The Nelle - Women in Film Pt. V
Words by: Maggie Laubscher | Music by: Abby Yemm
Image from Girls From Ipanema
When we want comfort, one of our go-tos is women in film. Summer is winding down, school is back in session and we have new women in film crushes to share with you. Some are continued favorites, others are new loves, and all are delightful.
We recently came across this quote by director Kathryn Bigelow and we keep circling back to it: “If there’s specific resistance to women making movies, I just choose to ignore that as an obstacle for two reasons: I can’t change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies.” Here’s to ignoring what can’t be changed and soldiering on.
Before we offer our new faves, there are (brilliant) new seasons of shows we’ve previously hyped:
Below are six of our current favorites...
THE CHAIR
Dramedy Series | 1 Season | Debuted 2021
Our #1 must-watch, this dramedy is written and run by Amanda Peet. The series stars Sandra Oh as the first female department chair at a prestigious university. The show highlights heavy topics but does so with fast-paced, smart humor and fully developed characters you end up loving. Storylines include gender inequality, struggles of women of color in the workforce, single parenthood, grieving and cancel culture.
TAKE MY WIFE
Comedy Series | 2 Seasons | Debuted 2016
Take My Wife gives all the comedy. It’s quippy and fun and real. Part of the realness is that it stars real-life couple Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher -- two comedians, two females, one balancing act.
THE OTHER TWO
Comedy Series | 2 Seasons | Debuted 2018
Molly Shannon is having a moment. After devouring The White Lotus, Molly’s character still sticks with us -- and she wasn’t even a show lead. In the comedy series The Other Two, Molly plays a stage mom of three child stars. One is a bonafide superstar in the making, while the other two are struggling adults and former child stars. It’s crass and sharp and we cannot stop watching.
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Dramatic Film | Debuted 2020
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a vibrant film full of music, charisma and drama. Set in 1920s Chicago, the film stars Viola Davis as the ‘Mother of the Blues’ Ma Rainey. The story follows the drama of a recording session with her and her band. This is the film that earned Chadwick Boseman a posthumous Golden Globe for best actor, too.
HACKS
Comedy Series | 1 Season | Debuted 2021
In addition to Molly Shannon, Jean Smart is also having a moment. In addition to Mare of Easttown, our girl commands the screen on Hacks. Jean stars as an iconic comedian past her prime, who hires an entitled Gen Z comedy writer. The two women spar brilliantly, with biting one-liners and plenty of depth.
kid 90
Documentary Film | Debuted 2021
Y’all, this doc is JUICY. Press play and watch a very behind the scenes look at young Hollywood in the 1990s. It’s incredibly personal as it was created by former child star Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster!) and includes her private video taped footage. It’s intriguing and heart wrenching and funny and immensely watchable.
GIRLS FROM IPANEMA
Period Drama Series | 2 Seasons | Debuted 2019
Girls from Ipanema, previously named Most Beautiful Thing, is a Brazilian period drama series about women starting fresh and forging ahead on their own. The series stars Maria Casadevall as Malu, a young and wealthy woman who is promptly abandoned by her husband. The show is filled with romance and beautiful settings and rich characters.
An Abby Yemm playlist for you…
A playlist created by Abby Yemm
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