In celebration of Women’s History Month, the all-female team of film critics at FF2 Media were assigned to write about their favorite female artists – and where to watch their work.
Abominable
Another film that really was a pleasant film to watch was Abominable (directed by Jill Culton). This animation follows a girl in China desperately trying to make enough money to travel to all the places her father had been. Based on the postcards she receives from him, she maps out her path. Each night, she climbs to the roof of her building, to a small hideaway, where she keeps all her secrets about her father hidden from her mother and her grandmother. As well as the hidden postcards, she keeps her violin there too. Every night she would play beautiful melodies, alone, on the roof. However, her life is interrupted by a giant creature, recently escaped from some sort of laboratory.
Thus begins her adventure to all the places on the postcards. Her friends join her on this expedition along with the “monster”. Watching this filled my heart with warmth. The images across the screen were really beautiful, and I ended up tearing up. Definitely a lovely film to watch.
Available on: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/abominable-2019
Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti is a household name nowadays. Thanks to director Ron Howard, with the help of writer Mark Monroe and consulting writer Cassidy Hartmann, Pavarotti gives a clearer insight to the journey and the life behind the scenes of the world-renowned tenor. You can watch this film to either gain more knowledge of the opera world, or you can watch this as a story and background of a celebrity.
Pavarotti is divided into three clear sections: early life, career, death. In those three sections, there is drama, love, and (importantly) music! Even to the fanatics who already are immersed in the operatic genre, this film is informative about the beloved singer. It shows his highlights and various controversies. It also shows how joyful and loving Pavarotti was as a person. It’s refreshing to see someone so accomplished and so talented be so kind and generous.
Available on: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/pavarotti
Little Women
A must-see film adaptation of a must-read novel. This classic story by Louisa May Alcott was beautifully directed by Greta Gerwig. The story follows four March sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy — from girlhood to womanhood. In their poverty, they find ways to entertain each other through stories, through music, through acting, etc. It stays true to the novel throughout. Just like its novel, Little Women is split into two — in the film, the present parallels the past. This film is packed with drama, making the audience laugh and cry. I only wish I brought tissues with me when I went to see this.
Available on: https://www.justwatch.com/nz/movie/little-women-2019
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
A movie that you never want to end. Although many children grew up with Maleficent being the villain in the classic fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, in this movie (the second of two movies) Maleficent is a powerful, terrifying creature. In today’s day and age, we no longer expect women to be dainty beings waiting to be saved by some Prince Charming, but instead are expected to survive and to deal with whatever life throws at us. In both the first and second film, Maleficent shows great awe-inspiring independence and power. If you haven’t seen the first movie, that’s also a really good watch! (Read our Maleficent review HERE.) However, despite all that strength and connotations of evil, these films also show kindness. There are two sides to every coin, and these movies show that really clearly.
Available on: https://www.justwatch.com/nz/movie/maleficent-mistress-of-evil
(Maleficent — https://www.justwatch.com/nz/movie/maleficent)
Aniara
If you’re looking for something a little more dystopian and science fiction, Aniara is a really good film to watch. In a time where Earth is in unlivable conditions due to how humans had treated it, Aniara, a program of transportation to Mars, is everyone’s hope and salvation. After a technical difficulty on the ship, the captain announces that they had to disengage their fuel tanks. This ensues panic. Throughout the movie, the passengers as a group experience a range of different emotions. I felt very weirded out and questioned human existence by the end of the film, but it was very thought-provoking. Despite its feeling of hopelessness and toying with the human psyche, it had some beautiful moments.
Available to rent and buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Aniara-Emelie-Jonsson/dp/B07RX9ZN5R
At the Heart of Gold
Different from the previous suggestions, At the Heart of Gold (directed by Erin Lee Carr) is a documentary about the abhorrently covered sexual scandal in the gymnastics world of the USA. The true events lasted years and years and, to the shock of the audience and the people involved in the scandal, was able to remain under wraps until 2016. Excuses and lies kept Larry Nassar active for too long. This scandal affected so many young gymnasts and their families. It fills me with anger and sadness, but when Nassar is convicted, there is a sense of victory. This is definitely a good documentary to watch and will leave you in tears. Moral of the story — never keep quiet.
Available on: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/at-the-heart-of-gold-inside-the-usa-gymnastics-scandal
Charlie’s Angels
I walked into the theater really excited for another Charlie’s Angels to add to the collection. These films always make women look so powerful and capable (and just plain cool!). I loved watching this movie, directed by Elizabeth Banks, and really enjoyed all the songs in its soundtrack and all the stunts. At the beginning of the movie, two Angels are seen in action in bringing a bad guy down. Then we follow a female scientist unravelling a dangerous secret. It’s a feel-good film and I left the theater feeling pumped.
Available on: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/charlies-angels-2019
© Sophia Jin (3/23/20) FF2 Media
Photo credits: IMDb
