10 Most Anticipated Films of 2020 Directed By Women

Now that we’ve settled into January and the procession of best of the year/decade lists has mostly passed, it’s time to look forward. Originally I was going to make a general list of my most anticipated 2020 films, but then I realized no one needs to hear once more why Tenet looks good. I’ve decided to instead focus on a few films coming out this year directed by women. This is just a small selection of many interesting-looking films, with more undoubtedly set to be announced/discovered as the year goes on.

Firstly, a few honourable mentions for some high-profile female-directed films that don’t necessarily need more attention: Wonder Woman 1984 (Patty Jenkins), Mulan (Nikki Caro), Eternals (Chloe Zhao), and Black Widow (Cate Shortland) are all led by incredibly accomplished directors, and it’s exciting to see a number of female-directed tentpole films being released this year. (See also: Birds of Prey.) I’m looking forward to all of them. However, I also want to highlight some films that may not already be receiving heaps of consideration. So, without further ado, here’s my list in order of release date:

The Photograph (Stella Meghie, February 14)
When I saw the trailer for a romance film starring Lakeith Stanfield, I had some sort of galaxy brain moment of clarity. He’s a character actor who’s been consistently proving that he should absolutely be a classic (if quirky) leading man. Add the very charming Issa Rae as the film’s female lead, and you’ve got the makings of something extremely likeable. Meghie has been establishing herself with well-received indie fare, and it’ll be interesting to see what she’ll do with an increased budget and a killer supporting cast that includes the likes of Courtney B. Vance, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chelsea Peretti, Lil Rel Howery, and Teyonah Parris.

First Cow (Kelly Reichardt, March 6)
I love the slightly winking cow-centric advertising campaign A24 already has going for this one. And the trailer looks just as low-key and lovely as you’d expect for another Reichardt period piece. Word has been strong from festivals, and there really is something oddly delightful about a movie being called First Cow, isn’t there?

Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Eliza Hitmann, March 13)
I enjoyed Hitmann’s last film, 2017’s Beach Rats, so much that I’m automatically on board for whatever she chooses to do next. Never Rarely Sometimes Always continues in the coming-of-age vein, but this time follows two teenage girls from a small town as they take a trip into New York City to obtain medical assistance for an unwanted pregnancy. If it’s anything like Beach Rats, you can probably expect this one to be searing, sadly beautiful, and vibrant.

Candyman (Nia DaCosta, June 12)
Normally a remake of a slasher film wouldn’t land on my list, but based on just this short synopsis, I’m intrigued by 2020’s Candyman: “A ‘spiritual sequel’ to the 1992 horror film Candyman that returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighborhood where the legend began.” We’ll have to wait and see exactly where it goes, but I have hopes that this is a film with some more subversive ideas in mind.

Happiest Season (Clea Duvall, November 20)
Out just in time for the holidays, this latest from actress Clea Duvall stars Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as a couple on the verge of engagement, even though one of them hasn’t yet come out to their parents. It has the potential to be a refreshing twist on the romantic comedy, and an opportunity for Stewart to show her comedic chops.

Bergman Island (Mia Hansen-Love, TBA)
Mia Hansen-Love (Eden, Things to Come) has been somewhat quietly been making great films for years. And now it seems she’s taking the next step of notoriety, with Bergman Island being her first English-language film. It also stars the likes of Mia Wasikowska, Tim Roth, and Vicky Krieps. And get a load of this IMDB synopsis: “Revolves around an American filmmaking couple who retreat to the island for the summer to each write screenplays for their upcoming films in an act of pilgrimage to the place that inspired Bergman. As the summer and their screenplays advance, the lines between reality and fiction start to blur against the backdrop of the Island’s wild landscape.” Am I allowed to WILDLY speculate that Wasikowska and Roth are playing quasi-stand-ins for Hansen-Love and real-life husband Olivier Assayas?

The Last Thing He Wanted (Dee Rees, TBA)
Dee Rees adapting Joan Didion? Sign me up immediately. This drama stars Anne Hathaway, Willem Dafoe and Ben Affleck, following a journalist who becomes “an unwitting subject in the very story she’s trying to break”. I’ve not read the Didion novel it’s based on, but I have to imagine it’ll be thorny and intriguing.

On the Rocks (Sofia Coppola, TBA)
The prospect of a new Sofia Coppola film is always exciting. And the premise (Bill Murray and Rashida Jones playing father and daughter who reconnect on a trip to New York) sounds, at least in theory, more straightforward than a lot of her previous work. (Although perhaps not that far removed from Somewhere.) I almost always like her films (even ones like the oft-shrugged-at The Bling Ring) and I don’t imagine that will change here.

Worth (Sara Colangelo, TBA)
Colangelo has told very specific and personal stories with her first two films, Little Accidents and The Kindergarten (both underrated films, as a side note) but seems to be expanding her scope considerably for this third feature. Worth tells the story of a lawyer fighting to support victims of 9/11, and it stars Stanley Tucci, Michael Keaton, and Amy Ryan. I’m intrigued to see what she’ll do with a “bigger” story – and hopefully it’ll come with some more attention paid to her work.

Zola (Janicza Bravo, TBA)
Movies can be adapted from all sort of different source material, but this might well be the first one that’s based on thread of tweets. In 2015, Aziah Wells went viral by sharing 148 tweets about a wild trip to Florida, and now that tale is being brought to the big screen in this film starring Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, and Nicholas Braun. If nothing else, that’s a hell of an origin story.

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My 10 Favourite Films of 2019

Happy New Year!

Yesterday I shared my picks for my top 10 films of the decade, but we still have a bit of unfinished business with 2019. So here, keeping it (comparatively) brief, are my top 10 films of the year.

10. Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé

This film landed at #10 when I made my mid-year favourites list back in July. It remains at #10 now, bumping out several films that had initially placed higher. It’s a testament to just how vibrant and entertaining this doc is. Beyoncé is a master at cultivating a very specific sense of style for herself, and this A+ concert film has it in spades.

9. Waves

I had to watch Waves twice to figure out how I felt about it. I’ve decided that, for me, its many positives outweigh the considerable flaws also present. Trey Edward Shults took a lot of risks, and I think his ambition pays off in the sense that it’s a film that is memorable and never feels like it’s playing it safe. I’ll take that any day over something consistent yet mediocre. And all hail Taylor Russell and Sterling K. Brown.

8. Maiden

There were a lot of strong 2019 docs that also could have found a spot on my top 10 in a weaker year (Apollo 11, Knock Down the House, Midnight Family, After Parkland, and Honeyland) but none more rousing than Maiden. Telling the uplifting story of the first all-female crew to compete in the prestigious Whitbread Round the World sailing race, it’s a crowd-pleaser in the best sense of the world. Probably also the film that I shed the largest amount of non-sad tears for in 2019.

7. Parasite

Bong Joon-ho’s latest is as well-constructed and entertaining as everyone says. It’s so universally acclaimed that I feel that I don’t have much to add to the conversation. However, if you haven’t seen it, be sure to add this bold, twisty treat to the top of your to-watch list.

6. Booksmart

I still absolutely adore Olivia Wilde’s smart, hilarious coming-of-age tale just as much as I did when I saw it some seven months ago. Its entire cast is a true delight, and I love the goofy, sweet, raunchy script. If we got one big-budget comedy this good every year, we’d be doing just fine.

5. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

This is the 2019 film I most desperately want to rewatch. Tarantino’s latest is so freewheeling and oddly likeable that it feels, in a way, like you’re hanging out with friends. It has an ease to it that you barely notice the lengthy runtime, and it leaves you with a lot to ponder even after it’s over. Easily top 5 Tarantino. Maybe even top 3? (I sense a viewing project for 2020 coming on.)

4. Rocketman

I’m more excited about Rocketman than the vast majority of people, but I really just adore it. It contains easily some of the most memorable and entertaining scenes of the year, and it’s a would-be glossy biopic that actually has a lot of genuine heart and artistic flare. Get Taron Egerton his Oscar nomination, please.

3. Portrait of a Lady on Fire

All of my top 3 films that combine a sort of formal elegance with considerable emotional heft, and perhaps no film was as restrained yet passionate this year as Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Celine Sciamma’s latest is a pleasure to watch and one that, while perhaps initially seeming understated, is likely to stick with you long after the fact.

2. Mouthpiece

Easily the most obscure film on the list, this Canadian gem certainly deserves to find a wider audience. Taking a premise that could have gone horribly wrong (it depicts the life of one woman by having two different actresses embody her on screen at the same time) it instead finds a unique, surprisingly accessible rhythm that hits pretty perfectly the whole way through. I loved the creativity.

1. Pain & Glory

Some years it’s difficult to land on which film will be the one to take the top spot on this list, but Pedro Almodovar’s Pain & Glory was my petty clear-cut favourite of the year. Everything about its style and story just clicked for me. Antonio Banderas gives the performance of his career and, from start to finish, I loved every colourful, heartfelt, and sometimes idiosyncratic choice Almodovar made.

My Top 10 Films of the ‘10s

The chance to write a “best of the decade” list is pretty rare, and I tend to put an inordinate amount of weight on the task. (If you happen to be curious about the full 100-film list I put together for the 2010s while preparing, you can find it on my Letterboxd here.) It was actually helpful looking back at the “best of the 2000s” list I published a full 10 years ago and realizing that half of the films on that list wouldn’t make the cut if I re-made it today. Tastes change, but these sorts of lists, to me, are an interesting way to at least capture a moment in time.

So, without further ado, here are the 10 films that I (for now) consider my favourites of the decade that was the 2010s.

10. Fish Tank (Andrea Arnold, 2010)

We’re starting with a slightly “controversial” choice, considering Fish Tank came out in the UK (and played quite a few film festivals) in late 2009. However, it didn’t get its North American theatrical release until January 2010, so I count it as a ‘10s film. And indeed, Fish Tank seemed to usher in a spate of films about economic disparity in the UK throughout the decade that followed. But it was Arnold’s naturalism in telling the story of young Mia (Katie Jarvis), a young woman fighting (often literally) to break out of the suppressive social class she’s been raised in, that had the biggest emotional impact on me. It is a quiet film full of extremely flawed characters who are given the empathy to simply exist as they are. It’s the film on this list that I’ve had the longest to sit with, and it’s haunted me since I first saw it.

9. Columbus (Kogonoda, 2017)

Speaking of empathy, there was perhaps not a kinder film I saw all decade than Kogonoda’s stunning debut, Columbus. Haley Lu Richardson and John Cho play extremely warm, realistic characters and the pure bliss in watching them share ideas, learn from each other, and explore the unique architecture in the titular Columbus, Indiana is far stronger than it has any right to be in such a simple film. It’s a film that some absolutely adore and others shrug at. I just sat there in the theatre absorbing every beautiful frame.

8. Lore (Cate Shortland, 2013)

Cate Shortland is a director who doesn’t make nearly as many films as I’d like, having released just three in total since her debut in 2004. (Although she’s about to get a major bump in notoriety, given that her next project is 2020’s Black Widow.) Her second film, Lore, tells the harrowing tale of a group of young German siblings who must flee their home unaccompanied after the end of World War II. It is a quietly stressful adventure tale, a coming-of-age story, and an artfully told period piece all at once. It also boasts captivating performances from its young German leads, Saskia Rosendahl and Kai Malina, and pitch-perfect cinematography. This is the least well-known film on the list, but one that I think a lot of people would appreciate if they sought it out.

7. The End of the Tour (James Ponsoldt, 2015)

After this year’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, I’m going to put forward a motion that we retire the narrative structure of having a journalist interviewing a celebrity as the premise of a film. However, that structure was less overused when The End of the Tour was made, and Ponsoldt chooses it not out of convenience, but as the entire emotional crux of his story. It also helps that the two men being depicted (David Foster Wallace and journalist David Lipsky) are much more evenly-matched in their respective career accomplishments at the time the film takes place, acting as a mirror, an echo, and a sounding board for each other. (They also have a rich real-life text to draw from, as Lipsky published an entire book containing his conversations with Wallace during his book tour for Infinite Jest.) Ponsoldt depicts their relationship so cleanly, yet realistically, creating an incredibly emotionally rich film from conversations may on the surface sometimes seem offhanded or even banal. Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg also turn in wonderful performances, seeming impressively unburdened by the “real life-ness” of the characters they’re playing. It’s a fun hangout film, as also one that sneaks up on you with an understated emotional wallop.

6. Oslo, August 31 (Joachim Trier, 2012)

I do tend to love depressing Scandinavian films, and Oslo, August 31 is a prime example. Set over the course of one day in the life of a man who’s been temporarily let out of rehab to attend a job interview, it’s a meditative, artful take on addiction. Trier levels up from his already impressive debut, 2007’s Reprise, and creates something even more beautiful and deeply felt. I only caught up with the film this past year, but I’m actually glad that I watched it now (rather than in my early 20’s when it first came out) because I found a relatable aspect (aside from the topic of drug addiction) that wouldn’t have hit me in the same way eight years ago; through the people that Anders interacts with in vignettes throughout the film, Trier perfectly illustrates that sense of feeling alienated from those around you by not having followed the path that you’re “supposed” to by the time you hit 30-ish. It’s not quite the main theme of the film, but it’s sprinkled as an undercurrent throughout, and it really hit me in a relatable, raw (though not necessarily sad) way. Oslo, August 31 is a stunner and, for me, was a great example of watching the right film at the right time.

5. Roma (Alfonso Cuarón, 2018)

I would struggle to think, on a frame-by-frame basis, of a more beautiful film that came out this decade. There was something about Roma that I found so captivating, despite its seeming straightforwardness. I know some found it a bit emotionally disconnected, but I was right there with Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) from frame one through to the end of her quietly seismic journey. This is perhaps partly because Cuarón crafted it with so much love, and the autobiographical elements came through beautifully. I could have watched another of hour of his vibrant, wistful, clear-eyed point of view.

4. The Lost City of Z (James Gray, 2017)

James Gray was another director who succeeded at transporting viewers to a perfectly realized world, here with The Lost City of Z. Having caught up with it earlier this year (on gorgeous 35mm projection, no less) I immediately fell in love with how it evoked a sweeping historical epic, but depicted with a modern sensibility. Gray perfectly (yet deliberately) paced this tale of a single-minded adventurer, and I was along for the journey every step of the way.

3. The Social Network (David Fincher, 2010)

I could write thousands of words on The Social Network (and maybe have, over the course of my various viewings throughout the decade). There was no film that I watched more in the ‘10s (five times, in case you were wondering), and The Social Network holds up perfectly every time I watch it. From the performances to the score to the cinematography to the Sorkin script, it’s one of the extremely few films that I would classify as close to perfect. There is a rhythm to it that is unlike any other film that came out in the past 10 years, and it seems to somehow only gain relevance as time goes on. When I think of why I love movies, this is a film that almost always pops into my mind.

2. O.J.: Made in America (Ezra Edelman, 2016)

The ’10s was definitely the first decade where I paid attention to documentaries. (Prior to this, my knowledge of docs pretty much started and ended with Supersize Me and March of the Penguins.) And I saw a lot of really great ones. But the one that eclipsed all the others (both in terms of my appreciation for it, and just it’s sheer length) was Ezra Edelman’s O.J.: Made in America. It’s a film that feels daunting to write about, because it does so much over the course of its nearly 8 hours. (And yes, I do consider it a movie, rather than a miniseries.) It is an incisive examination of American culture, a compelling “true crime”-style story, and an extremely thorough dive into the psyche of one of the most inscrutable figures in pop culture. And it’s all constructed with such an elegance that it’s impossible not to admire its craft, even as you’re engrossed in the story. This is an accessible, definitive, and unique take on a story that many of us thought we already knew. And, on top of that, it’s a film that’ll probably make you question why you had been so quick to form your previously-held opinions on its central figure.

1. The Place Beyond the Pines (Derek Cianfrance, 2013)

Lists like these are always extremely subjective (hence why I’ve called this post “MY Top 10 Films of the ‘10s”) but there’s no other way I can really explain putting The Place Beyond the Pines in my number one spot beyond to say that it was just my personal favourite film of the past 10 years. I think it’s incredibly well-constructed, expertly acted, and tells a gripping story. I do think it’s a quantifiably great film. But the simpler, non-critical way to describe it is that it just “clicked” with me. Cianfrance, coming off 2010’s emotionally thorny, almost uncomfortably intimate Blue Valentine, crafted a big, generation-sweeping family epic with The Place Beyond the Pines. He balances the film’s unique structure perfectly, dividing it into three distinct parts that are satisfying on their own, but that also resonate with each other in fascinating ways. And though it’s a film that has a “twist” that seems like it might lose its impact after seeing it once, I found the film has only gained complexity and impact on multiple subsequent viewings. I’ve been on a quest ever since to find other films that balance the same level of bold structure and craft with deeply humanistic storytelling.

The Place Beyond the Pines is not a film you’re likely to see on a lot of other “best of the decade” lists (let alone at the top), but for me, it’s the film that defined my movie-watching in the 2010s.

Top 10 Movies of 2019 (so far)

We’re at the mid-point of the year (give or take a couple weeks…) and now seems as good a time as any to look at some of the standout films of 2019 so far.

I’ve heard some hot takes about this not being a great year for film (although I’m pretty sure that’s a semi-common opinion EVERY year) but I have to disagree. I’ve seen more movies in the first half of 2019 that I love than I typically do in the first six months of the year. And that includes one that’s planted firmly in best-of-the-decade territory. But more on that in a minute.

10. Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé

Am I a Beyoncé stan? No, actually. With the exception of the odd single (“Crazy in Love”, namely), I’ve never paid a whole lot of attention to her career, admiring her ambition more than flat-out loving her music. But with Homecoming, Beyoncé (and the large team of people who help to make “Beyoncé” happen) have carefully crafted a testament to her significance as an artist. Documenting the now-famous “Beychella” set from Coachella 2018 and the months of preparation that went into it, the film is fascinating both as a concert doc and as a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to pull off a performance of that scale. And yes, it is a carefully curated (and, if anything, a bit too guarded) look at Beyoncé the person. No doubt this is skewed to the side of things Beyoncé wants her fans to see, but it’s a compelling look nonetheless. You don’t need to be a fan to find the whole 2-hour performance exhilarating.

9. The Standoff at Sparrow Creek

This one was a big surprise, coming from first-time director Henry Dunham. A modestly-scaled, slow-burning thriller, The Standoff at Sparrow Creek follows a small-town militia that discovers one of their own is responsible for a recent mass shooting at a police funeral. James Badge Dale shines in a rare lead role, playing an ex-cop member of the militia who takes matters into his own hands to find the perpetrator. On the whole, it’s a well-paced, beautifully shot thriller that makes the most of its single-location structure. An under-the-radar gem worth seeking out.

8. Us

Jordan Peele had quite a task set out for himself in attempting to follow up the massive success of his directorial debut, Get Out. He proved to be up to the task with Us. Everyone here is perfectly cast (more of Winston Duke in everything, please) and Peele’s sharp writing finds the perfect balance of genuine thrills and thoughtful social commentary. This is one that stuck with me more than I was expecting, its message and implications shifting in my mind for days after watching. I can’t wait to see what Peele has in store for audiences next.

7. The Last Black Man in San Francisco 

Another directorial debut, this time from Bay Area native Joe Talbot, The Last Black Man in San Francisco was made in close collaboration with his long-time close friend, Jimmie Fails. And the intimate working relationship shows in excellent ways. Fails (the star and co-writer) based this gentrification story closely on some of his own experiences growing up, and the personal touch and raw emotion behind it shows. This is not a perfect film, but its flaws can largely be overlooked due to the specificity and creativity it exudes. This is the sort of bold, clear vision we need more people to approach filmmaking with.

6. Giant Little Ones

This year has seen a spate of acclaimed Canadian coming-of-age indies. To name a few: Genesis, The Fireflies are Gone, Firecrackers, and Roads in February. (Is this the Xavier Dolan effect?) And admittedly… I haven’t seen any of those others. But I did really like this one, which tells the story of teenage Franky (played by an excellent Josh Wiggins) who is struggling with his sexuality, a complicated family situation, and the harsh social politics of high school. In some ways, it’s the usual stuff we’ve seen before, yet writer/director Keith Behrman allows for a remarkable and rare ambiguity to exist around Franky’s sexuality. It’s a film less concerned with labels than capturing what it feels like to live in the liminal space around them.

5. Climax

This was my first foray into Gaspar Noe’s work, and from what I understand this is a comparatively “restrained” entry in his filmography. Which is…wild. Telling the story of a party gone VERY wrong, this is at many points a horrifying and bizarre film. But Noe seems like someone who delights in his own gratuitous decisions, and that boldness unexpectedly pays off here. This colourful, feverish horror vision is also somehow beautiful. And its first act (before shit really hits the fan and when dance sequences abound) is maybe the strongest stretch of filmmaking I’ve seen all year

4. Apollo 11

I can sometimes find documentaries constructed solely from archival footage a bit dull, but Apollo 11 made me reconsider that stance. Though it’s depicting an extremely well-known historical event, the footage here is so vibrant – and so expertly edited – that it almost feels like something that is being seen for the first time. Truly, the look of the film (the clarity, the colours, the film grain) are so stunning that it’s worth witnessing just for that. But the narrative, too, is compelling, providing insight and realism to an achievement that is often heavily romanticized. Even if you think all there is to know about the moon landing, don’t miss Apollo 11.

3. Rocketman

I had tolerance for one more musical biopic this year, and I’m certainly glad I made the time for Rocketman. Led by a truly astonishing performance from Taron Egerton (the moment where he bursts onto the screen to take the reins in the middle of “Saturday Night’s Alright” is among the year’s most exhilarating), the film takes a more creative approach than your usual rock biopic, embracing the decadence and flair of Sir Elton himself. The musical numbers are an utter delight, and while not EVERYTHING else in between them works quite as well, the film’s focus on emotion and introspection help to make it unusually impactful.

2. Booksmart

Smart-mouthed, hilarious, and sweet, Booksmart is everything I want a female coming-of-age comedy to be. Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein are a joy to watch and totally believable as best friends. And while you’ve likely seen the “one crazy night” formula in teen movies before, I’ve rarely seen it delivered with so much wit and genuine heart. This is one that I can’t wait to watch again.

1. Mouthpiece

This list is full of movies that I found moving and creative, yet none were quite so bold as Patricia Rozema’s Mouthpiece, an adaptation of the 2015 Canadian play co-written by the film’s two stars, Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava. The film follows Cassie, played by… both Notbakken and Sadava, and often at the same time. That dual performance could have been an awful gimmick, but instead it feels perfectly balanced, poetic, and (somehow) subtle. The performances are lovely and veteran director Rozema creates a perfect, steady balance to the story’s delightfully rabble-rousing energy. A true “I laughed, I cried” film through and through, and definitely the best film I’ve seen (so far) this year.

10 Films Directed By Women Coming Out in April 2019

While there’s obviously still a lot of work to be done in terms of diverse representation in filmmaking I do find it encouraging, when looking at the upcoming film releases for April, to see how many are directed by women. Even five years ago, I highly doubt there were ever 10 female-directed films in total coming out in a month, let alone 10 that look great.

Here are some suggestions for what to look forward to next month.

High Life (April 5)
It would feel wrong to start this list with any other movie when April features the release of a new film from French master Claire Denis. High Life marks Denis’ first filmmaking foray into the English language, and stars Robert Pattinson as an astronaut (!) who finds himself in a rather unorthodox situation out in space. The somewhat befuddled (but mostly positive) response from last fall’s festival circuit only makes me more excited.

Edge of the Knife (SGaawaay K’uuna) (April 5)
Co-directed by Helen Haig-Brown and Gwaai Edenshaw, Edge of the Knife (SGaawaay K’uuna) is the first film made solely in the Haida language. (Haida is an endangered language spoken by the Haida people who live in Haida Gwaii, off the coast of British Columbia in Canada.) It tells the story of a Haida man wracked with guilt who begins a supernatural transformation, and it takes inspiration from traditional Haida folklore.

It’s been wonderful to see attention drawn to Edge of the Knife here in Canada, as art made by and about Indigenous people is often vastly underrepresented. I’m not sure what sort of release it will get internationally, but Edge of the Knife opens in Toronto on April 5.

The Wind (April 5)
All I needed to read was the first part of The Wind’s description on Letterboxd: “A supernatural thriller set in the Western frontier of the late 1800’s”. It’s directed by first-timer Emma Tammi, and based solely on its promotion, it’s given me vibes akin to The Keeping Room and Brimstone. That said, female-directed horror films about women often have a very unique feel, and I’m certainly intrigued to see what Tammi has crafted.

Unicorn Store (April 5)
Though Unicorn Store started playing festivals in 2017, I suppose Netflix has picked a strategic time to release this directorial debut from Brie Larson (who also stars in the film). Initial response was a bit mixed, with some critics dismissing the film as too cutesy for its own good. But Larson has proven to be savvy and bold in her role choices as an actress, so it’ll be interesting to see how that will translate for her behind the camera as well.

Little (April 12)
Starring Issa Rae and Reginal Hall, Little looks to follow a long tradition of body swap/age-change comedies like Big, 13 Going on 30, etc. This one following Jordan (Hall), a stressed-out adult who transforms back into her younger self (played by Black-ish’s Marsai Martin). With any luck, it’ll be just the sort of vehicle its leads deserve.

Girls of the Sun (April 12)
Girls of the Sun, from director Eva Husson, played as part of the Official Competition at Cannes last year and finally makes its way to North American theatres this April. Following an all-female Kurdish battalion defending their town from extremists, it looks to be a powerful and harrowing tale of female resistance.

Rafiki (April 19)
Having undergone an extensive battle in her home country of Kenya (where officials at first banned Rafiki for its lesbian content, but ultimately reversed the decision), director Wanuri Kahiu finally gets the opportunity to bring Rafiki to North America in April. It was a favourite on the festival circuit last year and looks to be a must-watch on all fronts.

Fast Color (April 19)
I adored Julia Hart’s debut feature Miss Stevens, and she now returns with what looks to be a low-key sci-fi indie. Starring the wonderful Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Fast Color is about a woman who possesses special powers. This one looks great, though in fairness, I’d probably be jazzed for Hart’s next film no matter what it was. 

Little Woods (April 19)
Starring the power pairing of Tessa Thompson and Lily James, Nia DaCosta’s Little Woods earned strong notices out of last year’s Tribeca Film Festival. It tells the story of two working-class sisters who’ve taken up illegal practices to earn a living. Trying to leave it all behind them, they find it more difficult than expected to get back on the straight and narrow.

Someone Great (April 19)
Also coming straight to Netflix this month is Someone Great, an ensemble lady-led comedy starring Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, and DeWanda Wise. Coupled with a supporting cast that includes Lakeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson, there’s certainly going to be a lot of talent on display, if nothing else. This sort of comedy doesn’t always hit, but when it does, you can get something great like Bridesmaids.