Films About Women Opening
American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs (doc) — Directed by Grace Lee
American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs plunges us into Boggs’ lifetime of vital thinking and action, traversing the major U.S. social movements of the last century: from labor to civil rights, Black Power, feminism, the Asian American and environmental justice movements, and beyond. Boggs’ constantly evolving strategy — her willingness to re-evaluate and change tactics in relation to the world shifting around her — drives the story forward. Angela Davis, Bill Moyers, Bill Ayers, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Danny Glover, Boggs’ late husband James, and a host of Detroit comrades across three generations help shape this uniquely American story. (Press Materials)
Anita (doc) — Directed by Freida Mock
The film is a true history lesson. For people of my generation, it is a reminder of an important moment we experienced and how it changed us. For younger women, it is a feminist moment they need to learn about. Anita Hill’s life was changed by the Clarence THomas hearings. Before that fateful, day she was content to be a professor of law in Oklahoma, but after that day, she became a national hero. She became a woman who confronted the system and stood up for the truth. (Melissa Silverstein)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Freida Mock here, and our review of Anita here.
It Felt Like Love — Written and Directed by Eliza Hittman
Lila wants to emulate the sexual exploits of her more experienced best friend. She fixates on a tough older guy who will “sleep with anyone” and tries to insert herself into his world, putting herself in a dangerously vulnerable situation. (Press Materials)
Stay — Written and Directed by Wiebke von Carolsfeld
How big a family should be — and who it should consist of — is the central concern of Wiebke von Carolsfeld’s Stay. In my Los Angeles Times review, I called it a “steadily affecting relationship drama” about “an unwanted pregnancy [that] jeopardizes the already shaky May-September romance between disgraced professor Dermot (Aidan Quinn) and adventurous backpacker Abby (Taylor Schilling). Dermot decided long ago that he’d make a terrible father. Meanwhile, Abby fears being tied down in the tiny Irish village that she intended to be merely a pit stop during her travels.” (Inkoo Kang)
Read our interview with Taylor Schilling and Wiebke von Carolsfeld here.
Divergent — Co-Written by Vanessa Taylor
Shailene Woodley joins the short list of young women taking the lead role in an action franchise in Divergent, the film from the book by Veronica Roth. She doesn’t yet have Jennifer Lawrence’s presence, but she is able to handle herself quite nicely as Tris, a young woman forced into leadership to save her family and friends from the evil Jeanine (a very miscast Kate Winslet) and her followers, who want to take over the government. It sounds far fetched, and it is too long, but both men and women, especially boys and girls, will be interested in the action, so the film has great potential for success. (Melissa Silverstein)
Films By and About Women Currently Playing
On My Way — Co-Written and Directed by Emmanuelle Bercot
The Den — Co-Written by Lauren Thompson
Veronica Mars — Co-Written by Dianne Ruggiero
Shirin in Love
Single Mom’s Club
Queen
The Face of Love
Elaine Stritch: Just Shoot Me (doc) — Directed by Chiemi Karasawa
Child’s Pose
Vampire Academy
Gloria
Maidentrip (doc) — Directed by Jillian Schlesinger; Written by Laura Dekker, Penelope Falk, Jillian Schlesinger
August: Osage County
The Invisible Woman — Written by Abi Morgan
Saving Mr. Banks — Written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith
Frozen — Co-Written and Co-Directed by Jennifer Lee
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The Book Thief
Gravity
Blue Jasmine
Films Directed by Women Currently Playing
Big Men (doc) — Directed by Rachel Boynton
Exposed (doc) — Directed by Beth B
Endless Love — Co-Written and Directed by Shana Feste
Films Written by Women Opening
50 to 1 — Co-Written by Faith Conroy
A misfit group of New Mexico cowboys find themselves on the journey of a lifetime when their crooked-footed racehorse qualifies for the Kentucky Derby. Based on the inspiring true story of Mine That Bird, the cowboys face a series of mishaps on their way to Churchill Downs, becoming the ultimate underdogs in a final showdown with the world’s racing elite. (Press Materials)
Films Written by Women Currently Playing
The Right Kind of Wrong — Written by Megan Martin
Pompeii — Co-Written by Janet Scott Batchler
About Last Night — Co-Written by Leslye Headland
Devil’s Due — Written by Lindsay Devlin
The Hobbit — The Desolation of Smaug — Co-Written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
Films By and About Women on DVD or On Demand
Camille Claudel, 1915
The Punk Singer (doc) — Directed by Sini Anderson
