Opening Feb 6 – 13, 2023 – 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 February 6 to 12 that are of particular interest. Film titles highlighted in red have links to full reviews:  

Friday, February 10

• The Blue Caftan – Films Boutique / Strand Releasing (NY Premiere) – France / Morocco / Belgium / Denmark – Drama written and directed by Maryam Touzani. A middle-aged tailor and his wife find their relationship turned upside down by the arrival of a handsome new apprentice.

 

• Cinema Sabaya – Kino Lorber (Cinemas) – Israel – Drama written and directed by Orit Fouks Rotem. Eight women, Arab and Jewish, take part in a video workshop hosted by Rona, a young filmmaker. With each camera-take, the group dynamic forces the women to challenge their beliefs as they get to know one another.

 

• Consecration – IFC Midnight / Shudder (Cinemas) – UK / USA – Horror directed by Christopher Smith, co-written by Smith and Laurie Cook. After the alleged suicide of her priest brother, Grace travels to the remote Scottish convent where he fell to his death. Distrusting the Church’s account, she uncovers murder, sacrilege and a disturbing truth about herself. Starring Jena Malone.

 

• Huesera: The Bone Woman – XYZ Films (Cinemas) – Mexico – Horror film co-written and directed by Michelle Garza Cervera. Valeria has long dreamed about becoming a mother. After learning that she’s pregnant, she expects to feel happy, yet something’s off.

 

• Seriously Red – Gravitas Ventures (Cinemas) – Australia – Comedy directed by Gracie Otto, written by and starring Krew Boylan. A realtor pursues a new career as a Dolly Parton impersonator.

 

• Somebody I Used to Know – Amazon Prime – USA – Romantic comedy co-written by star Alison Brie. On a trip to her hometown, workaholic Ally reminisces with her ex Sean and starts to question everything about the person she’s become. Things only get more confusing when she meets Cassidy, who reminds her of the person she used to be.

 

• Your Place or Mine – Netflix – USA – Romantic comedy written and directed by Aline Brosh McKenna. Two long-distance best friends change each other’s lives when she decides to pursue a lifelong dream and he volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son. Starring Reese Witherspoon.

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