the best films by women on streaming services to watch in lockdown

art

Under the current circumstances, streaming services are one of the few thriving industries in the world. Confined to our living rooms, a lot of us will be mindlessly scrolling on Netflix in hope of a couple of hours of distraction from current events. Believe it or not, the choice we make when selecting our films of choice can be a meaningful, political act. By choosing films from and about marginalised groups, we, as consumers, are declaring the need for wider representation in the film industry. Every click is a vote, and while we cannot leave our houses to protest, we may as well do what we can from our sofas .  

So, in the name of activism from isolation, here are my recommendations from female directors on streaming services right now.  

The Miseducation of Cameron Post (Netflix: Dir. Desiree Akhavan) 

Starring the absolute legend that is Chloe Grace Moretz, The Miseducation of Cameron Post is an eye-opening look into conversion therapy, a religious practice that remains very much present in churches across the UK and America. Cameron is sent away to a conversion camp after having been caught being romantic with her best friend, and what ensues is a tragic expose into the archaic view of homosexuality that bubbles under the surface of religious doctrines in the United States. Akhavan’s quiet yet emphatic direction of this heart-breaking narrative gives voice to those who come of age under terms that are out-with their autonomy and control.  

Capernaum (Amazon Prime: Nadine Labaki) 

Certainly not the most uplifting choice if you’re struggling with isolation right now, but, nonetheless, Capernaum is an outstanding film with one of the most impressive casts of child actors that I have ever seen. From Lebanese director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum follows Zain as he runs away from home after his family’s gross negligence of him and his siblings. This abandoned eleven-year-old could be thirty, with his cold stares and his rambunctious attitude to anyone who crosses him, making the film a resounding testament to the power of the human spirit. Distressing at times, but continuously affecting and poignant, Capernaum is the perfect film to remind us of how lucky we are to have a roof over our heads in this challenging time.  

Queen of Katwe (Disney+) 

A bit like Marvel’s revolutionary release of Black Panther, Queen of Katwe was Disney’s answer to years of underrepresentation and white-washed narratives. Based on a true story, Queen of Katwe depicts Phiona, played by Madina Nalwanga, a ten-year-old living in a slum in Uganda, struggling to support her mother Nakku, played by the power-house that is Lupita Nyong’o. Phiona finds respite from her tireless life of care with Robert, played by David Oyelowo, who teaches her to play chess. A simple story with a lot of heart, this is exactly the kind of film you need to lift your spirits right now. With incredible performances from all three of the main cast members, Queen of Katwe lifts up the voice of a nation that is far more than the history of war that mainstream news coverage of Uganda reflects.  

Hustlers (Amazon Prime: Dir. Lorene Scafaria)  

Sexy, dark and empowering, Hustlers is the film that rocked cinemas with its frank retelling of the story of a group of strippers who, for years, exploited their Wall Street customers for maximum profit and gain. Starring Jennifer Lopez, with a performance that was grossly ignored by the most recent awards season, this film is a fantastic exploration of the ways in which patriarchal structures permeate the feminist cause on all levels. On the face of it, this film may come across as indulgent and voyeuristic. However, Scafaria’s intelligent direction and fast-paced script cuts deep in its analysis of the catastrophic effect of misogyny on the lives of the working classes.  

Divines (Netflix: Houda Benyamina)  

Divines is a gritty coming of age story from French director Houda Benyamina. Set amongst the criminal underworld of Paris, Divines is a coming of age tale of Dounia and Maimouna, two Muslim teenagers who are hungry for more than the hand they have been dealt in life. The film flits between stitch-inducing comedy scenes between the two girls, and terrifyingly tense sequences depicting the crimes they commit for money. Benyamina has an outstanding talent for portraying the freedom of adolescence, and through Dounia and Maimouna, we see the both the beauty and danger of youthful innocence.  

Tomboy (Amazon Prime: Celine Sciamma) 

Celine Sciamma is all the rage at the minute, with the third part of her trilogy of female experience Portrait of a Lady on Fire winning the Queer Palm and Best Screenplay at Cannes Film Festival last year. Portrait of a Lady will be available on Mubi from the 10th of April, however, the rest of the trilogy, especially Tomboy, are equally as emotive and visceral. Tomboy follows Laure, a ten-year-old gender non-conforming child whose parents see as a girl, but whose friends assume is a boy. The film is a definitive declaration of the performance of gender from a young age, that is, eventually, celebratory of the championing of love in the face of ignorance.  

A few more from talented women on streaming services now: 

Lost in Translation (Netflix: Sofia Coppola) 

Lady Bird (Netflix & Amazon Prime: Greta Gerwig) 

Booksmart (Amazon Prime: Olivia Wilde) 

Nona. If they soak me, I’ll burn them (Mubi: Camila Jose Donoso) 

Late Night (Amazon Prime: Nisha Ganatra) 

On the Basis of Sex (Amazon Prime: Mimi Leder) 

Tallulah (Netflix: Sian Heder) 

13th (Netflix: Ava DuVernay) 

Casting JonBenet (Netflix: Kitty Green) 

Mudbound (Netflix: Dee Rees) 

The Hurt Locker (Netflix: Kathryn Bigelow) 

Monster (Amazon Prime: Patty Jenkins) 

The Daughters of Fire (Mubi: Albertine Carri) 

Previous
Previous

radicalising empathy as a tool for social change: a gendered perspective

Next
Next

silencing and dark realities: Princess Haya's trial and the MENA Region's treatment of women