Women’s History Month is chock-full of suspenseful thrillers and dark dramas featuring characters either seeking truth from others or harboring deep secrets of their own. We’ll be welcoming spring with an eclectic mix of murder mysteries, romances gone awry, and women desperate to find their places in the world.
Kim Farrant’s “The Weekend Away” (March 3) stars “Gossip Girl” alumna Leighton Meester as a woman accused of killing her best friend while on vacation. Meanwhile, Mimi Cave’s “Fresh” (March 4) sees “Normal People” breakout Daisy Edgar-Jones fighting for her life after a dreamy meet-cute takes a sinister turn.
A Best Film nominee at the upcoming Irish Film and TV Academy Awards, Rachel Carey’s “Deadly Cuts” (March 17) is a black comedy that follows unlikely vigilantes from a Dublin hair salon. Their targets? Gang members and gentrifiers.
History meets surreality in Keke Palmer-starrer “Alice” (March 18). Krystin Ver Linden’s Sundance thriller follows an enslaved woman on a rural Georgia plantation who escapes captivity – only to find that the year is actually 1973. Mariama Diallo’s “Master,” another genre pic dealing with racism that premiered at Sundance, is being released the same day. The supernatural story sees three women reckoning with their elite college’s prejudicial history.
These films are filled with existential dread, but there are many lighter comedies and uplifting documentaries that balance the drama. Another “Cheaper by the Dozen” remake (March 18) brings family-friendly humor with a contemporary flare for adult audiences who may remember the 2005 Steve Martin-Bonnie Hunt remake with nostalgia. Gail Lerner’s comedy stars Zach Braff and Gabrielle Union as the blended parents. For a good popcorn romp, Sandra Bullock leads a star-studded cast as a disillusioned, reclusive novelist in the zany action-comedy “The Lost City” (March 25).
Directed by Amy Poehler, “Lucy and Desi” (March 4) pays tribute to “I Love Lucy’s” Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The highly anticipated documentary explores the unlikely comedic power couple’s meteoric rise. Other docs to look forward to include Natalie Nudell’s “Calendar Girl” (March 8), which showcases Ruth Finley’s iconic fashion career, and Charlotte Gainsbourg’s “Jane by Charlotte” (March 18), which sees the French actress and singer reflecting on her relationship with another artist, her mother, Jane Birkin.
Mother-daughter relationships play a central role in this month’s films, with varying levels of light-hearted humor as well as life-altering significance. In “Turning Red” (March 11), written and directed by Domee Shi, a dorky teen is caught in the convergence of chaotic adolescence and her overbearing mother’s clinginess. Sandra Oh plays a role in the animated film. The “Killing Eve” actress also stars in Iris K. Shim’s chilling horror pic “Umma” (March 18), named after the Korean word for “mother,” as an American farmer whose estranged mother arrives from Korea and disrupts her otherwise quiet life. Kate Dolan’s “You Are Not My Mother” (March 25) is an equally unsettling supernatural story of a woman whose bedridden mother goes missing right before Halloween. She returns shortly afterward, and while she looks and sounds the same, it’s clear that something is deeply wrong with the family’s matriarch. Like “Deadly Cuts,” “You Are Not My Mother” is also up for honors at the Irish Film and TV Academy Awards.
These are the March films that feature women-centric, women directed, and women written. Unless otherwise noted all descriptions are taken directly from press materials.
March 3
“The Weekend Away” – Directed by Kim Farrant; Written by Sarah Alderson (Available on Netflix)
A weekend in Croatia goes horribly wrong when Leighton Meester, a woman, is accused of killing Christina Wolfe. Her attempts to find the truth lead to a painful secret.
March 4
“Lucy and Desi” (Documentary) – Directed by Amy Poehler (Available on Prime Video)
“Lucy and Desi” explores the unlikely partnership and enduring legacy of one of the most prolific power couples in entertainment history. Lucille Ball and Desi arnaz risked everything for each other. Their love for each other led to the most influential show in the history of television, “I Love Lucy.”
“Fresh” – Directed by Mimi Cave; Written by Lauryn Kahn (Available on Hulu)
When Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) meets the alluring Steve (Sebastian Stan) at a grocery store — given her frustration with dating apps — she takes a chance and gives him her number. After their first date, Noa is smitten and accepts Steve’s invitation to a romantic weekend getaway — only to find that her new paramour has been hiding some unusual appetites.
“Asking for It” (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
After a small-town waitress (Kiersey Cllemons) is sex assaulted on a date by Regina (Alexandra Shipp), and Beatrice (Vanessa Hudgens), she is recruited into their vigilante group consisting of badass, strong women. They work together to overthrow a corrupt society and seek revenge, while also pursuing their own version justice.
“Huda’s Salon” (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Reem (Maisa Abd Elhadi), a young mother married to a jealous man, goes to Huda’s (Manal Awad) salon in Bethlehem. After placing Reem in a terrible situation, Huda blackmails her to get her work as a secret agent for the occupiers and thus betraying her people.
“Adventures in Success” (In Theaters)
A cult led by a mysterious female founder, this cult settles in the Catskills for community building and a ritual called Jilling off. They believe that if they prioritize female pleasure, Mother Earth will be healed. As they try to create utopia, the group is confronted with prejudice and bureaucracy by the local residents.
March 8
“Calendar Girl” (Documentary) – Written by Natalie Nudell (Available on VOD)
Ruth Finley was a small-sized woman with great determination who has been the Queen of the Fashion Industry since the 1930s. Ruth Finley was a young mother who created the iconic pink Fashion Calendar. It is still used to organize and marshal American Fashion today. This joyous profile features Bill Cunningham (Carol Herrera), Nicole Miller, Diane von Furstenberg and many others. It is a love letter about fashion and the extraordinary life that one woman leads.
March 11
“Turning Red” – Written and Directed by Domee Shi (Available on Disney+)
Mei Lee (Rosalie Chiang) is a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter — an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships, and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically Always), she “poofs” into a giant red panda!
“Moon Manor” – Written and Directed by Machete Bang Bang and Erin Granat (In Limited Theaters)
Today is Jimmy’s (James “Jimmy” Carrozo) last day alive. He has advancing Alzheimer’s, so he’s decided to die like he has lived — with intention, humor, and zest. In his last day on Earth, he’ll show an obituary writer, his death doula, his estranged brother, his caretaker, a surreal being, and the guests at his fabulous FUN-eral, that perhaps the art of living is actually the art of dying.
“Playing in the FM Band: The Steve Post Story” (Documentary) – Directed by Rosemarie Reed (In Theaters)
Steve Post was a shy, overweight, Jewish boy who was born in Brooklyn. His childhood was complicated. 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.
“I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing” (Restoration) – Written and Directed by Patricia Rozema (In Limited Theaters)
A charming, whimsical story about a waifish daydreamer who has artistic aspirations. Structured around a video-recorded confession, Patricia Rozema’s fanciful character study follows Polly (comedian Sheila McCarthy), an aspiring photographer who lands a job at a Toronto art gallery run by Gabrielle (Paule Baillargeon), who is also a painter. Polly is impressed with Gabrielle’s paintings, but as Polly gets to know Gabrielle’s lover Mary (Ann-Marie MacDonald) and becomes entangled in their lives, she realizes Gabrielle isn’t exactly who she appears to be.
March 17
“Deadly Cuts” – Written and Directed by Rachel Carey (In Theaters)
A black comedy set at a Dublin hair salon for working-class women. The stylists become community heroes and accidental vigilantes by taking on the gangs and gentrifiers that threaten their community.
March 18
“Alice” – Written and Directed by Krystin Ver Linden (In Theaters)
Alice (Keke Parker) longs for freedom as an enslaved victim on a Georgia plantation run by Paul (Jonny Le Miller), whose brutal and disturbed owner is. After a violent fight with Paul, Alice flees through nearby woods to escape and stumbles upon the unfamiliar sight of an highway. Soon, she realizes that 1973 is the year. Alice is quickly rescued by Frank (Common), a disillusioned activist who has been driving along the roadside. He quickly explains the lies that kept her in slavery and the promise of Black liberation.
“Master” – Written and Directed by Mariama Diallo (Available on Prime Video)
Three black women, Amber Grey, Zoe Renee and Regina Hall, are trying to find their place at a prestigious New England university that was built on the site a Salem-era gallows. Navigating politics and privilege, they encounter increasingly terrifying manifestations of the school’s haunted past and present.
“Jane By Charlotte” (Documentary) – Directed Charlotte Gainsbourg (In Theaters)
Charlotte Gainsbourg sees Jane Birkin differently than she ever did. This is despite her reserving feelings. They use a camera lens to expose themselves to one another, and then they begin to step back to allow for a mother-daughter relationship.
“More than Robots” (Documentary) – Directed by Gillian Jacobs (Available on Disney+)
“More than Robots” follows four teams of teenagers from around the world as they prepare for the 2020 FIRST Robotics Competition. As they strive to bring their unique designs to the top of the highly competitive global championships, get to know the teams from Los Angeles, Mexico City and Chiba, Japan. Although they face challenges such as limited resources or having to suspend their plans due to a pandemic, the children persevere and discover there is more than just robots.
“Cheaper by the Dozen” – Directed by Gail Lerner; Written by Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry and Kenya Barris (Available on Disney+)
The Bakers are a blended family of 12 as they manage a hectic home life and their family business.
“Umma” – Written and Directed by Iris K. Shim (In Theaters)
Umma, which is the Korean word for “mother,” follows Amanda (Sandra Oh) and her daughter living a quiet life on an American farm, but when the remains of her estranged mother arrive from Korea, Amanda becomes haunted by the fear of turning into her own mother.
“The Hater” – Written and Directed by Joey Ally (In Limited Theaters)
Dorothy (Joey Ally), who was a liberal speechwriter for a U.S. Senate election campaign, is now unemployed and lives in Texas with her estranged grandfather, Bruce Dern. Soon, Dorothy learns that Brent (Ian Harding), her childhood foe, is running for office as the sole Republican nominee. Determined to thwart him at any cost, Dorothy creates an elaborate payback scheme with the help of an old frenemy turned campaign manager, Greta (Meredith Hagner): she’ll go undercover to run as his conservative opponent, win the nomination, and then employ a Texas loophole that would force a win for the Democratic candidate. Immersed in the campaign, Dorothy gets closer to victory, only to discover that good vs. evil isn’t necessarily as simple as left vs. right. (Movie Insider)
March 25
“Mothering Sunday” – Directed by Eva Husson; Written by Alice Birch (In Theaters)
On a warm spring day in 1924, house maid and foundling Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young) finds herself alone on Mother’s Day. Her employers, Mr. & Mrs. Niven (Colin Firth & Olivia Colman), are gone and she gets the rare opportunity to spend quality time alone with her secret love. Paul (Josh O’Connor) is the boy from the manor house nearby, Jane’s long-term love despite the fact that he’s engaged to be married to another woman, a childhood friend and daughter of his parents’ friends. But events that neither can foresee will change the course of Jane’s life forever.
“You Are Not My Mother” – Written and Directed by Kate Dolan (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
It’s the week before Halloween. Char’s (Hazel Doupe) bedridden mother, Angela (Carolyn Bracken), has mysteriously gone missing. Her abandoned car, parked in the middle a field, is all that remains. Char and Rita (Ingrid Craigie), discover that Angela has returned home to North Dublin without explanation. She might look and sound the same, but Angela’s behavior has become increasingly erratic and frightening, as if she has been replaced by a malevolent force. As Halloween approaches, a night steeped in ancient Irish myth and legend, Char must unearth the dark secrets of her family in order to uncover the truth behind her mother’s disappearance and save her, even if it means potentially losing her forever.
“The Lost City” – Written by Dana Fox, Oren Uziel, Adam Nee, and Aaron Nee (In Theaters)
Brilliant but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. Alan sets out to rescue Loretta, hoping to prove that he is a hero in real-life and not just in his books. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (In Theaters)
Michelle Yeoh, an aging Chinese immigrant, gets swept up in a crazy adventure where she can save the planet by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have lived.
“Superior” – Directed by Erin Vassilopoulos (In Theaters)
Marian goes on the run to her childhood home, the only place she knows she is safe. Vivian, her sister and estranged, greets Marian. Vivian is a housewife at home who is struggling to conceive, and is on the brink of a disastrous marriage. They live separate lives, even though they are identical twins. Marian’s mysterious return disrupts Vivian’s small-town routine, and the sisters must learn to reconnect and reconcile. When Marian’s haunting past finally catches up to her, their separate worlds collide, catapulting both sisters into grave danger.
“Infinite Storm” – Directed by Małgorzata Szumowska (In Theaters)
Naomi Watts, a seasoned climber, climbs Mt. Washington, Washington turns around before reaching the summit when a massive blizzard approaches. She encounters a lonely, stranded male on her descent and she decides to help him and her down the mountain before it gets dark. Based on a true story.
March 31
“Night’s End” – Directed by Jennifer Reeder (Available on VOD)
An anxious shut-in moves into an apartment with haunted spirits and hires a stranger to exorcise the place. The situation quickly turns horrifying.
Source: Women And Hollywood
