FILMS ABOUT WOMEN OPENING AND COMING TO STREAMING/VOD
What the Constitution Means to Me (Filmed Stage Production) – Directed by Marielle Heller; Written by Heidi Schreck
As Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation and the election draw nearer, I highly recommend watching “What the Constitution Means to Me,” whether you’re craving entertainment, education, or catharsis. With affection, humor, and anger, Heidi Schreck’s award-winning play deftly unpacks the U.S. Constitution’s merits, but also makes the case that, as a document created by rich white men, it overwhelmingly caters to rich white men. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, the poor — this much-revered text could not give less of a fuck about them. When Schreck was a teenager, she would participate in American Legion debate contests to earn college scholarship money, arguing about the merits of the Constitution and connecting its tenets to her life. As she grew up, experienced more, and started learning about her family history, Schreck began to realize that the Constitution she idolized is not exactly all it’s cracked up to be. Things are coming apart at the seams in the U.S. right now, and most days I wish we could burn down the whole system and start over. Thanks to “What the Constitution Means to Me,” I better understand why that is, and isn’t, a good idea. (Rachel Montpelier)
“What the Constitution Means to Me” is now available on Amazon Prime.
Belly of the Beast (Documentary) – Directed by Erika Cohn
“Belly of the Beast”
Though it’s most closely associated with Nazi Germany, eugenics has a history stateside as well. And it’s not just a thing of the past. “Belly of the Beast” tells the story of Kelli Dillon, one of many women who has been involuntarily sterilized while in prison. Erika Cohn’s documentary sees Dillon teaming up with Cynthia Chandler, a radical human rights lawyer, to expose horrifying reproductive injustice occurring in California prisons by taking on the Department of Corrections. After telling Dillon she seemed to have cysts on her ovaries, a doctor at the prison asked if she wanted children. She said yes. Already a mother, she was missing the opportunity to watch her two sons grow up, and hoped she’d get the chance to have another child to share that experience with. The 24-year-old consented to a hysterectomy if he found cancer, and on that condition alone. Following the procedure, Dillon was told she’d still be able to have children. She was lied to. “Belly of the Beast” explores how — and why — this horror story unfolded: how inmates become numbers, and that depersonalization makes it easier for those in power to abuse them, the stigma against those behind bars that encourages the public to see them as subhuman, and the role that racism plays in all of this. (Laura Berger)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Erika Cohn.
“Belly of the Beast” is now in select theaters and available via virtual cinemas. Find screening info here.
Bad Hair
“Bad Hair”
A horror satire set in 1989, “Bad Hair” follows an ambitious young woman (Elle Lorraine) who gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career comes at a great cost when she realizes that her new hair may have a mind of its own.
“Bad Hair” is now in drive-in theaters. It will be available on Hulu October 23. Find screening info here.
African Violet – Directed by Mona Zandi Haghighi
Middle-aged Shokoo (Fatemeh Motamed Arya) finds out that her ex-husband, Fereydoun (Reza Babak), has been placed in a nursing home by their children. She and second husband Reza (Saeed Aghakhani) decide to take care of Fereydoun themselves, but in their own home. In doing so, the relationship between Shokoo and Fereydoun is significantly transformed. This new situation affects Reza and Shokoo’s daily life and unexpected changes take place in the lives of all three characters.
“African Violent” is now available via virtual cinemas. Find screening info here.
The State of Texas vs. Melissa (Documentary) – Directed by Sabrina Van Tassel
“The State of Texas vs. Melissa”
“The State of Texas vs. Melissa” explores the life journey of Melissa Lucio, the first Hispanic woman to be sentenced to death in the state of Texas. For over 10 years she has been awaiting her fate, and now faces her last appeal. No one had ever seen Melissa be violent towards her children, yet she was blamed for the daily abuse and subsequent death of her two-year-old daughter, who died from blunt head trauma. Set in the heart of the Latino community of South Texas, the film takes a look at Melissa’s broken childhood, her adult life plagued by poverty and prejudice, and the miscarriage of justice Melissa faced, from the court appointed attorney who willingly set aside evidence, to the district attorney who used her case to help his re-election. “The State of Texas vs. Melissa” is the portrait of a woman’s fight against an entire system.
“The State of Texas vs. Melissa” will be available on VOD October 20.
The Sounding – Directed by Catherine Eaton; Written by Catherine Eaton and Bryan Delaney
Raised on a remote island by her grandfather Lionel (Harris Yulin), Liv (Catherine Eaton) has never spoken. When Lionel discovers he’s dying, he calls the driven, privileged son (Teddy Sears) of his best friend to the island and asks him to protect Liv’s independence, alongside Lionel’s attorney (Frankie Faison). That night, as Lionel is reading to Liv, his voice fails him. Liv picks up the book of Shakespeare and begins — first reading, then weaving a new language from Shakespeare’s words. She is committed to a psychiatric hospital and becomes a full-blown rebel; her increasing violence threatens to keep her locked up for life as she fights for her voice and her freedom.
“The Sounding” will be available on VOD October 20.
Seat 20D (Documentary) – Directed by Jill Campbell
When sculptor Suse Lowenstein’s son Alex was murdered in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in an effort to come to terms with her grief, Suse turned to her art. She began to sculpt herself “stripped” naked and in the emotional position she fell upon hearing the news of her son’s death. She found the process brought some solace. Thinking this might help others, Suse posted about her project in the Pan Am Victims’ Family Newsletter, inviting others to participate. Seventy-five women responded. Suse sculpted these women posed in the painful moment they fell into when they received the news. It took Suse 15 years to complete “Dark Elegy.” She says she prolonged the process because, “It kept me alive.” As Suse grapples with her own mortality, she must determine the fate of this controversial memorial to the victims of a brutal attack that altered American history.
“Seat 20D” will be available on VOD October 20.
Linda and The Mockingbirds (Documentary)
“Linda and The Mockingbirds” chronicles a road trip with Linda Ronstadt, musician Jackson Browne, and a tour bus full of young singers, dancers, and instrumentalists to the small town of Banámichi in the Mexican state of Sonora, where Ronstadt’s grandfather grew up. There they meet up with their Mexican counterparts, the folkloric dance troupe Grupo de Danza Xunutzi, and put on soulful performances showcasing Mexican culture.
“Linda and The Mockingbirds” will be available on VOD October 20.
Surge (Documentary) – Directed by Hannah Rosenzweig and Wendy Sachs
Lauren Underwood (center) during the production of “Surge”
“Surge” is a feature documentary about the record number of first-time female candidates who ran, won, and upended politics in what became the historic, barrier-breaking 2018 midterm elections. The film explores whether this is another moment in women’s political history or the beginning of a true movement. “Surge” follows three congressional candidates in Texas, Indiana, and Illinois, who were each looking to flip their deep red districts to blue, including Lauren Underwood, the youngest Black woman ever to be elected to Congress. The film exposes the double standards, biases, and brutal realities women face running for Congress — some, incredibly enough, without the support of their own party. “Surge” is not only about women running for office, but about women getting behind women running for office. It powerfully taps into the collective urgency of this time with a hopeful message that grassroots activism works and unlikely candidates can win.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Hannah Rosenzweig and Wendy Sachs.
“Surge” is now streaming on the Showtime Anytime app. It will be available on VOD October 21.
Rebecca – Written by Jane Goldman, Anna Waterhouse, and Joe Shrapnel
“Rebecca”: Kerry Brown/ Netflix
After a whirlwind romance in Monte Carlo with handsome widower Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer), a newly married young woman (Lily James) arrives at Manderley, her new husband’s imposing family estate on a windswept English coast. Naïve and inexperienced, she begins to settle into the trappings of her new life, but finds herself battling the shadow of Maxim’s first wife, the elegant and urbane Rebecca, whose haunting legacy is kept alive by Manderley’s sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas).
“Rebecca” will be available on Netflix October 21.
Stevie Nicks 24 Karat Gold The Concert (Concert Film)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame icon Stevie Nicks brings her legendary music to the big screen when “Stevie Nicks 24 Karat Gold The Concert” comes to select cinemas for two nights only. Recorded over two nights during her sold-out 24 Karat Gold Tour, the film features a set-list of fan favorites and rare gems from Stevie’s multi-platinum selling catalog. The film also highlights Stevie’s intuitive and intimate storytelling abilities, captivating audiences with personal stories behind some of the most famous songs in music history.
“Stevie Nicks 24 Karat Gold The Concert” will be in theaters October 21 and October 25 only. Find screening info here.
The Witches
“The Witches”
Reimagining Roald Dahl’s beloved story for a modern audience, Robert Zemeckis’ visually innovative film tells the darkly humorous and heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy (Jahzir Bruno) who, in late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma (Octavia Spencer) in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. As the boy and his grandmother encounter some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, she wisely whisks him away to a seaside resort. Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world’s Grand High Witch (Anne Hathaway) has gathered her fellow cronies from around the globe — undercover — to carry out her nefarious plans.
“The Witches” will be available on HBO Max October 22.
She Is the Ocean (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Inna Blokhina
A woman is like the ocean: a true force of nature. “She Is the Ocean” follows nine extraordinary women, scattered across all corners of the globe. But they are united by the same sea, and their love for these waters is matched only by their dedication to preserve and protect them. A journey of both natural beauty and human empathy, “She Is the Ocean” is the story of powerful women with depths unknown.
“She Is the Ocean” is now in theaters and available via virtual cinemas. Find screening info here.
The Devil Has a Name
An ambitious oil executive (Kate Bosworth) leaves the whole industry exposed when she attempts to outwit a recently widowed farmer whose water she has poisoned.
“The Devil Has a Name” is now in theaters and available on VOD.
Don’t Look Back
Caitlin Kramer (Kourtney Bell), a woman of faith overcoming a tragic past, is among several people who see a man being fatally assaulted and don’t intervene. But when the witnesses start dying mysteriously, Caitlin must unearth if they are being targeted by a killer or something far more insidious.
“Don’t Look Back” is now available on VOD.
36 Husbands
Krista (Christa Pasch), top spy and Kung Fu master, puts her extraordinary powers in action on her quest to slow down the march towards World War III. Together with her Kung Fu disciples, Gina (Roberta Bianchini) and Nola (Nadine Nourney) — and Frankie (Dominic Anglim), a spy on-loan from MI6 — they fight and love their way across the world, leaving a trail of broken hearts and sabotaged plans.
“36 Husbands” is now available on VOD.
FILMS MADE BY WOMEN OPENING AND COMING TO STREAMING/VOD
White Riot (Documentary) – Directed by Rubika Shah; Written by Rubika Shah and Ed Gibbs
“White Riot”
Britain, late-1970s. The country is deeply divided over immigration. The National Front, a far-right and fascist political party, is gaining strength. And countering this was Rock Against Racism (RAR), a movement that swept across the U.K. and Europe and culminated in a 100,000+-person march and a legendary concert event — Woodstock meets the March on Washington, punk-style.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Rubika Shah.
“White Riot” is now available via virtual cinemas. Find screening info here.
J.R. “Bob” Dobbs and the Church of the SubGenius (Documentary) – Directed by Sandy K. Boone; Written by Sandy K. Boone and Jason Wehling
“J.R. ‘Bob’ Dobbs and The Church of the SubGenius”
The Church of the SubGenius has been called “the most aggressively preposterous theology the world has ever known!” But what is the Church? Filmmaker Sandy K. Boone explores the underground movement that has galvanized the imaginative, the artistic, the nerdy, even the deranged — to examine the simmering dystopia in their culture, and do absolutely nothing about it, except, maybe, poke fun at it all.
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Sandy K. Boone.
“J.R. ‘Bob’ Dobbs and the Church of the SubGenius” is now screening via virtual cinemas. It will be available on VOD October 20.
How to Fix a Primary (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Brittany Huckabee
“How to Fix a Primary”
You may know him as a CNN expert on COVID-19. But Abdul El-Sayed had a previous life. “How to Fix a Primary” follows the young doctor as he takes on Michigan’s political establishment in a bid to become the first Muslim governor in U.S. history. With exclusive access and full editorial control, the film follows Abdul and his underdog team in this battleground state as they hustle to gain endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez while confronting Islamophobia and a system that seems rigged against them.
“How to Fix a Primary” will be available on VOD October 20.
After So Many Days (Documentary) – Directed by Samantha Yonack and Jim Hanft; Written by Samantha Yonack, Natalia Anderson, Jim Hanft, and Kyle Weber
After a decade of making music together, Jim and Sam, a recently married singer/songwriter duo from Los Angeles, were not the conventionally successful band they’d hoped they’d be. Feeling stuck and anxious about their future, the duo make a spontaneous decision to put their music and marriage to the ultimate test by making a pact to play one show every day for a year. With suitcases and a guitar, the troubadours ventured out for a 365-day tour down unexplored roads and onto unexpected stages, bringing their music to new audiences throughout 14 different countries.
“After So Many Days” will be available on VOD October 20.
Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace (Documentary) – Directed by April Wright
“Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace”
“Going Attractions” is a love letter to the history of cinema from penny arcades and nickelodeons, to the magnificent theaters built at a time when movies were larger than life, through present day preservation efforts.
“Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace” will be available on VOD October 20.
Clouds – Written by Kara Holden
Zach Sobiech (Fin Argus) is a fun-loving high school student with raw musical talent living with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. At the start of his senior year, he is ready to take on the world, however when he receives the news that the disease has spread, he and his best friend and songwriting partner, Sammy (Sabrina Carpenter), decide to spend Zach’s limited time following their dreams. With the help of Zach’s mentor and teacher, Mr. Weaver (Lil Rel Howery), Zach and Sammy are given the chance of a lifetime and are offered a record deal. Along with the support of the love of his life, Amy (Madison Iseman), and his parents, Rob and Laura (Tom Everett Scott and Neve Campbell), Zach embarks on an unforgettable journey of friendship, love, and the power of music.
“Clouds” is now available on Disney+.
2 Hearts – Written by Veronica Hool and Robin U. Russin
For two couples, the future unfolds in different decades and different places, but a hidden connection will bring them together in a way no one could have predicted.
“2 Hearts” is now in theaters. Find screening info here.
Scare Package (Anthology) – Directed by Emily Hagins, Hilary Andujar, Courtney Andujar, Chris McInroy, Noah Segan, Baron Vaughn, Anthony Cousins, and Aaron B. Koontz; Written by Emily Hagins, Hilary Andujar, Courtney Andujar, Cameron Burns, Anthony Cousins, Ben Fee, Frank Garcia-Hejl, John Karsko, Aaron B. Koontz, Chris McInroy, Noah Segan, and Baron Vaughn
Chad Buckley (Jeremy King) is a lonely horror aficionado, spending his days overseeing a struggling video store and arguing with his only customer, Sam (Byron Brown). When an unsuspecting job applicant arrives, Chad sets out to teach him the rules of horror, weaving in and out of hilarious segments geared toward the ropes and tropes of terror.
“Scare Package” will be available on VOD October 20.
TV AND EPISODIC PREMIERES
Grand Army – Created by Katie Cappiello (Premieres October 16 on Netflix)
“Grand Army”: Jasper Savage/Netflix
“Grand Army” tunnels into a generation that’s raging and rising. Five students at the largest public high school in Brooklyn take on our chaotic world as they fight to succeed, survive, wild out, break free, and seize the future.
Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions (Music Special) (Premieres October 16 on MTV)
Reimagining the beloved music series “MTV Unplugged” from her Los Angeles backyard, Miley Cyrus will take the stage to perform an original cover of “Gimme More” by Britney Spears, as well as covers of songs by Pearl Jam, The Cardigans, and more. Fans will have front-row seats as Cyrus performs stripped-down and acoustic sets of her career-defining hits and latest single, “Midnight Sky.”
The Way I See It (Documentary) – Directed by Dawn Porter (Premieres October 16 on MSNBC)
Inspired by the New York Times #1 bestseller comes Dawn Porter’s “The Way I See It,” an unprecedented look behind the scenes of two of the most iconic Presidents in American History, Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, as seen through the eyes of renowned photographer Pete Souza. As Official White House Photographer, Souza was an eyewitness to the unique and tremendous responsibilities of being the most powerful person on Earth. The movie reveals how Souza transforms from a respected photojournalist to a searing commentator on the issues we face as a country and a people.
Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult (Docuseries) – Directed by Cecilia Peck and Inbal B. Lessner (Premieres October 18 on Starz)
“Seduced: Inside The NXIVM Cult”
“Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult” chronicles the extraordinary and harrowing journey of India Oxenberg — the daughter of Hollywood actress Catherine Oxenberg and a descendant of European royalty — who was seduced into the modern-day sex-slave cult NXIVM. More than 17,000 people, including India, enrolled in NXIVM’s “Executive Success Programs,” a front for the cult and a hunting ground for its leader, master predator Keith Raniere. Women in DOS, a secret master-slave society within NXIVM, were sex-trafficked and branded with a cauterizing iron. Both about a mother trying to save her daughter and recovery from trauma, the series follows India’s seduction, indoctrination, enslavement, escape — and her role as “co-conspirator” in assisting the U.S. government with bringing down Raniere and his criminal enterprise.
The Trouble with Maggie Cole (Premieres October 18 on PBS)
See what happens when idle gossip escalates out of control and starts to affect people’s lives. Set in a picturesque fishing village, the series centers on Maggie Cole (Dawn French), the self-appointed oracle of this close-knit community.
Darkness: Those Who Kill – Created by Ina Bruhn (Premieres October 19 on Acorn TV)
Six months after a teenaged girl is kidnapped from a Copenhagen suburb, only investigator Jan Michelsen (Kenneth M. Christensen) retains hope she’s alive. When Jan unearths a cold case bearing the same hallmarks, he brings in Louise Bergstein (Natalie Madueño), an expert on serial killers. With more lives at stake, together they grapple with the darkness preying on the community in this Danish noir.
Chelsea Handler: Evolution (Comedy Special) – Written by Chelsea Handler (Premieres October 22 on HBO Max)
Handler will share hilarious experiences about her family, friendships, and her first foray into therapy — where she was able to unearth why everyone on this planet annoyed her so much. She has always been a trusted voice and has provided much-needed perspective for the world. Now, she turns the attention on herself, reflecting on her personal journey toward self-awareness, assisted by her reliable companion, cannabis. Never one to hold back, Handler bravely takes the stage to face herself in front of everyone.
Equal (Docuseries) – Directed by Kimberly Reed and Stephen Kijak (Premieres October 22 on HBO Max)
“Equal”
“Equal” honors the rebels of yesteryear with never-before-seen archival footage along with stylistic depictions that bring to life the gripping and true backstories of these leaders and unsung heroes. Over the course of the series, viewers will meet a wide range of LGBTQ+ visionaries portrayed by the cast, many of whom identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Each part has a distinct and connected telling: Part 1 explores the rise of early organizations, The Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis in Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively; Part 2 chronicles the 20th century trans experience, bookended by the 1966 Compton Cafeteria riots in San Francisco; Part 3 examines the contributions from the Black community on the growing LGBTQ+ civil rights movement; and Part 4 ties in the decades-long struggles with the culminated Stonewall uprising — the beginning of the Pride movement.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
“Tragic Jungle”
Study: The Number of Women Writers & Directors Screening Indie Films at Fests Continues to Rise
DOC NYC’s 2020 Lineup Announced, 52 Percent of Features in Competition Are Directed by Women
AFI Fest 2020 Preview: A Romance That Transcends Borders, Rachel Brosnahan on the Run, & More
Pick of the Day: “Time”
NYWIFT Announces 2020 Creative Workforce Summit: Documentary Makers, Industry, & Funders in Conversation
Guest Post: How “Gilmore Girls” Rescued My Relationship with My Mother
“Beginning” Named Georgia’s Pick for Oscars’ International Feature Category
Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins Will Reunite for “Cleopatra”
Submit Now: Dedza Films, Kino Lorber-Supported Distributor for Emerging and Student Filmmakers
Note: All descriptions are from press materials, unless otherwise noted.
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