By Tom Moore and Valerie Kalfrin
May features a wide range of releases that touch on different female-directed films from around the globe. From documentaries touching on true-crime and the history of an acclaimed artist to some star-studded originals that’ll surely hook wide audiences, May definitely has it all. There’s even a team-up between Jennifer Lopez and “Mulan” director Niki Caro that’s set to be one of Netflix’s most action-packed movies of the year! So, let’s delve into May’s offering for female-directed films:
“Chile ’76”: Directed by Manuela Martelli – the film takes viewers back to Chile 1976 where a woman named Carmen (Aline Kuppenheim) is taken out of her quiet life and thrown into unexpected situations when she’s asked by the family priest to take care of a young man that he’s been sheltering. “Chile ’76” is set to have a limited release in theaters on May 5th.
“The Starling Girl”: Directed by Laurel Parmet – this coming-of-age story, set in a Kentucky fundamentalist Christian community, follow a 17-year-old girl named Jem (Eliza Scanlen) who struggles to find her place in the world as she reconciles with her religious upbringing and finds comfort in her new youth pastor Owen (Lewis Pullman). “The Starling Girl” features a wide range of rising talent and is set to have a limited release in theaters on May 12th.
“The Mother” Directed by Niki Caro – Jennifer Lopez is an assassin risking her life to protect her daughter (Lucy Paez) from bad guys Paul Raci, Joseph Fiennes and their henchmen. This action-packed, assassin epic releases on Netflix on May 12th.
“Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me”: Directed by Ursula Macfarlane – Superstar model Anna Nicole Smith’s tragic life is revisited in this documentary that will be released on Netflix on May 16th.
“The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future”: Directed by Francisca Alegria – the Chilean filmmaker’s feature debut follows a woman named Cecilia (Leonor Varela) as she heads back to her family’s farm where she’s met with the presence of her long-deceased mother who shares a deep connection with the nature that surrounds them. This ecologically driven drama is set to have a limited release in theaters on May 19th.
“The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future” Trailer
“Victim/Suspect”: Directed by Nancy Schwartzman – this horrifying, infuriating and timely documentary looks at the systemic injustice surrounding victims of rape. Releases on Netflix on May 23rd.
“Close to Vermeer”: Directed by Suzanne Maers – this documentary puts the spotlight on Joseph Vermeer, the painter behind works like “The Milkmaid” and “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” as a well-known curator of his works dissects the history and mindset of Vermeer as he assembles the largest exhibition of Vermeer’s work. “Close to Vermeer” is set to have a limited release in theaters on May 26th.
“You Hurt My Feelings”: Directed by Nicole Holofcener – Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tobias Menzies play husband and wife in this funny look at relationships and what we find ourselves doing and saying in the name of love. This A24 dramedy has a wide theater release on May 26th.
“You Hurt My Feelings” Trailer
“About My Father”: Directed by Laura Terruso – Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco teams up with film legend Robert DeNiro in this culture clash between two families as an Italian American falls in love with a non-Italian and chaos ensues. “About My Father” is set to have a wide theater release on May 26th.
There are also some noteworthy performances in films coming this month worth highlighting:
– Trans Actor Trace Lysette is set to have a breakout performance in the upcoming film “Monica” – which has a limited theater release on May 12th before going wide on May 19th.
– Singer Halle Bailey stars in Disney‘s upcoming live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” – which hits theaters nationwide on May 26th.
In Their Own League 