Opening March 7 to 11, 2022 – 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 March 7 to 13 that are of particular interest:  

Tuesday, March 8 

• Calendar Girl – Syndicado (VOD) – USA – Documentary co-written by director Christian D. Bruun and Natalie Nudell. For over 70 years, founder Ruth Finley and the game-changing “Fashion Calendar” scheduled every fashion event in New York City. At 95, Ruth sold the calendar, ending an era.

 

• The Invisible Father – Virgil Films (VOD) – USA – Documentary directed by Thérèse Heliczer about her father, Beat poet and experimental filmmaker Piero Heliczer, who helped shape New American Cinema.

Thursday, March 10 

• The Seed – Shudder – UK – Horror. What starts out as a girls’ weekend away in the Mojave desert becomes a tale of horror, death and alien invasion. Starring Lucy Martin, Sophie Vavasseur and Chelsea Edge, with music by Lucrecia Dalt.

Friday, March 11 

• Gold – Screen Media Films (Cinemas) – Australia – Thriller co-written by director Anthony Hayes and Polly Smyth. In the not too distant future, a drifter (Zac Efron) traveling through the desert discovers the largest gold nugget ever found. He must guard it from thieves amid harsh conditions and wild dogs while waiting for his partner to return. Co-starring Susie Porter.

 

• I Am Here – Blue Fox Entertainment (Cinemas) – South Africa – Documentary about Ella Blumenthal, a spirited South African Holocaust survivor who reveals her astonishing life journey and unwavering appreciation of life.

 

• Moon Manor – Cranked Up (Cinemas, VOD) – USA – Death comedy co-written and directed by Machete Bang Bang and Erin Granat. Today is Jimmy’s last day alive. His Alzheimer’s is worsening, so he’s decided to die like he has lived – with intention, humor, and zest.

 

• Offseason – RLJ Entertainment (Cinemas, VOD) – USA – Horror written and directed by Mickey Keating, starring Jocelin Donahue. After receiving a mysterious letter, a woman travels to a desolate island town and soon becomes trapped in a nightmare.

 

• Playing in the FM Band: The Steve Post Story – (Film Forum in NYC) – USA – Documentary directed by Rosemarie Reed. Steve Post was an overweight, shy, Jewish kid born in the Bronx who had a complicated childhood. Eventually, he realized his dream at WBAI, became a cult radio personality who innovated in “free form” radio, and helped many other youthful aspirants find their voices and realize their radio dreams.

 

• Turning Red – Disney+ – USA – Animated film directed by Domee Shi; co-written by Shi and Julia Cho. A 13-year-old girl named Mei Lee turns into a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited.

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.