Weekly Update for April 3: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films You Can Watch from Home

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

The Other Lamb – Directed by Malgorzata Szumowska; Written by Catherine S. McMullen

For her entire life, the cult she was born into has been all that teenage Selah (Raffey Cassidy) has known. Along with a band of similarly cloistered young women she lives seemingly unstuck in time, cut off from modern society in a remote forest commune presided over by a man called Shepherd (Michiel Huisman), a controlling, messiah-like figure with a frightening dark side. But when her insular world is rocked by a series of nightmarish visions and disturbing revelations, Selah begins to question everything about her existence — including her allegiance to the increasingly dangerous Shepherd.

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Malgorzata Sxumowska.

“The Other Lamb” is now available for rent on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always – Written and Directed by Eliza Hittman

“Never Rarely Sometimes Always”: Focus Features

Eliza Hittman’s latest depicts 17-year-old Autumn’s (Sidney Flanigan) attempts to deal with her unwanted pregnancy. Along with her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder), she travels from rural Pennsylvania to New York City in the hopes of accessing an abortion. Besides being emotionally fraught, their journey is made more complicated by a cash shortage, having nowhere to sleep, and crossing paths with predatory men. The drama is also a terrifying look into what goes on in crisis pregnancy centers. In addition to putting immense pressure on the teen to keep her pregnancy, the fake clinic’s staff also gives her false, misleading information about how far along she is in an effort to thwart her from terminating. “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” isn’t just an important — and unfortunately, timely — exploration of the barriers facing women who want to exercise control over their reproductive health, it’s also a moving portrait of Autumn and Skylar’s relationship, and the former’s efforts to reclaim ownership of her body. (Laura Berger)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Eliza Hittman.

“Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is now available for rent on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon. Click here for more viewing info.

Little Women – Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig

“Little Women”

It’s not an easy feat to take a beloved book and reinvigorate it by putting it in the blender. That’s exactly what Greta Gerwig does with “Little Women.” Gerwig, in her sophomore solo directing effort, makes the experience of Jo March and her sisters relevant to the 21st century. The film feels so urgent, so timely, even though the characters are in period clothing. Saoirse Ronan continues to remind us that she is one of the best — if not the best — actresses of her generation with her performance as the ambitious Jo. Gerwig elevates the character of Amy (Florence Pugh), giving her more agency. Laura Dern’s Marmee is not just doting: she also clearly knows the realities of being a woman in Civil War-era America and is hoping that her girls will be free to make different decisions from her own. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep as Aunt March gets to be the truth teller, as she is unmarried and rich — in other words, she gives zero fucks. Gerwig performs a truly radical act by taking a book we all know and making it sing in a new way on-screen. When people read Louisa May Alcott’s novel again, they will see it differently. (Melissa Silverstein)

“Little Women” is now available for purchase on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon. It will be available for rent April 7. Click here for more viewing info.

Invisible Life – Written by Inés Bortagaray, Karim Aïnouz, and Murilo Hauser

“Invisible Life”

Set in a brilliantly recreated 1950s Rio de Janeiro, “Invisible Life” revolves around two inseparable sisters, 18 and 20 years old, living restricted lives with their conservative parents. However, each nourishes a passionate dream: Eurídice (Carol Duarte) of becoming a renowned pianist; Guida (Julia Stockler) of finding true love. In a shocking turn of events, they are separated and forced to live apart.

“Invisible Life” is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Lazy Susan – Written by Carrie Aizley, Darlene Hunt, and Sean Hayes

Susan (Sean Hayes) has always been the self-centered oddball in her family, who lazily skated through life with their grudging support until one day she wakes up to realize she’s middle-aged with no job, no relationship, and an increasingly estranged family. She finally decides to take charge and turn things around, but never having done anything herself before, the struggle is real — and hilarious — as Susan becomes the woman she always wanted to be, all on her own.

“Lazy Susan” is now available for rent or purchase on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon.

The Ascension of Ava Delaine (Short) – Directed by Tonya Kay; Written by Shaula Evans

A woman ascends on a visual journey through the stages of her life as her autonomy, identity, and sexuality evolve from childhood naivete into absolute freedom.

“The Ascension of Ava Delaine” is now streaming on Independent Shorts Awards TV, Opprime, and Amazon Prime.

Like a Boss

“Like a Boss”

Best friends Mia and Mel (Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne) are living their best lives running their own cosmetics company they’ve built from the ground up. Unfortunately, they’re in over their heads financially, and the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the cosmetics industry, Claire Luna (Salma Hayek), proves too tempting to pass up, putting Mel and Mia’s lifelong friendship in jeopardy.

“Like a Boss” will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon on April 7.

FILMS ABOUT WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD

“There’s Something in the Water”

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)
Home (Documentary) – Directed by Jen Randall (UK) (VOD)
The Complex (Interactive Film) – Written by Lynn Renee Maxcy (PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One)
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)
Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears – Written by Deborah Cox (Acorn TV)
Asako I & II – Written by Sachiko Tanaka and Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (VOD)
The Grudge (VOD)
Lost Girls – Directed by Liz Garbus (Netflix)
Justine – Written and Directed by Stephanie Turner (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)
Premature – Written by Zora Howard and Rashaad Ernesto Green (VOD)
Buffaloed – Directed by Tanya Wexler (VOD)
A Simple Wedding – Directed by Sara Zandieh; Written by Sara Zandieh and Stephanie Wu (VOD)
Bombshell (VOD)
Frozen II – Directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck; Written by Jennifer Lee (Disney+, VOD)
Judy (VOD)

FILMS MADE BY WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD

It Started as a Joke (Documentary) – Directed by Julie Smith Clem and Ken Druckerman

“It Started As A Joke”

“It Started as a Joke” is a feature documentary that chronicles the decade-long run of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival — including a final farewell show. The film celebrates Eugene’s unique brand of humor and his role in the alternative comedy movement, offers a bittersweet goodbye to an era, and reminds us of the healing properties of comedy — even in the most challenging of life’s circumstances.

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Julie Smith Clem.

“It Started as a Joke” is now available for rent or purchase on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon.

IP Man 4: The Finale – Written by Lai-Yin Leung, Tai-lee Chan, Hiroshi Fukazawa, and Edmond Wong

Following the death of his wife, Ip Man (Donnie Yen) travels to San Francisco to ease tensions between the local kung fu masters and his star student, Bruce Lee, while searching for a better future for his son.

“IP Man 4: The Finale” will be available on VOD platforms including Apple TV and Amazon on April 7.

FILMS MADE BY WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Documentary) – Directed by Nicole Newnham and James Lebrecht (Netflix)
Cunningham (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Alla Kovgan (VOD)
The Banker – Written by Niceole Levy, George Nolfi, David Lewis Smith, Stan Younger, and Brad Caleb Kane (Apple TV+)
1917 – Written by Krysty Wilson-Cairns and Sam Mendes (VOD)
Hooking Up – Written by Lauren Schacher and Nico Raineau (VOD)
Lost Transmissions – Written and Directed by Katharine O’Brien (VOD)
Just One More Kiss – Written and Directed by Faleena Hopkins (VOD)
Olympic Dreams – Written by Alexi Pappas, Nick Kroll, and Jeremy Teicher (VOD)
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – Directed by Marielle Heller (VOD)

TV PREMIERES

Home Before Dark – Created by Dana Fox and Dara Resnik (Premieres April 3 on Apple TV+)

“Home Before Dark”

A mystery inspired by the reporting of a real nine-year-old journalist. When a young girl (Brooklynn Prince) and her family move back to the small town her father left behind, her pursuit of the truth leads to the unearthing of a long-buried cold case

StarBeam (Premieres April 3 on Netflix)

Zoey is excited to tackle second grade, but when danger beckons, she sneaks away and — with her signature call out “It’s time to shine!” — transforms into Starbeam, the speediest, most powerful, and most enthusiastic superhero to ever sip from a juicebox.

Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (Docuseries) – Directed by Maro Chermayeff, Sam Pollard, Jeff Dupre, and Joshua Bennett (Premieres April 5 on HBO)

“Atlanta’s Missing And Murdered: The Lost Children” is a five-part documentary series offering an unprecedented look at the abduction and murder of at least 30 African-American children and young adults in Atlanta between 1979 and 1981. Forty years later, with the official re-opening of the case by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the series tells the inside story of this shocking tragedy, shedding new light on the horrific killings through exclusive archival material as well as interviews with those closest to the children and investigation.

Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project (Documentary Special) (Premieres April 5 on Oxygen)

This two-hour documentary follows Kim Kardashian-West’s mission to address the criminal reform crisis and secure freedom for Americans she believes have been wronged by the system, who are facing life sentences with no possibility of parole.

Deadwater Fell (Miniseries) – Created and Written by Daisy Coulam; Directed by Lynsey Miller (Premieres April 6 on Acorn TV)

When a seemingly perfect and happy family is murdered by someone they knew and trusted, the small Scottish community they called home becomes riven with doubt and suspicion, as those closest to the family begin to question everything they thought they knew about their friends.

When the Streetlights Go On (Movie in Chapters) – Directed by Rebecca Thomas (Premieres April 6 on Quibi)

“When the Streetlights Go On”

After the murder of a young girl rocks a suburban community, the victim’s sister and her high school peers must struggle to find a sense of normalcy while coming of age in the midst of the murder investigation.

THE GIRLS CLUB IS OFFERING FREE ONE-MONTH MEMBERSHIP

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 a one-month membership free of charge when you 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.