Opening November 15 -21, 2021- Margaret Barton-Fumo reports

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists highlights movies made by and about women. With a vigilant eye toward current releases, we maintain an interactive record of films that are pertinent to our interests. Be they female-made or female-centric productions, they are films that represent a wide range of women’s stories and present complex female characters. As such, they are movies that will most likely be reviewed on AWFJ.org and will qualify for consideration for our annual EDA Awards, celebrating exceptional women working in film behind and in front of the camera. Our members are feature writers, columnists and regular contributors to a variety of media outlets and many of us publish regularly on the festival circuit. Our critical voices are widespread and diverse. We invite you to join us in tracking weekly releases of particular interest. And we welcome information about new films that will help us to keep our records updated and our critics alert. Below is a concise list of new releases set for the week of November 15 to 21 that are of particular interest:  

Now Playing:  

• Eve(s) – BAM.org – Benin – A short film by four-time Grammy Award-winning artist Angélique Kidjo, a potent portrait of Kidjo’s home country of Benin and the women who inhabit it. Eve(s) is available to watch for free on BAM.org

Tuesday, November 16 

• Motherly – The Horror Collective / Entertainment Squad (VOD) – Canada – Horror. Kate (Lora Burke) and her daughter Beth live alone in an isolated farmhouse in the woods, but when Kate slowly begins to suspect that something sinister is happening, her motherly instincts are put to the test.

Wednesday, November 17 

• Bruised – Netflix (Cinemas; Netflix release Nov. 24) – USA / UK – Drama. Directorial debut of actress Halle Berry, written by Michelle Rosenfarb. A disgraced MMA fighter finds redemption in the cage and the courage to face her demons when the son she had given up as an infant unexpectedly reenters her life.

 

• The Power of the Dog – Netflix (Cinemas; Netflix release Dec. 1) – UK / Australia / USA / Canada / New Zealand – Drama written and directed by Jane Campion, based on the novel by Thomas Savage. Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst.

Thursday, November 18 

• The Princess Switch 3 – Netflix – USA – Family film written by Robin Bernheim, starring Vanessa Hudgens. When a priceless Christmas relic is stolen, royal look-alikes Margaret and Stacy turn to audacious doppelgänger Fiona—and her dashing ex—for help.

Friday, November 19 

• Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn – Magnolia (Cinemas) – European co-production – Pandemic satire directed by Radu Jude. Emi, a school teacher, finds her career and reputation under threat after a personal sex tape is leaked on the Internet. Forced to meet the parents demanding her dismissal, Emi refuses to surrender to their pressure.

 

• C’mon C’mon – A24 (Cinemas) – USA -Drama written and directed by Mike Mills, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gaby Hoffmann. A radio journalist embarks on a cross-country trip with his young nephew. Edited by Jennifer Vecchiarello.

 

• The Feast – IFC Midnight (Cinemas, VOD) – UK – Horror filmed in Welsh. Feast follows a young woman serving privileged guests at a dinner party in a remote house in rural Wales. The assembled guests do not realize they are about to eat their last supper. Starring Annes Elwy.

 

• King Richard – Warner Brothers / HBO Max (Cinemas, HBO Max) – USA – Bio-drama starring Will Smith as Richard Wiliams, father and coach of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams.

 

• Lady Buds – Gravitas (Cinemas, VOD) – USA – Chris J. Russo’s documentary looks at the legal marijuana business and independent women who see opportunities for themselves and their friends/family members despite the impact that legalization has had on small businesses as large corporations swoop in on a new market.

 

• She Paradise – Samuel Goldwyn (Cinemas) – Trinidad – Drama directed by Maya Cozier, co-written by Cozier with Melina Brown. A teenage girl stumbles upon a free-spirited dance crew, leading to alluring but unsettling encounters with nightlife and money.

Film descriptions are adapted from press releases. Titles highlighted in red have links to full reviews. Stay tuned in for next week’s releases! Contact us if we’ve overlooked anything.