amy joins forces with other tired moms (Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn). The trio go on an overdue binge of outrageous fun and shenanigans.
Why we’re excited: Funny mom characters are unfortunately scarce on the big screen, but “Bad Moms” might just be one big step in the right direction. With many of the gregarious rules of upper-class parenting being needlessly overbearing, one could draw a connection between its strenuousness and the superfluous rules placed on women in general — hair, size, clothes, sexuality, etc. To see a film that pushes back against those norms and celebrating the women that do, is plenty to be excited about.
“Into the Forest” — Written and Directed by Patricia Rozema; (Available on DirecTV June 23)
What it’s about: In this adaptation of Jean Hegland’s novel, two sisters (Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood) must survive in the forest when society implodes.
Why we’re excited: Dystopian worlds are evermore popular, often skewing toward the big picture of the world as a whole. As described in Variety, “Into The Forest” takes a deliberately more intimate approach. By focusing on the relationship between the two sisters instead of the details surrounding their unfortunate circumstances, the film takes a different route to the exploration of the post-apocalyptic imagination.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Patricia Rozema.
“Equity” — Directed by Meera Menon; Written by Amy Fox
What it’s about: A high profile investment banker (Anna Gunn) fights to climb the ladder in corporate society in this thriller, considered a female alternative to the typically male-centric “Wall Street” films.
Why we’re excited: Rather than addressing workplace sexism in a wagging-your-finger sort of way, “Equity” accomplishes a “casual reversal of the sexes,” as The Hollywood Reporter writes. Naomi Bishop (Gunn) is a morally questionable central character, who happily admits to her love of money — she is the classically flawed power figure given us by “Mad Men” and the like, with the nuances of being a woman in a male-dominated space.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Meera Menon.
“Tallulah” — Written and Directed by Sian Heder (Also available on Netflix)
What it’s about: A young woman (Ellen Page) is living off the grid. She arrives in NY and is mistaken for a babysitter by rich flighty mom Carolyn (Tammy Blanchard). When she returns intoxicated and passes out, Tallulah (Page) decides to run off with the neglected toddler and heads to her boyfriends mom’s apartment and passes of the baby as her grandchild.
Why we’re excited: This dramedy is directed by “Orange Is The New Black” writer-producer Sian Heder in a debut that is sure to be as smart and funny as “OITNB.” Page returns in another starring role that addresses coming to terms with growing up and motherhood, with a new spin.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Sian Heder.
August 12
“Florence Foster Jenkins”
What it’s about: A wealthy heiress attempts to become an opera singer despite being a not-so-great singer — and becomes famous for her lack of singing skills.
Why we’re excited: Meryl Streep vehicles are unlikely to disappoint, and with Hugh Grant and Rebecca Ferguson co-starring, “Florence Foster Jenkins” is set up to be a fun summer treat. Robbie Collins writes in The Telegraph that, “Foster Jenkins wasn’t famous because her singing sounded like a cat fighting a duck in a wheelie bin, but because she committed to it with the panache and depth of feeling of a peak-form Callas.” If anyone can capture that “panache,” it’s Streep.
August 19
“Disorder” — Written and Directed by Alice Winocour
What it’s about: When the Lebanese financier he’s working for is called away, PTSD-afflicted ex-French Special Services soldier Vincent (Matthias Schoenaerts) is certain his boss’ wife Jessie (Diane Kruger) and her son (Zaid Errougui-Demonsant) is in danger. Are his well-honed instincts correct? Or is his paranoia getting the best of him?
Why we’re excited: Alice Winocour is poised for the first of several career high-points after penning last year’s much-buzzed film “Mustang,” which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. “Disorder” is her second feature as both writer and director, following the 2012 period drama “Augustine,” which followed the love affair between neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot and his patient, Augustine. This film, a radical departure from her previous films stylistically and content-wise, is an intriguing psychological portrait of a man traumatized by war. If the trailer is any indication, the taut thriller features many heart-pounding sequences and Hitchcockian moments of narrative ambiguity. Catch the film this summer for a much-needed rush of adrenaline.
