Weekly Update for July 27: Women Centric, Directed, and Written Films Playing Near You

FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING THIS WEEK

Snapshots – Directed by Melanie Mayron; Written by Jan Miller Corran and Katherine Cortez (Opens in LA)

Three women. Three generations. Two summers. 50 years apart. With an old Brownie camera and developed old film in hand, Patty (Brooke Adams), and her daughter Allison (Emily Baldoni) arrive at Gran’s (Piper Laurie) lake house for their annual girls’ weekend. Within that envelope lies a secret that shatters long-held images of the grandmother and mother they know, and changes their lives forever. (Press materials)

Puzzle (Opens in NY and LA)

“Puzzle”

Agnes (Kelly Macdonald), taken for granted as a suburban mother, discovers a passion for solving jigsaw puzzles, which unexpectedly draws her into a new world – where her life unfolds in ways she could never have imagined. (Press materials)

Find screening info here.

Good Manners – Co-Written and Co-Directed by Juliana Rojas (Opens in NY; Opens in LA August 17)

“Good Manners”

Clara (Isabél Zuaa), a lonely nurse from the outskirts of São Paulo, is hired by mysterious and wealthy Ana (Marjorie Estiano) to be the nanny of her soon-to-be-born child. Against all odds, the two women develop a strong bond. But a fateful night marked by a full moon changes their plans. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s Under the Radar feature on “Good Manners.”

Find screening info here.

Nico, 1988 – Written and Directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli (Opens August 1)

“Nico, 1998”

“Nico, 1988” follows the singer-songwriter (Trine Dyrholm), approaching 50, leading a solitary existence in Manchester, far from her 60s glam days as a Warhol superstar and celebrated vocalist for the cult band The Velvet Underground. Her life and career on the fringes, Nico’s new manager Richard convinces her to hit the road again and tour Europe to promote her latest album. Struggling with her demons and the consequences of a muddled life, she longs to rebuild a relationship with her son, whose custody she lost long ago. A brave and uncompromising musician, Nico’s story is the story of a rebirth: of an artist, a mother, and the woman behind the icon. (Press materials)

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Susanna Nicchiarelli.

Find screening info here.

The Row – Written by Sarah Scougal (Also Available on VOD)

With a serial killer preying upon girls on campus, Riley (Lala Kent), an incoming freshman, finds herself entangled in a sinister plot involving a dark secret at the sorority that she pledged. Meanwhile, her father, Cole (Randy Couture), the detective investigating the case must uncover the identity of the killer before it’s too late… and Riley becomes the next victim. (Press materials)

Hell Mountain

A young reporter (Catherine Lidstone) falls prey to a mysterious ailment after investigating an abandoned house; a place known for tales of missing children and possible cannibalism where local teens dare each other to sneak in and poke around. As the reporter digs deeper and her friends venture out to search the house on their own, she discovers a connection to the legend of Hell Mountain and her own cloudy past. (Press materials)

Dead Night

A caring mother loses her sanity, setting off a chain of events resulting in tragedy and murder. The story of Casey Pollack (Brea Grant) unfolds from two very different perspectives when one night in the woods culminates in absolute terror. (Press materials)

FILMS DIRECTED BY WOMEN OPENING THIS WEEK

“Across the Universe”

Across the Universe (Theatrical Re-Release) – Directed by Julie Taymor (July 29, 31, and August 1 Only)

A love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration, and rock ‘n roll, “Across the Universe” moves from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. The star-crossed lovers, Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with Dr. Robert (Bono) and Mr. Kite (Eddie Izzard) as their guides. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy — against all odds — to find their own way back to each other. This special three-day event includes an exclusive introduction from Julie Taymor. (Press materials)

Find tickets and screening info here.

FILMS WRITTEN BY WOMEN OPENING THIS WEEK

“The Bleeding Edge”

The Bleeding Edge (Documentary) – Co-Written by Amy Ziering (Available on Netflix)

America has the most technologically advanced health care system in the world, yet medical interventions have become the third leading cause of death, and the overwhelming majority of high-risk implanted devices never require a single clinical trial. In “The Bleeding Edge,” Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering (“The Invisible War,” “The Hunting Ground”) turn their sights on the $400 billion medical device industry, examining lax regulations, corporate cover-ups, and profit-driven incentives that put patients at risk daily. Weaving emotionally powerful stories of people whose lives have been irrevocably harmed, the film asks: what life-saving technologies may actually be killing us? (Press materials)

TV PREMIERES THIS WEEK

“Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story”

Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story (Docuseries) – Co-Directed by Julia Willoughby Nason (Premieres July 30 on Paramount)

An in-depth look at the origin and aftermath of the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin and the subsequent trial of George Zimmerman, which sparked a national debate on race relations and revealed a deeply fractured and divided country. (Press materials)

VOD/DVD RELEASING THIS WEEK

“Tully”

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Short) – Written and Directed by Sunday Emerson Gullifer (Vimeo, Available Now)
Tully – Written by Diablo Cody (VOD/DVD, July 31)
The Miracle Season – Co-Written by Elissa Matsueda (July 31)
Larger Than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story (Documentary) – Directed by Tiffany Bartok (VOD, July 31)
Salt Water – Written and Directed by Ajae Clearway (VOD, August 1)

JOIN WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD AT THE WRAP’S POWER WOMEN SUMMIT

Women and Hollywood Founder and Publisher Melissa Silverstein is on the advisory board for TheWrap’s Power Women Summit. To be held November 1-2 in Los Angeles, the event will gather 1,000 influential women in entertainment, media, and technology.

The summit will provide two days of education, mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities to promote the goal of greater women’s leadership in the film industry, as well as gender balance in media, entertainment, and technology overall.

The Power Women Summit is actively committed to integrating intersectionality in its programming. It will include practical training sessions in leadership and live mentoring sessions for women at all levels of their careers.

Apply for early bird tickets here.