In 2015, freelance film writer Marya E. Gates embarked on a year-long project titled “A Year with Women” in which she watched nothing but films directed by women. Gates learned that there wasn’t a lack of female directors at all, but rather a lack of discussion and awareness around them. They were—and are—out there making…
women in film
Review: Fitting In
Molly McGlynn’s Fitting In is both a coming-of-age drama and a teen sex comedy. 16-year-old Lindy (Maddie Ziegler) has just moved to a new city with her therapist mother, Rita (Emily Hampshire), but things are going well for her: she already has a best friend called Vivian (Djouliet Amara), a crush on schoolmate Adam (D’Pharaoh…
Review: Eilsabeth Moss’ Shirley Jackson Walks a Tightrope Between Chaos and Control in ‘Shirley’
This review was adapted into an essay for HorrorWood and published with them on September 18, 2020. Josephine Decker, director of experimental drama Madeline’s Madeleine, explores the life of American horror writer Shirley Jackson in her newest film, Shirley. Jackson, who has written six novels, two memoirs and over 200 short stories, is perhaps best known for ‘We…
Film Review: A girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014)
“So… what did you see all this time watching me?“ Advertised as the “first Iranian vampire western,” A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) is a stunning film, shot in monochrome black and white, written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour. The film is set in the Iranian ghost-town Bad City and tells the story of…
Film Review: Obvious Child (2014)
“You’re dizzy because you played Russian roulette with your vagina.“ I came across Obvious Child (2014) whilst searching for more films to watch for the 52 Films by Women project. Obvious Child was both written and directed by Gillian Robespierre, who said whilst she loved films like Knocked Up (2007) and Juno (2007), she did not see herself relating to them and set…
Film Review: Jenny’s Wedding (2015)
“When you meet the right person, you go the distance. And let me tell you about the distance: everybody changes. But if you’re with the right person, and they change; you meet the right person all over again.” Jenny Farrell (Katherine Heigl) and her immediate family are brought together for a baptism, and Jenny learns…
International Women’s Day: Female Screenwriters
In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day on March 8th, I have decided to bring some attention to women in film; more specifically female screenwriters. As a whole, screenwriters tend to be overlooked by your most general film viewing/cinema going fans, especially the women. Without further ado, here are some great screenwriters who have…