Due to the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent restrictions, Women and Hollywood is shifting its focus to online content. We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
(Please keep in mind that these dates are subject to change.)
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD
Thousand Pieces of Gold (Restoration) – Directed by Nancy Kelly; Written by Anne Makepeace
An undersung gem of ‘90s American independent filmmaking, Nancy Kelly’s “Thousand Pieces of Gold” offers a feminist lens on the classic Manifest Destiny tale. Adapted by filmmaker and writer Anne Makepeace from Ruthanne Lum McCunn’s historical 1981 novel, the film tells the story of Lalu (Rosalind Chao), a young Chinese woman sold into slavery by her own parents, trafficked to a nefarious saloonkeeper in Idaho’s gold country, then won in a poker game by a man who eventually gains her trust (Chris Cooper). Kelly, an acclaimed documentarian making her fiction debut, subverts the Western genre’s patriarchal and misogynistic worldview, instead lending a nuanced, emotional, and profoundly empathetic perspective to this story of frontier survival and immigrant isolation.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Nancy Kelly.
“Thousand Pieces of Gold’s” new restoration is now virtually screening via Kino Marquee.
To the Stars – Directed by Martha Stephens; Written by Shannon Bradley-Colleary
“To the Stars”: Sundance Institute
Martha Stephens her latest film, the 1961-set “To the Stars,” is mostly concerned with teenagers Iris (Kara Hayward) and Maggie (Liana Liberato). The former is a socially ostracized, painfully shy farmer’s daughter; the latter is the effortlessly glamorous, gregarious new girl in town. Neither really feels seen, or understood, until they find one another. They’re not the only ones suffering. Part of “To the Stars’” success is its understanding of the dark side of small-town, middle American life. The story takes place in Oklahoma, before the history-changing social movements of the ’60s fully took off or made an impact across the country. Everyone in Iris and Maggie’s community knows they must conform, or face rejection. Although it peters out a bit toward the end, “To the Stars” is overall a very affecting portrait of young women finding courage and confidence, even in the most restrictive of circumstances. Iris and Maggie have more options than their mothers, but are nowhere near as liberated as their daughters and granddaughters will be. They can’t revolutionize 1961 Oklahoma, but they have each other. That’s victory enough. (Rachel Montpelier)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Martha Stephens.
“To the Stars” is now available for rent or purchase on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon.
The Assistant – Written and Directed by Kitty Green
“The Assistant”: Ty Johnson/Bleecker Street
There are many shitty jobs in this world, but assistant to a high-powered Hollywood player has got to be one of the worst — because those jobs are not always about actual work. Now I know assistants all across the globe pick up dry cleaning and schedule doctor’s appointments. However, in Kitty Green’s first narrative feature, “The Assistant,” the dour titular character (Julia Garner) shuttles a young woman new to the city up to a hotel for a meeting with her boss, whom we never see. After a few short months, the assistant realizes she has the shittiest of shitty jobs and figures out that something horrible is going on. So she does what she can and goes to HR, but everyone she works with is involved in a full blown cover-up. Their complicity is worn on their sleeves. We all know this movie is about Harvey Weinstein, the women he terrorized, and the people who protected him. With his recent sentencing and incarceration, “The Assistant” is not only extremely prescient, it feels like an urgent call to arms. (Melissa Silverstein)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Kitty Green.
“The Assistant” will begin streaming on Hulu April 28. It will also be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon.
The Photograph – Written and Directed by Stella Meghie
“The Photograph”
When famed photographer Christina Eames unexpectedly dies, she leaves her estranged daughter Mae Morton (Issa Rae) hurt, angry, and full of questions. When a photograph tucked away in a safe-deposit box is found, Mae finds herself on a journey delving into her mother’s early life and ignites a powerful, unexpected romance with a rising-star journalist, Michael Block (Lakeith Stanfield).
“The Photograph” will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon April 28.
A Secret Love (Documentary) – Written by Alexa L. Fogel, Chris Bolan, and Brendan Mason
“A Secret Love”
“A Secret Love” tells an incredible love story between Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, whose relationship spans nearly seven decades. Terry played in the women’s professional baseball league, inspiring the hit movie “A League of Their Own.” But the film did not tell the real-life story of the women who remained closeted for most of their lives. This documentary follows Terry and Pat back to when they met for the first time, through their professional lives in Chicago, coming out to their conservative families, and grappling with whether or not to get married. Facing the hardships of aging and illness, their love proves resilient as they enter the home stretch.
“A Secret Love” will begin streaming on Netflix April 29.
Toxic Beauty (Documentary) – Directed by Phyllis Ellis
“Toxic Beauty” is a documentary feature film with exclusive access to scientists, lawyers, advocates, regulators, politicians, a dynamic whistle blower, survivors, and women who have lost their lives. It follows the class action lawsuit against J&J and the plaintiffs, personal stories of women fighting for justice in a race against time. Woven throughout the film is a human experiment. We document, as Boston University medical student Mymy Nguyen, measures her chemical body burden from over 27 products. Scientists monitor her shocking results. In the end, the film meets the companies and people who offer solutions and optimism for safer, toxicant free cosmetics.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Phyllis Ellis.
“Toxic Beauty” will begin streaming on Starz April 27.
Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story (Documentary)
“Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story”
“Murder to Mercy” traces Cyntonia Brown’s case, imprisonment, and her fight for clemency while questions about her past, physiology, and the law itself call her guilt into question.
“Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story” will begin streaming on Netflix April 29.
Bit
“Bit”
A transgender teenage girl (Nicole Maines) on summer vacation in Los Angeles fights to survive after she falls in with four queer feminist vampires, who try to rid the city’s streets of predatory men.
“Bit” is now available for rent or purchase on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon.
Rocking the Couch (Documentary)
Hollywood titans Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby have been brought to their knees by the #MeToo movement. But they did not invent the Casting Couch. The term “casting couch” has existed for decades. But in 1992, a case against talent agent, Wallace Kaye, was brought to court by 12 unknown actresses, who braved the loss of their careers, their privacy, and their Hollywood dreams. They stepped forward, despite the advice of their union, and brought the case to the police. Against all odds, they won, and no one listened.
“Rocking the Couch” is now streaming on Reel Women’s Network.
1BR
After leaving behind a painful past to follow her dreams, Sarah (Nicole Brydon Bloom) scores the perfect Hollywood apartment. But something is not right. Unable to sleep, tormented by strange noises and threatening notes, her new life quickly starts to unravel. By the time she learns the horrifying truth, it’s too late. Caught in a waking nightmare, Sarah must find the strength to hold onto her crumbling sanity — or be trapped forever in an existential hell.
“1BR” is now available for rent or purchase on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon.
Dangerous Lies
When a wealthy elderly man dies and unexpectedly leaves his estate to his new caregiver (Camila Mendez), she’s drawn into a web of deception and murder. If she’s going to survive, she’ll have to question everyone’s motives, even the people she loves.
“Dangerous Lies” will begin streaming on Netflix April 30.
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD
“Selah and The Spades”
Selah and The Spades – Written and Directed by Tayarisha Poe (Amazon Prime)
Beyond the Visible – Hilma af Klint (Documentary) – Directed by Halina Dyrschka (Kino Marquee)
Endings, Beginnings – Written by Jardine Libaire and Drake Doremus (VOD)
The Turning – Directed by Floria Sigismondi (VOD)
Extra Ordinary – Written by Maeve Higgins, Mike Ahern, Enda Loughman, and Demian Fox (VOD)
What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael (Documentary) (Film Forum)
Beanpole (Film Forum)
Darcy – Directed by Heidi Philipsen and Jon Russell Cring; Written by Tracy Nichole Cring and Jon Russell Cring (Herflix)
Behind You (VOD)
The Legacy of the Bones (Netflix)
Party Hard, Die Young – Written by Karin Lomot and Robert Buchschwenter (VOD)
The Plagues of Breslau – Written by Sylwia Koperska-Mrozinska and Patryk Vega (Netflix)
Sea Fever – Written and Directed by Neasa Hardiman (VOD)
Stray Dolls – Directed by Sonejuhi Sinha; Written by Sonejuhi Sinha and Charlotte Rabate (VOD)
Fleabag Live (Taped Theater Production) – Directed by Vicky Jones; Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Amazon Prime, Soho Theatre On Demand)
Tape – Written and Directed by Deborah Kampmeier (VOD)
The Rhythm Section – Directed by Reed Morano (VOD)
Misbehaviour – Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe; Written by Rebecca Frayn and Gaby Chiappe (UK) (VOD)
Blush – Written and Directed by Debra Eisenstadt (VOD)
The Lost Husband – Written and Directed by Vicky Wight (VOD)
The Other Lamb – Directed by Malgorzata Szumowska; Written by Catherine S. McMullen (VOD)
Never Rarely Sometimes Always – Written and Directed by Eliza Hittman (VOD)
Little Women – Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig (VOD)
Invisible Life – Written by Inés Bortagaray, Karim Aïnouz, and Murilo Hauser (Amazon Prime)
Like a Boss (VOD)
There’s Something in the Water (Documentary) – Directed by Ellen Page and Ian Daniel (Netflix)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire – Written and Directed by Céline Sciamma (Hulu)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (VOD)
The Perfect Candidate – Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour; Written by Haifaa Al-Mansour and Brad Niemann (UK) (VOD)
Military Wives – Written by Rachel Tunnard and Rosanne Flynn (UK) (VOD)
Banana Split – Written by Hannah Marks and Joey Power (VOD)
Blow The Man Down – Written and Directed by Danielle Krudy and Bridget Savage Cole (Amazon Prime)
Emma. – Directed by Autumn de Wilde; Written by Eleanor Catton (VOD)
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) – Directed by Cathy Yan; Written by Christina Hodson (VOD)
Clemency – Written and Directed by Chinonye Chukwu (VOD)
The Invisible Man (VOD)
The Hunt (VOD)
Lost Girls – Directed by Liz Garbus (Netflix)
Ride Like a Girl – Directed by Rachel Griffiths; Written by Elise McCredie and Andrew Knight (VOD)
Go Back to China – Written and Directed by Emily Ting (VOD)
Swallow (VOD)
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD
Pahokee (Documentary) – Directed by Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan
“Pahokee”: Sundance Institute
Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan paint a detailed and astonishing portrait of Pahokee, a rural village in the Everglades, Florida. Very close-knit, its inhabitants fight to face fragile financial situations and an uncertain future. Through a precise observational approach, the film captures the daily life of this city restoring a rich palette of nuances. From sporting events to beauty contests at school, the filmmakers explore social and community rituals, and how gender and identity are portrayed as new stories are created.
“Pahokee” is now virtually screening via Monument Releasing.
Rich in Love – Directed by Anita Barbosa and Bruno Garotti
Working incognito at his rich dad’s company to test his own merits, Teto (Danilo Mesquita) falls for Paula (Giovanna Lancellotti) and tells her he grew up poor, a lie that spins out of control.
“Rich in Love” will begin streaming on Netflix April 30.
Excelsior #EverUpward (Short) – Directed by Elle Ginter and Stephania Dulowski
“Excelsior #EverUpward” is a three-minute film that is the culmination of numerous sleepless nights spent driving through NYC at the height of the quarantine. The film was created in an effort to positively reflect moving forward and highlight what New Yorkers miss most at the center of self-isolation. The film encapsulates the themes surrounding their week: “We miss you. We love you. We’re thinking of you,” heard in countless phone calls, Zooms, FaceTimes, and Governor Cuomo’s address to NYC.
“Excelsior #EverUpward” is now streaming on Vimeo.
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD
“Circus of Books”
20th Century Woman: The Documentary Films of Lee Grant (Retrospective) (Virtual Cinemas)
Circus of Books (Documentary) – Directed by Rachel Mason (Netflix)
Pot Luck (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Jane Wells (VOD)
Abe – Written by Lameece Isaaq and Jacob Kader (VOD)
The Bet – Written and Directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin (VOD)
Bad Therapy – Written by Nancy Doyne (VOD)
Other Music (Documentary) – Directed by Puloma Basu and Rob Hatch-Miller (Virtual Cinemas)
L’Innocente (Re-Release) – Written by Suso Cecchi D’Amico, Luchino Visconti, and Enrico Medioli (Film Forum)
Slipaway – Written and Directed by Julia Butler and Daniel Mentz (Amazon Prime)
The Roads Not Taken – Written and Directed by Sally Potter (Bleecker Street)
The American Nurse (Documentary) (Streaming Re-Release) – Directed by Carolyn Jones (Kino Lorber)
Bias (Documentary) – Directed by Robin Hauser (VOD)
Trolls World Tour – Written by Maya Forbes, Elizabeth Tippet, Wallace Wolodarsky, Jonathan Aibel, and Glenn Berger (VOD)
Fantasy Island – Written by Jillian Jacobs, Jeff Wadlow, and Christopher Roach (VOD)
It Started as a Joke (Documentary) – Directed by Julie Smith Clem and Ken Druckerman (VOD)
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Documentary) – Directed by Nicole Newnham and James Lebrecht (Netflix)
Cunningham (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Alla Kovgan (VOD)
TV PREMIERES
Never Have I Ever – Created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher (Premieres April 27 on Netflix)
“Never Have I Ever”
After a traumatic year, all an Indian-American teen wants is to go from pariah to popular — but friends, family, and feelings won’t make it easy on her. Inspired by Mindy Kaling’s own childhood “Never Have I Ever” follows the complicated life of a modern-day first generation Indian-American teenage girl.
Autism: The Sequel (Documentary) – Directed by Sasha Alpert (Premieres April 28 on HBO)
In 2006, HBO debuted the Emmy-winning film “Autism: The Musical,” which followed five children as they wrote and performed their own musical. “Autism: The Sequel” revisits the stars of this musical 12 years later as the original subjects, now in their early 20s, navigate what independence means to them as they manage both challenges and triumphs as adults living on the autism spectrum.
Normal People – Directed by Hettie McDonald and Lenny Abrahamson; Written by Sally Rooney, Alice Birch, and Mark O’Rowe (Premieres April 29 on Hulu)
“Normal People”: Enda Bowe/Hulu
Based on Sally Rooney’s New York Times best-selling novel, “Normal People” tracks the tender but complicated relationship of Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal) from the end of their school days in small-town western Ireland to their undergraduate years at Trinity College. At school, he’s well-liked and popular, while she’s lonely, proud, and intimidating. But when Connell comes to pick up his mother from her cleaning job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers — one they are determined to conceal.
THE GIRLS CLUB IS OFFERING THE FIRST MONTH FREE
Founded by Women and Hollywood publisher and founder Melissa Silverstein, the Girls Club is a community for women creatives, culture-changers, and storytellers to connect, create, network, advocate, support, and redefine entertainment.
These are trying times. We realize that COVID-19 is affecting the health, safety, and livelihood of many folks in the industry, and want to offer a space for folks to come together amidst all of the uncertainty. With that goal in mind, the Girls Club is offering the first month free to those who sign up.
If you identify as a woman and would like an invitation to this community, please email girlsclubnetwork@gmail.com and let us know a bit about who you are and what you do.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BLOG
Vogel
Nancy Kelly on the Re-Release of “Thousand Pieces of Gold” and the Drama’s Continued Relevance
IFC Films to Support Reopening Cinemas with Indie Theater Revival Project
Bernardine Evaristo, Hilary Mantel, and More Shortlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction
“Unorthodox” Director Maria Schrader Talks Portraying Satmar Judaism and Berlin’s Complex History
“Circus of Books” Director Rachel Mason on Making a Doc About Her Parents’ Iconic LGBTQ Bookstore
Paula Vogel and Daryl Roth Launch New Play Commission at Vineyard Theatre
SeriesFest Announces Women Writing Comp Winner, Second Shondaland Women Directing Mentorship, & More
Halina Dyrschka Gives a Brilliant Unknown Artist Her Due with “Beyond the Visible – Hilma af Klint”
Note: All descriptions are from press materials, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Women and Hollywood on Twitter @WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein @melsil.
To contact Women and Hollywood, email melissa@womenandhollywood.com.
