FILMS ABOUT WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD
The Old Guard – Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Led by a warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron), a covert group of tight-knit mercenaries with a mysterious inability to die have fought to protect the mortal world for centuries. But when the team is recruited to take on an emergency mission and their extraordinary abilities are suddenly exposed, it’s up to Andy and Nile (KiKi Layne), the newest soldier to join their ranks, to help the group eliminate the threat of those who seek to replicate and monetize their power by any means necessary.
“The Old Guard” is now available on Netflix.
Relic – Directed by Natalie Erika James; Written by Natalie Erika James and Christian White
“Relic”: IFC Films
A manifestation of dementia wreaks havoc on three generations of women in “Relic,” Natalie Erika James’ terrifying and touching feature debut. Inspired by her grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, the psychological horror story sees Edna’s (Robyn Nevin) daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) travel to their remote family home when their matriarch goes missing. Edna eventually turns up, but she offers no explanation about where she’s been, and becomes defensive when quizzed about her mysterious disappearance. Disturbed by how quickly and dramatically her mother’s mind and home have begun to deteriorate, Kay becomes convinced that she’s unfit to live alone and should move into an assisted living facility, a decision that rankles Sam. “Relic” isn’t just for horror fans, and in fact, the pic contains little gore and few jump scares. It’s dread that permeates throughout, and the boogeyman under the bed is Alzheimer’s. The haunted house at the center of the film, which is increasingly difficult to navigate as the story evolves, stands in for the maze Edna’s mind has become. (Laura Berger)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Natalie Erika James.
“Relic” is now screening in select theaters, and is available on VOD.
Olympia (Documentary)
This sublimely intimate fly-on-the-wall verité documentary tells a heart-wrenching story of a woman becoming her own woman, on her own terms, to assert a gigantic creative force into the world. Rebelling against her old world, panty-sniffing, suspicious Greek mother to assert her strong sexual drive, fighting the feeling she was “too ethnic” amid the Boston Brahmin at BU, and starting her own theater company in New Jersey instead of waiting for the phone to ring, Olympia Dukakis models how to live life with blazing courage.
“Olympia” is now available via virtual cinemas. Find screening info here.
Widow of Silence
Aasia’s husband disappeared seven years ago, taken away in the 30-year long Kashmir conflict. This situation has made her a “half-widow” — the name given to the many women who’ve lost husbands, though they’ve not been declared dead. Needing the death certificate to gain title to the family’s land and thus ensure that she can look after her aging mother-in-law and her 11-year old daughter, she’s decided to ask for the issuance of his death certificate. Confronted by the local corrupt registrar, who creates an unending bureaucratic nightmare, she will need unthinkable strength to overcome a situation that grows stranger and more distressing by the day.
“Widow of Silence” is now available via virtual cinemas. Find screening info here.
The Claudia Kishi Club (Short Documentary) – Directed by Sue Ding
“The Claudia Kishi Club”
For many Asian American women — and other women of color — Claudia Kishi was the first time they saw themselves in popular media. A main character in the best-selling Baby-Sitters Club books, she was one of the only Asian Americans in ‘80s/’90s popular culture. Not only was Claudia a rare Asian American protagonist, but she also defied stereotypical portrayals of Asian characters: she was creative, popular, and (gasp!) bad at school. For readers who craved seeing themselves in the media they consumed — not as exotic others or token sidekicks, but as fully realized human beings — Claudia was a revelation.
“The Claudia Kishi Club” is now available on Netflix.
A Girl from Mogadishu – Written and Directed by Mary McGuckian
“A Girl from Mogadishu”
Fleeing war-torn Somalia in 2006 for the United States, Ifrah (Aja Naomi King) is trafficked to Dublin, Ireland, where she applies for asylum. A traumatic medical examination reveals the extent of her mutilation as a child. Traumatized by the memory, she channels the experience into a force for change and emerges as a formidable campaigner against Female Genital Mutilation at the highest political echelons in Ireland, Europe, and globally.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Mary McGuckian.
“A Girl from Mogadishu” is now available On Demand at Showtime.
Clementine – Written and Directed by Lara Jean Gallagher
Reeling from a one-sided breakup, anguished Karen (Otmara Marrero) flees Los Angeles for her ex’s idyllic lake house in the Pacific Northwest. There, she becomes entangled with a mysterious, alluring younger woman (Sydney Sweeney), whom she cannot seem to resist. Equal parts psychological thriller and sexual coming-of-age story, “Clementine” is a tense rumination on who to love and how to let go.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Lara Jean Gallagher.
“Clementine” will be available on VOD July 14.
Coven – Directed by Margaret Malandruccolo; Written by Lizze Gordon
Five undergrad witches come together in order to perform a ritual to invoke the ancient powers of the witch Ashura. The leader of the coven gets carried away and accidentally kills one of the witches during the ritual. She needs the strength of a complete coven to invoke Ashura’s powers and sends them out to find a final witch. As she absorbs power, the surviving girls plot to take her down but the possessed witch unleashes hell on campus with only one young witch left to stop her.
“Coven” will be available on VOD July 14.
Fatal Affair – Written by Rasheeda Garner and Peter Sullivan
“Fatal Affair”: Netflix
Ellie (Nia Long) tries to mend her marriage with her husband (Stephen Bishop) after a brief encounter with an old friend, David (Omar Epps), only to find that David is more dangerous and unstable than she’d realized.
“Fatal Affair” will be available on Netflix July 16.
MILF – Directed by Axelle Laffont; Written by Axelle Laffont and Jean-François Halin
In the south of France, three best friends in their 40s navigate loss and heartbreak while embarking on steamy affairs with much younger men.
“MILF” will be available on Netflix July 16.
Lab Rat (Short) – Directed by Nour Wazzi; Written by Nour Wazzi and Matt Brothers
In a near future, a group of scientists are trapped in a lab and pitted against one another when they learn that one of them is an A.I. Orchestrated by her unhinged mother, Alika (Kirsty Sturgess) finds herself questioning if her lover is the A.I. and, as the scientists turn on him, faces an impossible choice.
“Lab Rat” is now available on Dust.
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD
“Desperados”: Cate Cameron/NETFLIX
The Beach House (Shudder)
The Truth (VOD)
Desperados – Directed by LP; Written by Ellen Rapoport (Netflix)
House of Hummingbird – Written and Directed by Bora Kim (Virtual Cinemas)
The Audition – Directed by Ina Weisse; Written by Ina Weisse and Daphne Charizani (Virtual Cinemas)
Denise Ho: Becoming the Song (Documentary) – Directed by Sue Williams (Virtual Cinemas)
Scheme Birds (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin (VOD)
Beyond Driven (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Riyaana Hartley and Vincent Tran (VOD)
Suzi Q (Documentary) (VOD)
A Regular Woman – Directed by Sherry Hormann (Virtual Cinemas)
Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things (Documentary) (Virtual Cinemas)
Viena and the Fantomes (VOD)
Madagasikara: The Real Madagascar (Documentary) (Amazon Prime)
(In)Visible Portraits (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Oge Egbuonu (Vimeo)
Miss Juneteenth – Written and Directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples (VOD)
Babyteeth – Directed by Shannon Murphy; Written by Rita Kalnejais (VOD)
Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy (Documentary) – Directed by Elizabeth Carroll (VOD)
Tape – Written and Directed by Deborah Kampmeier (VOD)
Queen of Lapa (Documentary) – Directed by Carolina Monnerat and Theodore Collatos (Virtual Cinemas)
Jack & Yaya (Documentary) – Directed by Jennifer Bagley and Mary Hewey (VOD)
My Darling Vivian (Documentary) (Virtual Cinemas)
The Short History of the Long Road – Written and Directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy (VOD)
My First and Last Film (Documentary) – Directed by Tracey Thomas (Virtual Cinemas)
Marona’s Fantastic Tale – Directed by Anca Damian; Written by Anca Damian and Anghel Damian (Virtual Cinemas)
My Father the Spy (Documentary) (VOD)
Shirley – Directed by Josephine Decker; Written by Sarah Gubbins (Hulu, Virtual Cinemas)
Judy & Punch – Written and Directed by Mirrah Foulkes (VOD)
A New Color: The Art of Being Edythe Boone (Documentary) – Directed by Marlene “Mo” Morris (VOD)
Advocate (Documentary) – Directed by Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche; Written by Rachel Leah Jones (VOD)
Born in Evin (Documentary) – Directed by Maryam Zaree (VOD)
The High Note – Directed by Nisha Ganatra; Written by Flora Greeson (VOD)
Papicha – Directed by Mounia Meddour; Written by Mounia Meddour and Fadette Drouard (Virtual Cinemas)
Ursula von Rydingsvard: Into Her Own (Documentary) (Virtual Cinemas)
The Price of Desire – Written and Directed by Mary McGuckian (VOD)
On the Record (Documentary) – Directed by Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick; Written by Amy Ziering, Sara Newens, and Kirby Dick (HBO Max)
Military Wives – Written by Rachel Tunnard and Rosanne Flynn (VOD)
Lucky Grandma – Directed by Sasie Sealy; Written by Sasie Sealy and Angela Cheng (Virtual Cinemas)
I Will Make You Mine – Written and Directed by Lynn Chen (VOD)
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD
First Cow – Directed by Kelly Reichardt; Written by Kelly Reichardt and Jonathan Raymond
“First Cow”
A taciturn loner and skilled cook (John Magaro) has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee) also seeking his fortune; soon the two collaborate on a successful business, although its longevity is reliant upon the clandestine participation of a nearby wealthy landowner’s prized milking cow.
“First Cow” is now available on VOD. Find viewing info here.
A Deadly Legend – Directed by Pamela Moriarty
A real estate developer buys an old summer camp to build new homes. However, the property has a dark history that ties to a legend of supernatural worship and human sacrifice. A celebration weekend turns deadly when construction disturbs forbidden ground. Unable to escape, they must fight for survival and destroy the ancient megalith, forever closing the gateway to the Dark Dimension and the spirits from beyond.
“A Deadly Legend” is now available on VOD.
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD
“Mucho Mucho Amor”
Ai Weiwei: Yours Truly (Documentary) – Directed by Cheryl Haines and Gina Leibrecht (Virtual Cinemas)
Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado (Documentary) – Directed by Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch (Netflix)
Elvis from Outer Space – Written and Directed by Tracy Wuischpard and MZ Silverman (VOD)
John Lewis: Good Trouble (Documentary) – Directed by Dawn Porter (Virtual Cinemas and VOD)
One Thousand Stories: The Making of a Mural (Documentary) – Directed by Tasha Van Zandt (Virtual Cinemas)
Elliott Erwitt: Silence Sounds Good (Documentary) – Directed by Adriana Lopez Sanfeliu (Virtual Cinemas)
Narrowsburg (Documentary) – Directed by Martha Shane (VOD)
Under the Riccione Sun – Written by Caterina Salvadori, Enrico Vanzina, and Ciro Zecca (Netflix)
Mr. Jones – Directed by Agnieszka Holland; Written by Andrea Chalupa (VOD)
Dads (Documentary) – Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard (Apple TV+)
Father Soldier Son (Documentary) – Directed by Leslye Davis and Catrin Einhorn (Netflix)
Yummy – Written by Eveline Hagenbeek and Lars Damoiseaux (Shudder)
Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth (Documentary) – Directed by Jeanie Finlay (VOD)
Parkland Rising (Documentary) – Directed by Cheryl Horner McDonough (Virtual Cinemas)
Searching Eva (Documentary) – Directed by Pia Hellenthal (VOD)
The Infiltrators (Documentary) – Directed by Cristina Ibarra and Alex Rivera (Virtual Cinemas, VOD)
TV PREMIERES
Ghost BFF (Web Series) – Created and Written by Vanessa Matsui (Season 2 Available Now on KindaTV)
“Ghost BFF” continues its exploration of mental health as it follows two best friends, Amy (Vanessa Matsui) and Tara (Kaniehtiio Horn), one alive, one dead, across planes of existence, as they struggle to find themselves and right past wrongs following Tara’s suicide. Season 2 delves deeper into Amy’s struggles as she addresses unemployment, singledom, unexpected challenges, and the grief of missing her friend. Tara returns once again as a ghost to find closure with her mother (Angela Asher), to help Amy heal, and to gain a better understanding of her own narrative of what happened the day she died.
Little Voice – Created by Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson (Premieres July 10 on Apple TV+)
“Little Voice”: Apple TV+
Meet Bess King (Brittany O’Grady), a uniquely talented performer struggling to fulfill her dreams while handling rejection, dating drama, and family issues. Featuring original music by Sara Bareilles, this is a story about finding your authentic voice — and the courage to use it.
The Twelve – Created by Sanne Nuyens and Bert Van Dael (Premieres July 10 on Netflix)
Twelve ordinary people are called for jury duty for a murder case as traumatizing as it is controversial — in which a woman stands trial for killing her own blood.
P-Valley – Created by Katori Hall (Premieres July 12 on Starz)
“P-Valley”
“P-Valley” is full of strong women — not “strong” in the nebulous, she’s-an-interesting-
The Nest – Created and Written by Nicole Taylor (Premieres July 13 on Acorn TV)
Emily (Sophie Rundle) and Dan (Martin Compston) are a wealthy couple with an idyllic life in Scotland — except for the fact they are having fertility issues. A chance encounter with an 18-year-old from Glasgow (Mirren Mack) gives them the chance of having their dream baby, but the process is far from straightforward. (Deadline)
Urzila Carlson: Overqualified Loser (Comedy Special) (Premieres July 14 on Netflix)
Stand-up comedian Urzila Carlson keeps the crowd roaring with her thoughts on recasting “The Biggest Loser,” sex tape regrets, and boxed wine hangovers.
Dark Desire – Created by Leticia López Margalli (Premieres July 15 on Netflix)
Married Alma spends a fateful weekend away from home that ignites passion, ends in tragedy, and leads her to question the truth about those close to her.
The Secrets She Keeps – Directed by Catherine Millar and Jennifer Leacey; Written by Sarah Walker and Jonathan Gavin (Premieres July 16 on Sundance Now)
Two women from two different walks of life (Laura Carmichael and Jessica de Gouw) find that they have explosive secrets in common, and fight to conceal the truth as their worlds are set to collide.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
Adams on the set of “GLOW”: Netflix
Quote of the Day: “The Old Guard’s” KiKi Layne on Black Female Superheroes
Javicia Leslie Named as New Lead of The CW’s “Batwoman”
Natalie Erika James on Making “Relic,” a Psychological Horror Pic Inspired by Alzheimer’s
Oprah Winfrey and Nikole Hannah-Jones Bringing “The 1619 Project” to Film and TV
Exclusive: Chicken & Egg Pictures Announces Four New Project: Hatched Grantees
Yoruba Richen Directing Breonna Taylor Doc for FX/Hulu’s Upcoming New York Times Series
Anya Adams Talks TV Directing and Winning an NAACP Award for “GLOW”
The Kilroys’ 2020 List Honors Cancelled and Postponed Plays by Women, Trans, and Non-Binary Writers
BAFTA to Honor Nicky Sargent and Vikki Dunn, Founders of The Farm Group
Note: All descriptions are from press materials, unless otherwise noted.
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