Category: Women in Film

Documentaries, Female Filmmakers, Reviews, Sundance Film Festival, Women in Film, World Cinema

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood: Sundance 2023 Film Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 89 Minutes Director/Writer: Anna Hints By Morgan Roberts In Estonia, women gather to a dark smoke sauna to discuss life, loss, insecurities and strengths. Joining the women in this intimate setting, “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” highlights the power of stories and connection. The idea is that, in this space in the damp heat, the women can share their pain and shame to remove … Continue reading Smoke Sauna Sisterhood: Sundance 2023 Film Review

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Female Characters, Female Filmmakers, Reviews, Sundance Film Festival, Women in Film

The Pod Generation: Sundance 2023 Film Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 109 minutes Director/Writer: Sophie Barthes Stars: Emilia Clarke, Chiwetel Eijofor, Rosalie Craig, Vinette Robinson, Jean-Marc Barr By Morgan Roberts “The Pod Generation” follows couple Rachel (Emilia Clarke) and Alfy (Chiwetel Ejiofor) as they look to expand their family. In the 22nd century, technology has provided humans with comfort, from AI therapist to “Her”-esque personal assistants. So when it comes to having children, … Continue reading The Pod Generation: Sundance 2023 Film Review

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Female Characters, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Indigenous People, Reviews, Sundance Film Festival, Underrepresented in Film, Women in Film

Fancy Dance: Sundance 2023 Film Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 90 Minutes Director: Erica Tremblay Writers: Erica Tremblay, Miciana Alise Stars: Lily Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson, Ryan Begay, Shea Whigham, Audrey Wasilewski By Morgan Roberts Her sister is missing. Her niece is no longer in her custody. What can Jax (Lily Gladstone) do? In this heartfelt and anxiety-producing drama, Jax kidnaps her niece and searches for her missing sister after she disappears from … Continue reading Fancy Dance: Sundance 2023 Film Review

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Female Filmmaker, Film Reviews, Horror, Indie Film, Women in Film

Film Review: There’s Something Wrong with the Children

Year: 2022 Runtime: 92 minutes Director: Roxanne Benjamin Writers: T.J. Cimfel, David White Starring: Zach Gilford, Amanda Crew, Carlos Santos, Alisha Wainwright, Briella Guiza, David Mattle By Tom Moore Director Roxanne Benjamin and Blumhouse team up for a new original horror story, “There’s Something Wrong with the Children,” adding another entry to the growing “evil kid” subgenre that doesn’t reach its full potential. The film … Continue reading Film Review: There’s Something Wrong with the Children

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Female Characters, Female Filmmakers, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Reviews, Sundance Film Festival, Women in Film

Sometimes I Think About Dying: Sundance 2023 Film Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 91 Minutes Director: Rachel Lambert Writers: Kevin Armento, Stefanie Abel Horowitz, Katy Wright-Mead Stars: Daisy Ridley, Dave Merheje, Parvesh Cheena, Marcia Debonis, Meg Starter, Brittany O’Grady   By Morgan Roberts “It’s hard being a person.” Fran (Daisy Ridley) leads a banal life. She works in an office, keeps to herself, and daydreams about dying. But her usual thoughts and spreadsheets are interrupted … Continue reading Sometimes I Think About Dying: Sundance 2023 Film Review

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Awards, Female Filmmakers, Film Score, Music, Women in Film

Oscar Winning Women: Film Composers (Part 2 of 3)

By Brian Skutle One of the reasons I wanted to do this series was to give these scores an opportunity to engage me in a fresh way, with not just a fresh rewatch of the film, but listening to them again as I wrote these pieces. None was more anticipated in that respect was the second one in this series, Anne Dudley’s score for “The … Continue reading Oscar Winning Women: Film Composers (Part 2 of 3)

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Awards, Female Characters, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Feminism, Retrospect Reviews, Top Female Directed Films, Women in Film, World Cinema

Retrospective: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

Film critic Calum Cooper writes a retrospective piece on Sight & Sound’s newest greatest film of all time, Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman. Continue reading Retrospective: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

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Female Filmmakers, Feminism, Personal Essays, Women in Film

Hearing Women’s Voices: Films of 2022

By Joan Amenn Rarely, if ever, has a single year contained more film releases that focused on women’s issues and concerns. From epic adventures to ensemble dramas to historical biopics, 2022 offered many opportunities for women’s voices to be heard. Personally, there were some that resonated deeply and still leave me thinking about them even now. Before we delve into a whole new year of … Continue reading Hearing Women’s Voices: Films of 2022

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Film Reviews, Female Filmmaker, Women in Film, Female Characters

Film Review: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Year: 2022 Runtime: 146 minutes Director: Kasi Lemmons Writers: Anthony McCarten Starring: Naomi Ackie, Ashton Sanders, Stanley Tucci, Clarke Peters, Nafessa Williams, Tamara Tunie By Tom Moore Director Kasi Lemmons follows up her 2019 biopic “Harriet” with a film focusing on the legacy of another historic black figure, Whitney Houston. However, the film, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” is more of a standard collection of … Continue reading Film Review: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

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Documentaries, End of the Year Recap, Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Reviews, Women in Film, World Cinema

Personal Best: ITOL’s Favorite Films of 2022

A year’s end inspires memories, contemplation, aspirations—and for critics, talk about which films we loved and which ones we missed. As 2022 winds down, the ITOL team raises a toast to our personal favorites, from a mother’s fight for justice and a father-daughter sojourn to fierce pursuits of agency, pleasure, identity, and power. The films below (more than 50, with links to our writers’ reviews … Continue reading Personal Best: ITOL’s Favorite Films of 2022

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