FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING
Tell It to the Bees – Directed by Annabel Jankel; Written by Henrietta Ashworth and Jessica Ashworth (Also Available on VOD)
“Tell It to the Bees”
Dr. Jean Markham (Anna Paquin) returns to the town she left as a teenager to take over her late father’s medical practice. When a schoolyard scuffle lands Charlie (Gregor Selkirk) in her surgery, she invites him to visit the hives in her garden and tell his secrets to the bees, as she once did. The new friendship between the boy and the bee keeper brings his mother, Lydia (Holliday Grainger), into Jean’s world. In the sanctuary of the doctor’s house, the two women find themselves drawn to one another in a way that Jean recognizes and fears and Lydia could never have expected. But in 1950s small-town Britain, their new secret can’t stay hidden forever.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Annabel Jankel.
Find screening info here.
Wine Country – Directed by Amy Poehler; Written by Liz Cackowski and Emily Spivey (Opens in Select Theaters May 8) (Available on Netflix May 10)
In honor of Rebecca’s (Rachel Dratch) 50th birthday, Abby (Amy Poehler) plans a scenic Napa getaway with their best, longtime friends. Workaholic Catherine (Ana Gasteyer), post-op Val (Paula Pell), homebody Jenny (Emily Spivey), and weary mom Naomi (Maya Rudolph) are equally sold on the chance to relax and reconnect. Yet as the alcohol flows, real world uncertainties intrude on the punchlines and gossip, and the women begin questioning their friendships and futures.
Ask Dr. Ruth (Documentary)
“Ask Dr. Ruth”
When you watch “Ask Dr. Ruth,” you feel as if you’re hanging out with your most bubbly, self-confident, and outspoken friend. That said friend happens to be a 90-year-old sex therapist just makes the experience that much more delightful. As active as ever — forgive the pun, but she’d surely approve of it — Dr. Ruth Westheimer is still writing books, giving candid interviews, and speaking up about the issues the ever-Puritan American mainstream is too afraid to acknowledge. Ryan White’s Sundance doc isn’t entirely an upbeat romp, however. “Ask Dr. Ruth” sees the protagonist, who is Jewish, opening up about her childhood and family. Born in Germany in 1928, Ruth was sent to Switzerland once the Nazis took power, when she was 10. Her parents and grandmother died in the Holocaust. While she never betrays her emotions about her background, Ruth does point out that her work — her steadfast belief that human connection is beautiful, natural, and something everyone deserves — may be a result of the tragedy she survived as a young woman. (Rachel Montpelier)
Find screening info here.
UglyDolls – Written by Alison Peck
In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weird is celebrated, strange is special, and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye. Here, the free-spirited Moxy (Kelly Clarkson) and her UglyDoll friends live every day in a whirlwind of bliss, letting their freak flags fly in a celebration of life and its endless possibilities. In this all-new story, the UglyDolls will go on a journey beyond the comfortable borders of Uglyville. There, they will confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved, and ultimately discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing, because who you truly are is what matters most.
Find screening info here.
A Pesar De Todo – Directed by Gabriela Tagliavini; Written by Gabriela Tagliavini, Helena Rhee, and Eugene B. Rhee (Available on Netflix)
“A Pesar De Todo”
Sara, Lucía, Sofía, and Claudia are sisters, four modern women with very different personalities, who come together at their mother’s funeral, after which they discover the man they’ve all called “Dad” throughout their lives is not really their father. They embark on a quest to discover who their real fathers are, discovering more about themselves, their mother, and their lives.
Alles ist Gut (All Is Good) – Written and Directed by Eva Trobisch (Available on Netflix)
“Alles ist Gut”
Eva Trobisch’s poised and formally restrained feature directorial debut poses questions about how one can resist victimization following sexual assault. Does one attempt to move past it or confront the crime and trauma head on? Aenne Schwarz delivers a gut-wrenching performance as a woman trying to stay composed as she deals with the aftermath of a nightmarish evening that leaves an unerasable scar and affects all aspects of her life. (MoMA)
Always Miss You
With relationship fail after relationship fail, Xinyi (Amber Kuo) believes she’s finally stumbled onto a good man. Throwing herself into this new and potentially life-changing relationship, she thinks her days of being single are over. But when her teenage crush re-enters her life, she has to decide who to pick — and figure out who will pick her.
The Convent (Also Available on VOD)
In the early 17th century, innocent young Persephone (Hannah Arterton) is falsely accused and put on trial for her life. Her fate seems sealed except for the timely intervention of the mysterious Reverend Mother (Clare Higgins), offering her not just sanctuary, but hope. For the Reverend Mother is the self-appointed leader of a small religious retreat, a secluded Priory, where her fellow Sisters devote their lives to the Lord and seek atonement for their pasts. But upon arrival, Persephone is plagued with terrifying visions and soon realizes that it’s not salvation that awaits but a battle for her very soul itself.
Room for Rent (Available on VOD May 7)
Lonely widow Joyce (Lin Shaye) rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her guests.
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN OPENING
“Long Shot”
Long Shot – Written by Liz Hannah and Dan Sterling
Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted and free-spirited journalist with an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) is one of the most influential women in the world. Smart, sophisticated, and accomplished, she’s a powerhouse diplomat with a talent for — well, mostly everything. The two have nothing in common, except that she was his babysitter and childhood crush. When Fred unexpectedly reconnects with Charlotte, he charms her with his self-deprecating humor and his memories of her youthful idealism. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte impulsively hires Fred as her speechwriter, much to the dismay of her trusted advisors. A fish out of water on Charlotte’s elite team, Fred is unprepared for her glamorous lifestyle in the limelight. However, sparks fly as their unmistakable chemistry leads to an around-the-world romance and a series of unexpected and dangerous incidents.
Find screening info here.
The Silence of Others (Documentary) – Directed by Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar; Written by Almudena Carracedo, Kim Roberts, Robert Bahar, and Ricardo Acosta (Opens May 8 in NY)
“The Silence of Others”: Almudena Carracedo
What if in the ‘60s you were sadistically tortured for your political beliefs and the man responsible — Antonio González Pacheco, aka “Billy the Kid” — is now your neighbor? The bloody Spanish Civil War (1936-39) was followed by the Franco dictatorship that ended only with his death in 1975 — after which a law granted amnesty for crimes committed throughout this period. “The Silence of Others” tackles the legal/political questions that this enforced obliviousness has created, and equally compelling, the existential conundrum of living in a nation in which no one has been charged with the murder of hundreds of thousands, buried in more than 2,000 mass graves.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Almudena Carracedo.
Find screening info here.
Bardo Blues – Directed by Marcia Kimpton; Written by Marcia Kimpton and Anthony Taylor (Also Available on VOD)
“Bardo Blues”
Set in Thailand, “Bardo Blues” follows Jack as he struggles to learn the truth about the mother that abandoned him and his own reason for existing. Weaving spiritual awakenings and soulful struggles, “Bardo Blues” will leave you questioning everything you think you know about who you are, where you came from, and where you are going.
Find screening info here.
The Last Summer – Written by April Prosser, William Bindley, and Scott Bindley (Available on Netflix)
Teens from a Chicago high school grapple with their dreams, relationships, and identities in a transformative summer before they leave for college.
Bite Me – Directed by Meredith Edwards; Written by Naomi McDougall Jones (Opens May 6; Available on VOD May 7)
A subversive romantic comedy about the real-life subculture of people who believe that they’re vampires and the IRS agent who audits them.
Find screening info here.
TV PREMIERES
“At the Heart of Gold”: HBO
At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal (Documentary) – Directed by Erin Lee Carr (Premieres May 3 on HBO)
“How much is a little girl worth?” asks Rachael Denhollander in “At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal.” Denhollander was the first woman to publicly accuse former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse, inspiring hundreds of other women to come forward with their own horror stories about their trusted physician and friend. Given its subject matter, it’s no surprise that “At the Heart of Gold” is a difficult watch at times. As disturbing as Erin Lee Carr’s HBO doc is, it’s also incredibly inspiring. Carr highlights the gymnasts’ awe-inspiring strength, both as athletes and as people. The doc’s most powerful moments come when the women take the stand to confront their abuser and speak their truths. (Laura Berger)
Tuca & Bertie – Created by Lisa Hanawalt (Premieres May 3 on Netflix)
“Tuca & Bertie”: Netflix
“Tuca & Bertie” is an animated comedy series about the friendship between two 30-year-old bird women who live in the same apartment building: Tuca (Tiffany Haddish), a cocky, care-free toucan, and Bertie (Ali Wong), an anxious, daydreaming songbird.
Dead to Me – Created by Liz Feldman (Premieres May 3 on Netflix)
“Dead to Me”
Jen (Christina Applegate) is a sardonic widow determined to solve her husband’s recent hit-and-run murder. Judy (Linda Cardellini) is an optimistic free spirit who’s recently suffered her own tragic loss. When the two women meet at a support group, they become unlikely friends despite their polar-opposite personalities. But as they bond over bottles of wine, Entenmann’s cookies, and a shared affinity for “The Facts of Life,” Judy desperately tries to shield Jen from a shocking secret that could destroy her life as she knows it.
Into the Dark: All That We Destroy (TV Movie) – Directed by Chelsea Stardust (Premieres May 3 on Hulu)
A geneticist who fears that her son may be becoming a serial killer creates a group of clones in an attempt to cure him of his psychopathic tendencies by allowing him to relive the murder of his first victim.
Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact (Documentary Special) – Hosted by Soledad O’Brien (Premieres May 4 on Lifetime)
Following the debut of the record-breaking premiere of Lifetime’s “Surviving R. Kelly” this past January, the network will debut a two-hour follow-up special, “Surviving R Kelly: The Impact,” detailing the conversations and reactions ignited by the powerful documentary series and hosted by award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien.
Cher: Do You Believe? (Documentary) (Premieres May 5 on Reelz)
Cher: actress, singer, icon. She’s been at the top of her game for more than 50 years but it’s been a constant battle. She’s won hundreds of awards including an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and three Golden Globes. But behind Cher’s tough exterior is a tortured soul racked with self-doubt. So why does one of the most successful and celebrated actresses and singers of her generation still doubt herself? Using dramatic reconstruction, intimate archives, and firsthand accounts from those closest to her, this feature length drama documentary is the inside story of Cher’s battle for acceptance from others and herself.
The Spanish Princess (Miniseries) – Directed by Daina Reid, Birgitte Stærmose, Lisa Clarke, and Stephen Woolfenden (Premieres May 5 on Starz)
“The Spanish Princess”
The beautiful Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope), navigates the royal lineage of England with an eye on the throne.
VOD/STREAMING RELEASES
“Reinventing Rosalee”
Everybody Knows (VOD, May 7)
The Prodigy (VOD, May 7)
Reinventing Rosalee – Directed by Lillian Glass; Written by Lillian Glass and Rosalee Glass (VOD, May 7)
St. Agatha – Written by Sara Sometti Michaels, Andy Demetrio, Shaun Fletcher, and Clint Sears (VOD, May 7)
What Men Want – Written by Tina Gordon, Peter Huyck, and Alex Gregory (VOD, May 7)
PICKS OF THE WEEK FROM WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD
“Rafiki” screened at the 2019 Athena Film Festival
Quote of the Day: Oprah Talks Empowerment and Opportunity
Submit Now: The Athena Film Festival and The Athena List
Elle Fanning, Kelly Reichardt, & More to Serve on Cannes Competition Jury
WGA Inclusion Report Card: There Is “Systemic Discrimination” in Hiring of TV Writers
Glenda Jackson on Playing King Lear and Modern Dramatists’ Disinterest in Women’s Stories
Imagine That: Crowdfunding Picks
“Captain Marvel” Becomes Highest-Grossing Woman-Directed Film at Domestic Box Office
Submit Now: Women Over 50 Film Festival
May 2019 Film Preview
Apply Now: CinemaStreet Women’s Short Screenplay Competition
Note: All descriptions are from press materials, unless otherwise noted.
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