Picks of the Week offers Women and Hollywood’s recommendations — women-driven and women-made movies, series, VOD releases, and more — and tells you why they are worth your time and money.
Blinded by the Light – Directed by Gurinder Chadha; Written by Gurinder Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges, and Sarfraz Manzoor
“Blinded by the Light” is an infectious movie. The film, from “Bend It Like Beckham’s” Gurinder Chadha, tells the story of Javed (Viveik Kalra), a confused young Pakistani-British man who is chafing against his family’s rigid customs. Then one day a friend hands him a Bruce Springsteen cassette (it is set in 1987) and Javed is transformed. He walks around listening to Bruce and his life takes on new meaning. He believes that Bruce is speaking to him about his life and his dreams. He feels seen for the first time. As Javed begins to discover himself, he pushes back against familial expectations and finally feels safe enough to follow his heart and become a writer.
Featuring 19 Bruce Springsteen songs, “Blinded by the Light” is a vivid reminder of the power of music to change and influence lives. (Melissa Silverstein)
Read Women and Hollywood’s interview with Gurinder Chadha.
“Blinded by the Light” is currently playing in the UK. It arrives in U.S. theaters August 16. Find screening info here.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette – Written by Holly Gent, Richard Linklater, and Vince Palmo
“Where’d You Go, Bernadette”: Annapurna Pictures
Based on the beloved novel by Maria Semple, “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” introduces us to Bernadette Fox — played by the always amazing Cate Blanchett — a MacArthur-winning star architect who walked away from her calling, and basically the world, 20 years ago. I was especially struck by how loss has defined Bernadette’s life. One of her signature creations was demolished by a guy who built a parking lot. She also nonchalantly mentions to her former mentor that she’s had four miscarriages and once her daughter was born, she put all of her creative energy into motherhood. You get the sense that this is not something that Bernadette ever talks about. But in this defining scene we realize that her creative fire is tamped down and in order for her to survive and not be a menace (which she has become), she needs to create. The film is an exploration of how art and creativity fuels some people and what happens when they are extinguished. It’s also a great mother-daughter story and Emma Nelson as Bee is a revelation. (MS)
“Where’d You Go, Bernadette” opens August 16. Find screening info here.
Gwen
“Gwen”
The trailer for “Gwen” features a mother at the end of her rope, a fair amount of blood, and a young woman screaming — in other words, it looks like a fairly cut-and-dried period horror tale. However, the final result is a lot more interesting and, honestly, much more frightening than that.
The titular character (Eleanor Worthington-Cox) is struggling to keep her head above water during what we now call the industrial revolution. Along with the universal experiences of teen girldom — crushes, family squabbles, feelings of loneliness — she’s taking care of her ill mother and putting on a brave face for her little sister. Meanwhile, her father is off at war, the farm is failing, and local businessmen have their sights set on her family’s land.
“Steal a sheep, and they’ll take your hand,” mother Elen (Maxine Peake) tells her daughters. “Steal a mountain, and they’ll make you a lord.” And that’s where the true horror of “Gwen” comes into play. Elen’s mysterious illness, which she suspects might be demonic, is scary enough, but the real threat to the family is a world that is becoming more obsessed with money and less concerned with actual people and their needs. In fact, her mother’s sickness just makes Gwen and her family more vulnerable to the mining company that’s been systematically buying their neighbors’ property.
So, all in all, “Gwen” is a horror flick — and its monster is capitalism. (Rachel Montpelier)
Gwen is currently playing in the UK. It arrives in U.S. theaters and on VOD August 16.
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