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

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FILMS ABOUT WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD

Desperados – Directed by LP; Written by Ellen Rapoport

“Desperados”: Cate Cameron/NETFLIX

A panicked young woman (Nasim Pedrad) and her two best friends (Anna Camp and Sarah Burns) fly to Mexico to delete a ranting email she sent to her new boyfriend. On arrival, they run into her former beau (Lamorne Morris), who soon gets caught up in their frantic scheme.

“Desperados” is now available on Netflix.

The Truth

Fabienne (Catherine Deneuve) is an aging French movie icon who, despite her momentary lapses in memory, remains a venerable force to be reckoned with. Upon the publication of her memoirs, her daughter Lumir (Juliette Binoche) returns to Paris from New York with her husband (Ethan Hawke) and their young daughter to commemorate its release. Sparks immediately begin to fly between the mother-daughter duo when Lumir takes issue with Fabienne’s rose-tinted version of events. Yet, as the past is gradually confronted, their strained relationship takes a poignant journey toward possible reconciliation.

“The Truth” is now available on VOD.

The Beach House

Escaping to his family’s beach house to reconnect, Emily (Liana Liberato) and Randall (Noah Le Gros) find their off-season trip interrupted by Mitch and Jane Turner (Jake Weber and Maryanne Nagel), an older couple acquainted with Randall’s estranged father. Unexpected bonds form as the couples let loose and enjoy the isolation, but it all takes an ominous turn as increasingly strange environmental phenomena begin to warp their peaceful evening. As the effects of an infection become evident, Emily struggles to make sense of the contagion before it’s too late.

“The Beach House” will be available on Shudder July 9.

FILMS ABOUT WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD

“House of Hummingbird”

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)
Fanny Lye Deliver’d (UK) (VOD)
Lynn + Lucy (UK) (BFI Player)
Viena and the Fantomes (VOD)
The Girl With a Bracelet (UK) (Curzon Home Cinema)
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)
Feel the Beat – Directed by Elissa Down (Netflix)
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)
Penguin (Amazon Prime)
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)
The Half of It – Written and Directed by Alice Wu (Netflix)
South Mountain – Written and Directed by Hilary Brougher (VOD)
Selah and The Spades – Written and Directed by Tayarisha Poe (Amazon Prime)
Never Rarely Sometimes Always – Written and Directed by Eliza Hittman (VOD)

FILMS MADE BY WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD

John Lewis: Good Trouble (Documentary) – Directed by Dawn Porter

“John Lewis: Good Trouble” : Magnolia Pictures

John Lewis is a seminal figure in our history. What the activist and political leader has done to improve civil rights in our country is immeasurable. Watching Dawn Porter’s new doc, “Good Trouble,” one is reminded of the historic moments over that last half-century that Congressman Lewis has participated in. Porter takes us through some of the highlights of Lewis’ life in “Good Trouble” and he comments on them. It is a journey through history. My big takeaway is that Lewis, a man who was beaten for being Black, has somehow, miraculously, remained the most optimistic and hopeful person, and tries to infuse that optimism and a sense of justice into everyone he comes into contact with. The world around us is a shit show, but it is possible for a person to make a difference. John Lewis is the epitome of that. He has made the world better, for everyone. There are so few people who can claim that, but — from being a fundamental part of the civil rights movement to his political work for gun control, health-care reform, and immigration reform — he absolutely can. (Melissa Silverstein)

“John Lewis: Good Trouble” is now in theaters, screening via virtual cinemas, and available on VOD. Find screening info here.

One Thousand Stories: The Making of a Mural (Documentary) – Directed by Tasha Van Zandt

“One Thousand Stories: The Making of a Mural” follows the artist JR in the creation of his first video mural project, The Chronicles of San Francisco. The mural reflects a city in which the individual spirit of thousands of residents cohere into a unique and ever-changing whole.

“One Thousand Stories: The Making of a Mural” is now screening via virtual cinemas. Find screening info here.

Elliott Erwitt: Silence Sounds Good (Documentary) – Directed by Adriana Lopez Sanfeliu

Elliott Erwitt has joked that he’s been around so long, most editors think he’s dead. The 91-year-old Magnum photographer has made iconic images of the Civil Rights movement, the Cuban Revolution, not to mention celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, and dogs. “Elliott Erwitt: Silence Sounds Good” finds the laconic visual legend very much alive and snapping as he travels back to Cuba for the first time since his iconic Newsweek photos of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in a funny and humanistic portrait of one of the greatest living photographers.

“Elliott Erwitt: Silence Sounds Good” is now screening via virtual cinemas. Find screening info here.

Elvis from Outer Space – Written and Directed by Tracy Wuischpard and MZ Silverman

Ladies and gentlemen, the King of Rock N’ Roll from Outer Space has blasted into Vegas from the far side of the Universe to compete in an Elvis impersonation contest with the best in town! But just as he is on the verge of victory, he mysteriously vanishes. Who’s behind the disappearance? The mafia? The CIA? Or the aliens he left behind?

“Elvis from Outer Space” will be available on VOD July 7.

Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado (Documentary) – Directed by Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch

“Mucho Mucho Amor”

Every day for decades, Walter Mercado — the iconic, gender non-conforming astrologer — mesmerized 120 million Latino viewers with his extravagance and positivity. Then he vanished from the public eye. “Mucho Mucho Amor” captures Walter’s final two years, when the pioneering icon grappled with aging and his legacy, as he prepared for one last star-studded spectacle.

Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Cristina Costantini.

“Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado” will be available on Netflix July 8.

Ai Weiwei: Yours Truly (Documentary) – Directed by Cheryl Haines and Gina Leibrecht

While under house arrest in Beijing, Ai Weiwei remotely transformed Alcatraz, a former island penitentiary and current national park, into a remarkable expression of socially engaged art. “Ai Weiwei: Yours Truly” aims to inspire viewers to take action in the struggle for human rights at home and abroad. It starts with a simple and direct expression of empathy: the sending of a postcard.

“Ai Weiwei: Yours Truly” will hit virtual cinemas July 8. Find screening info here.

FILMS MADE BY WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD

“Dads”

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)
The Roads Not Taken – Written and Directed by Sally Potter (VOD)
Graves Without a Name (Documentary) – Written by Agnès Sénémaud and Rithy Panh (VOD)
Bull – Directed by Annie Silverstein; Written by Annie Silverstein and Johnny McAllister (VOD)

TV PREMIERES

The Baby-Sitters Club – Created by Rachel Shukert; Directed by Lucia Aniello (Premieres July 3 on Netflix)

“The Baby-Sitters Club”

“The Baby-Sitters Club” is based on Ann M. Martin’s best-selling, beloved book series that follows the friendship and adventures of Kristy Thomas (Sophie Grace), Mary Anne Spier (Malia Baker), Claudia Kishi (Momona Tamada), Stacey McGill (Shay Rudolph), and Dawn Schafer (Xochitl Gomez) as the middle-schoolers start their babysitting business in the town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut.

The Vote (Two-Part Docuseries) – Written and Directed by Michelle Ferrari (Premieres July 6 on PBS)

“The Vote”

“The Vote” tells the dramatic story of the epic — and surprisingly unfamiliar — crusade waged by American women for the right to vote. Focusing primarily on the movement’s militant and momentous final decade, the film charts American women’s determined march to the ballot box, and illuminates the myriad social, political, and cultural obstacles that stood in their path. “The Vote” delves deeply into the animating controversies that divided the nation in the early 20th century — gender, race, state’s rights, and political power — and offers an absorbing lesson in the delicate, often fractious dynamics of social change. Timed to the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, “The Vote” is narrated by Kate Burton and features the voices of Mae Whitman (Alice Paul), Audra McDonald (Ida B. Wells), Laura Linney (Carrie Chapman Catt), and Patricia Clarkson (Harriot Stanton Blatch).

Stateless (Miniseries) – Created by Cate Blanchett, Elise McCredie, and Tony Ayres (Premieres July 8 on Netflix)

“Stateless”

Four strangers — a woman on the run (Yvonne Strahovski), a brave refugee (Fayssal Bazzi), a driven bureaucrat (Asher Keddie), and a struggling dad (Jai Courtney) — intersect at an Australian immigration detention center.

Expecting Amy (Docuseries) (Premieres July 9 on HBO Max)

“Expecting Amy”

“Expecting Amy” is an unfiltered three-part documentary that shows the struggle, strength, and ambition that has made Amy Schumer one of the singular comic voices of all time. It takes viewers behind-the-scenes as Schumer battles through an extraordinarily difficult pregnancy while documenting the formation of a comedy special. It’s like Jerry Seinfeld’s movie “Comedian” if he had been pregnant.