Ten Women-Led Films You Don’t Want to Miss

Since March is Women’s History and Month and International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th, we love to highlight women behind and in front of the camera all month long. Women remain woefully under-represented in Hollywood, so it’s always smart for even the biggest movie fan to carve out some special time and interest in films by and about women to broaden their horizons. To help out I thought I’d highlight a few amazing women and the films you can enjoy this month. Catch these movies On Demand in April, or find the next play times by clicking on each title.

Jane Campion directs Meg Ryan in the exciting In The Cut (2003)

Upon its original release, this twisty erotic thriller almost ruined the careers of its Oscar-nominated director and A-list star. Ryan faced a backlash for trading her girl-next-door image for this subversive and boundary-pushing film,  but since recent re-evaluations of Campion’s oeuvre and the MeToo-era questioning of interference in actresses’ careers, this film has been re-appraised not only as a thrill ride, but as an excitingly unique sideroad for Ryan and a feminine take on a male-dominated genre.

Mariel Hemingway breaks boundaries in Personal Best (1982)

Queer love stories on the film took a long time to get to the mainstream and along the way often needed help from a-list straight actors to justify their existence in Hollywood. Mariel Hemingway admitted she liked ‘cutting-edge’ roles in film and took a chance portraying a lesbian track star in this sports drama from Robert Towne and helped open the door for more women in love in mainstream motion pictures.

Stacey Title directs Cameron Diaz and Annabeth Gish in The Last Supper (1995)

This 90s dark comedy doesn’t get the love it deserves anymore in spite of a premise that seems more relevant than ever. The movie follows a group of liberal grad students, including the aforementioned ladies and the amazing Courtney B. Vance, who are trying to decide if it’s morally justifiable to murder influential conservatives. We lost director Stacy Title in 2021 after a battle with ALS, so it’s more important than ever to re-examine her films and this is a great place to start.

Chinyone Chukwu finds a role worthy of Alfre Woodard in Clemency (2018)

One of the biggest upsets of the 2018 Oscar season was the snub of Alfre Woodard’s amazing performance in this amazing drama from writer/director Chinonye Chukwu. The film explores the weight of capital punishment on those who carry it out as well as those who are set to die and Woodard will amaze you as the warden at the centre of this intense topic.

Elaine May writes, directs and stars in A New Leaf (1971) 

You’ll forgive us if we constantly sing the praises of Elaine May’s feature directing debut but this film deserves iconic status as pitch perfect romantic black comedy. Walter Matthau stars as a daffy playboy hellbent on marrying a rich woman, killing her and collecting the inheritance, but runs into complications when the perfect candidate (played amazingly by May herself) shocks and confounds him with her unusual behaviour.

Mary Kay Place takes the lead in Diane (2018)

Actress Mary Kay Place has been stealing scenes since the 1970s, but as a staple character actress, and actress of a certain age, she rarely takes the lead, but got the opportunity in Kent Jones’ directorial debut. The film deeply but gently examines the life of a kind hearted older woman and the hidden depths she contains. It not only is an amazing opportunity to see the range of Place’s skills, but also has wonderful roles for other older character actresses like Andrea Martin, Joyce Van Patten, Deirdre O’Connell, Estelle Parsons and more!

Tamra Davis fires up a stoner classic with Half Baked (1996)

Many people don’t know a woman is behind this classic pot head movie, but Tamra Davis made quite a splash in the comedy scene in the 90s with this and Billy Madison earning her a place in the pantheon of great comedy directors. Want more comedy directed by women? You can also check out Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Real Genius, Lost In Yonkers and A League of Their Own this month.

Allison Anders makes beautiful music with Illeana Douglas in Grace of My Heart (1996)

If you love mid-century American pop music, you’ll be head over heels for this movie which explores the funny and emotional life of a songwriter working out of the Brill Building in the 60s. Its original release was overshadowed by That Thing You Do, released the same year, but this film traces the rise of adult contemporary singer-songwriters with a more biographical take than Tom Hanks’ pop-confection and features just as many toe-tapping songs.

Sally Potter makes Tilda Swinton an otherworldly immortal in Orlando (1993)

Virginia Woolfe’s novel Orlando was considered unadaptable for its curious gender-shifting narrator, but British director Sally Potter finds a way to blend the surreal nature of the film with supernatural performer Tilda Swinton to create cinematic perfection. After you’re done watching, check out our episode of the A Year In Film podcast which digs deeper into the production.

Hatidze Muratova defends her way of life in Honeyland (2019)

Directors Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov bring a portrait of a woman unlike any you’ve seen by showcasing the life of a Macedonian bee hunter and her attempts to stabilize her colony in the face of environmental collapse and migrant crisis in her region. This moving and charming documentary is a rare crossover which managed two Oscar nominations both for Best Documentary and Best International Film.