Fever Dream ( Distancia de rescate) arrived on Netflix just in time for the Halloween horror season. This South American film is a slow-moving, surreal, horror story about motherhood and environmental destruction. There are some spoilers ahead.
Continue Reading: Fever Dream (Distancia de rescate), languid horrorTag: Women Directors
Review: Maid, layered and outstanding
Maid is a layered and nuanced look at poverty, domestic violence, mental health, and American laws and systems that both help and hurt people struggling with these problems. A brilliant performance from Margaret Qualley takes the material to a level that will make the series an awards contender for 2021. The series is on Netflix.
Continue Reading: Review: Maid, layered and outstandingReview: Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It puts the decades in perspective in the documentary story of Rita Moreno. From her humble beginnings in Puerto Rico to her legendary and iconic status now, her life unfolds with love and affection in this documentary.
Continue Reading: Review: Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for ItTwo interesting short films: Rosa and Beef
HBO Max is showing a variety of short films directed by women now. I want to share two of them. Rosa is the longer at about 30 minutes. Beef is a mere 11 minutes. These films give you a preview of interesting women directors to watch for.
Continue Reading: Two interesting short films: Rosa and BeefReview: My Name is Pauli Murray
My Name is Pauli Murray is a revelation. I was today years old when I found out how much influence she/they (more on gender in a bit) had on American life and on women and people of color. She was a trailblazer, a fighter, a visionary, a poet, a lawyer, a priest. Everyone should watch this documentary. It’s streaming on Prime Video.
Continue Reading: Review: My Name is Pauli MurrayReview: The Planters, oddest movie you’ll ever love
The Planters is an eccentric indie movie made by two women working with no crew or help. It’s a story about socially lost outcasts who find each other and human connection. It’s streaming on Amazon.
Continue Reading: Review: The Planters, oddest movie you’ll ever loveReview: Dear White People, season 4
Dear White People, season 4, stayed meaningful to the end with a musical wrap up of senior year for several of the main characters. Creator Justin Simien worked with a number of storylines and time jumps with his big ensemble cast of college students.
Continue Reading: Review: Dear White People, season 4Review: Back to Life, comedy from the UK, seasons 1-2
Back to Life tells a serious story in the British comedy style. It’s about a woman who spent 18 years in prison. She is trying to get her life back to normal. I saw it on Showtime, but I think it’s available elsewhere, too.
Continue Reading: Review: Back to Life, comedy from the UK, seasons 1-2Review: Good on Paper, liar liar
Good on Paper is a true story about a liar. The film comes from comic Iliza Shlesinger, who apparently experienced the liar in question. The film is a stand up routine about the guy, interspersed with a full movie illustrating the story in the stand up routine. That’s a new approach to storytelling, as far as I know. It’s available on Netflix.
Continue Reading: Review: Good on Paper, liar liarReview: On the Verge, women in mid-life
On the Verge tells the story of four women friends in their 40s who are in various stages of life crisis and change – all of it happening just before the coronavirus pandemic hits. Julie Delpy created and co-wrote the series along with co-star Alexia Landeau. Delpy directed 5 of the 12 episodes in this Netflix series.
Continue Reading: Review: On the Verge, women in mid-life