Films About Women Opening This Week
Fifty Shades of Grey — Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson; Written by Kelly Marcel
Forget the haters: the highest-profile woman-directed film of 2015 is a gorgeous and frequently involving erotic fantasy that should prove a star-making turn for newcomer Dakota Johnson. In my review for TheWrap, I wrote that the “stylish and mostly satisfying film adaptation by director Sam Taylor-Johnson will be [a blockbuster], and deservedly so. Starring a vivacious Dakota Johnson and a game Jamie Dornan, [the film] is a skillful distillation of James’ first book that captures the heady exhilaration of being someone’s fixation.” (Inkoo Kang)
Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Ronit Elkabetz
In Israel there is neither civil marriage nor civil divorce; only Orthodox rabbis can legalize a marriage or its dissolution, which is only possible with the husband’s full consent. Viviane Amsalem (Ronit Elkabetz) has been applying for a divorce for three years, but her religiously devout husband Elisha (Simon Abkarian, “Casino Royale,” “Persepolis”) continually refuses. His cold intransigence, Viviane’s determination to fight for her freedom, and the ambiguous role of the rabbinical judges shape a procedure where tragedy vies with absurdity, and everything is brought out into the open for judgment. (Press materials)
Butterfly Girl (doc) — Directed by Cary Bell
At first glance, it is not obvious that Abigail Evans lives with a life-threatening skin disease. She is a typical teenager: moody, rebellious, irreverent, and also strikingly beautiful. But her life is the antithesis of normal. Abbie grew up in hospitals, cared for by her protective mother and father. She then came into her own in honky tonks, selling merchandise for her father’s band. But just like any other 18 year-old, Abbie yearns for a life of her own. “Butterfly Girl” charts Abbie’s journey towards a new understanding of how she must balance her past with her future, her parents with her independence, and her disease with her desires. But what price must she pay for that freedom? (Press materials)
Films About Women Currently Playing
Girlhood — Written and Directed by Celine Sciamma
Gloria — Written by Sabina Berman
Song One — Written and Directed by Kate Barker-Froyland
The Boy Next Door — Written by Barbara Curry
Cake
Big Muddy
Miss Hill: Making Dance Matter (doc)
Mommy
The Duke of Burgundy
Appropriate Behavior — Written and Directed by Desiree Akhavan
Still Alice
Annie — Co-Written by Aline Brosh McKenna
Two Days, One Night
Big Eyes
The Babadook — Written and Directed by Jennifer Kent
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1
Films Directed by Women Currently Playing
Above and Beyond (doc) — Directed by Roberta Grossman
We’ll Never Have Paris — Co-Directed by Jocelyn Towne
Selma — Directed by Ava DuVernay
Unbroken — Directed by Angelina Jolie
Citizenfour (doc) — Directed by Laura Poitras
Films Written by Women Currently Playing
Strange Magic — Co-Written by Irene Mecchi
Spare Parts — Written by Elissa Matsueda
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies — Co-Written by Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh
On DVD and VOD This Week
In Your Eyes
Dear White People
