Due to the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent restrictions, Women and Hollywood is shifting its focus to online content. We’ll be enjoying media from the comfort of our homes and encourage you to do the same.
(Please keep in mind that these dates are subject to change.)
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN COMING TO STREAMING/VOD
There’s Something in the Water (Documentary) – Directed by Ellen Page and Ian Daniel (Available on Netflix)
Ellen Page and her “Gaycation” collaborator Ian Daniel’s latest project is “There’s Something in the Water,” a documentary that focuses on environmental racism in regards to the water crisis in Nova Scotia, Canada. The film takes its name and focus from the book by social scientist Ingrid Waldron, who also serves as a co-producer. In Nova Scotia, there is contaminated water and there are cancer clusters — and, unsurprisingly, they are found in lower class neighborhoods filled with people of color. Page acts as the guide to the story, introducing us to the mostly indigenous women — Louise Delisle, Michelle Francis-Denny, and Dorene Bernard — who are leading the charge to save their neighborhood. They are fierce. They are determined. “There’s Something in the Water” is an exposé on the impact of environmental racism. It’s highly watchable and vitally important. (Melissa Silverstein)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire – Written and Directed by Céline Sciamma (Available on Hulu)
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is a masterpiece. Full stop. Just when you think it’s done breaking your heart, writer-director Céline Sciamma digs the knife in deeper. And then deeper still. Set in 1760 France, the period romance sees a painter hired to do an unconventional job — her subject, a reluctant bride to be, can’t know she’s working on her portrait. Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) has refused to sit for other artists. She’s under the impression that Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is a companion to go on walks with. In reality, Marianne is studying Héloïse, and sneakily working on a painting of her that will be sent to a potential suitor in Milan. Between stolen glances and intimate conversations, the pair fall for one another. (Laura Berger)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Available on VOD March 31)
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
The battle between the Jedi and the Sith comes to a thrilling conclusion in this final chapter of the Skywalker Saga. A year following the events of “The Last Jedi,” Rey (Daisy Ridley) and the remaining members of the Resistance are forced to confront their past while taking on the First Order one more time.
The Perfect Candidate – Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour; Written by Haifaa Al-Mansour and Brad Niemann (Available on VOD in the UK)
“The Perfect Candidate”
When Maryam (Mila Al Zahrani,) a hardworking young doctor in a small-town clinic, is prevented from flying to Dubai for a conference without a male guardian’s approval, she seeks help from a politically connected cousin but inadvertently registers as a candidate for the municipal council. Maryam sees the election as a way to fix the muddy road in front of her clinic, but her campaign slowly garners broader appeal.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Haifaa Al-Mansour.
Military Wives – Written by Rachel Tunnard and Rosanne Flynn (Available on VOD in the UK)
“Military Wives”
“Military Wives” centers on a group of women from different backgrounds whose partners are away serving in Afghanistan. Faced with their loved ones’ absences, they come together to form the very first military wives choir, helping each other through some of life’s most difficult moments — and quickly find themselves on an international stage.
Banana Split – Written by Hannah Marks and Joey Power (Available on VOD)
April (Hannah Marks) has spent the last two years of high school in a relationship with Nick (Dylan Sprouse), from first frantic make-out session to final tear-stained breakup. In the aimless summer between graduation and college, the newly single April mends her heartbreak by striking up an unexpected friendship with an unlikely candidate: Nick’s new girlfriend, Clara (Liana Liberato).
Home (Documentary) – Directed by Jen Randall (Available on VOD in the UK)
Between 2011 and 2015, UK adventurer Sarah Outen traveled by bike, kayak, and rowing boat across Europe and Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and finally the Atlantic. Sarah’s incredible four-year odyssey saw her travel for over 20,000 miles. As she migrated between cultures, climates, and landscapes under her own power, Sarah’s inspirational voyage was followed by thousands. But traveling mostly solo, the trip took its toll, and the punishing elements, ticking clock, and months of solitude pushed Sarah to the physical and spiritual brink.
The Complex (Interactive Film) – Written by Lynn Renee Maxcy (Available on PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One March 31)
Having treated the victims of a chemical attack in the totalitarian state of Kindar, Dr. Amy Tenant (Michelle Mylett) is a leader in the advancement of Nanocell Technology. Now, in London, news breaks of a blood-vomiting civilian whose identity is far from coincidental. Reunited with an old friend, Amy is trapped in an impenetrable HQ of laboratories — a womb of scientific advancement with a perilous secret. With choose-your-own-adventure style gameplay, your actions and your relationship with other characters will lead you to one of eight suspenseful endings.
FILMS ABOUT WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD
“Blow the Man Down”: TIFF
Blow The Man Down – Written and Directed by Danielle Krudy and Bridget Savage Cole (Amazon Prime)
Emma. – Directed by Autumn de Wilde; Written by Eleanor Catton (VOD)
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) – Directed by Cathy Yan; Written by Christina Hodson (VOD)
Clemency – Written and Directed by Chinonye Chukwu (VOD)
The Invisible Man (VOD)
The Hunt (VOD)
International Falls – Directed by Amber McGinnis (VOD)
Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears – Written by Deborah Cox (Acorn TV)
Asako I & II – Written by Sachiko Tanaka and Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (VOD)
The Grudge (VOD)
Lost Girls – Directed by Liz Garbus (Netflix)
Justine – Written and Directed by Stephanie Turner (Netflix)
Ride Like a Girl – Directed by Rachel Griffiths; Written by Elise McCredie and Andrew Knight (VOD)
Go Back to China – Written and Directed by Emily Ting (VOD)
Swallow (VOD)
Queen of Paradis (Documentary) (VOD)
Premature – Written by Zora Howard and Rashaad Ernesto Green (VOD)
Buffaloed – Directed by Tanya Wexler (VOD)
A Simple Wedding – Directed by Sara Zandieh; Written by Sara Zandieh and Stephanie Wu (VOD)
Little Women – Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig (VOD)
Bombshell (VOD)
Frozen II – Directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck; Written by Jennifer Lee (Disney+, VOD)
Judy (VOD)
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON STREAMING/VOD
“Crip Camp”: Sundance Institute/Steve Honigsbaum
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Documentary) – Directed by Nicole Newnham and James Lebrecht (Netflix)
Cunningham (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Alla Kovgan (VOD)
The Banker – Written by Niceole Levy, George Nolfi, David Lewis Smith, Stan Younger, and Brad Caleb Kane (Apple TV+)
1917 – Written by Krysty Wilson-Cairns and Sam Mendes (VOD)
Hooking Up – Written by Lauren Schacher and Nico Raineau (VOD)
Curtiz – Written by Zsuzsanna Bak, Tamas Yvan Topolanszky, and Ward Parry (Netflix)
Lost Transmissions – Written and Directed by Katharine O’Brien (VOD)
The Postcard Killings – Written by Liza Marklund and Andrew Stern (VOD)
Just One More Kiss – Written and Directed by Faleena Hopkins (VOD)
Olympic Dreams – Written by Alexi Pappas, Nick Kroll, and Jeremy Teicher (VOD)
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – Directed by Marielle Heller (VOD)
TV PREMIERES
Split (Miniseries) – Created and Written by Yael Shavitt; Directed by Molly McGaughey (Available Now on Amazon Prime)
“Split”
In this charming indie series that explores themes of destiny and choice, an early decision in a young woman’s life creates a split in her world, sending her off on two parallel paths into alternate futures.
Vagrant Queen – Created by Jem Garrard (Premieres March 27 on Syfy)
Former child queen Elida (Adriyan Rae) has been on the run since her mother was shot and killed by Commander Lazaro (Paul du Toit), the man responsible for bringing down their empire. A highly skilled fighter, Elida has been living in hiding and making ends meet as a scavenger while the unhinged Lazaro obsesses over tracking her down. When Elida’s old frenemy, Isaac (Tim Rozon), shows up with news that her mother is still alive, it takes the help of the optimistic mechanic Amae (Alex McGregor) to escape Lazaro’s army and begin the rescue mission across a dangerous galaxy.
Somewhere South (Docuseries) – Created by Vivian Howard and Cynthia Hill; Directed by Cynthia Hill (Premieres March 27 on PBS)
Chef and author Vivian Howard digs deeper into the lesser known roots of Southern food, Southern cooking, and Southern living.
Baghdad Central – Directed by Alice Troughton and Ben A. Williams (Premieres March 27 on Hulu)
Following the fall of Saddam Hussein, former police inspector Muhsin al-Khafaji (Waleed Zuaiter) has lost virtually everything. He searches for one of the few things remaining in his life, his missing estranged elder daughter.
Three Busy Debras – Created and Written by Mitra Jouhari, Sandy Honig, and Alyssa Stonoha (Premieres March 29 on Adult Swim)
“Three Busy Debras”: Adult Swim
Three deranged housewives (Mitra Jouhari, Sandy Honig, and Alyssa Stonoha), each named Debra, live in a wealthy Connecticut suburb that exists outside reality for the rest of the world.
How to Fix a Drug Scandal (Docuseries) – Directed by Erin Lee Carr (Premieres April 1 on Netflix)
“How to Fix a Drug Scandal”
In 2013, Massachusetts State Police arrested 35-year-old crime drug lab chemist Sonja Farak for tampering with evidence, and that was only the beginning. Over time, details emerged that Farak had been in fact using the drugs that she was tasked with testing. Did anyone know what had been going on? And when did they find out? The scope of Farak’s addiction — and the number of people convicted as a result of her drug testing — comes to light, despite repeated efforts to suppress evidence in the case.
The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show – Created by Iliza Shlesinger (Premieres April 1 on Netflix)
From the mind of comedian Iliza Shlesinger comes a fun, irreverent mix of kooky characters, sly social commentary, and pop culture gags.
THE GIRLS CLUB IS OFFERING FREE ONE-MONTH MEMBERSHIP
Founded by Women and Hollywood publisher and founder Melissa Silverstein, the Girls Club is a community for women creatives, culture-changers, and storytellers to connect, create, network, advocate, support, and redefine entertainment.
These are trying times. We realize that COVID-19 is affecting the health, safety, and livelihood of many folks in the industry, and want to offer a space for folks to come together amidst all of the uncertainty. With that goal in mind, the Girls Club is offering a one-month membership free of charge when you sign up.
If you identify as a woman and would like an invitation to this community, please email girlsclubnetwork@gmail.com and let us know a bit about who you are and what you do.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BLOG
“Finding Yingying”: Kartemquin Films
Quote of the Day: Cathy Yan on Making Harley Quinn Her Own Hero and Savior in “Birds of Prey”
Responding to Trauma: Crowdfunding Picks
“M for Magic’s” Alexis Manya Spraic on Hollywood’s Magic Castle and Women’s Unacknowledged Work
“American Masters’” Women’s History Month Programming: Holly Near, Maggie Lena Walker, & More
Women-Directed Films Win Big with SXSW Feature Film Grand Jury Awards
Watch: NYT Premieres SXSW Short Doc “Hysterical Girl,” Directed by Kate Novack
Quote of the Day: Vanessa Bell Calloway on the Visibility of Black Women in Hollywood
Cancelled 2020 SFFILM Festival’s Program Included Films from 73 Women Directors
32 Fests Sign Pledge, Making it Easier to Organize Online Screenings
Cinematographer to Watch: Katelin Arizmendi of “Swallow” and “Cam”
Note: All descriptions are from press materials, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Women and Hollywood on Twitter @WomenaHollywood and Melissa Silverstein @melsil.
To contact Women and Hollywood, email melissa@womenandhollywood.com.
