QUEUE THIS!

Starting today, I’ll be doing a weekly post suggesting five films for you to put in your Netflix Queue.  Why Netflix, you ask?  And why am I bossing you around and telling you what to queue?  Well, because it can help women directors.  

Netflix is very tapped into the data they collect from their customers—what do customers queue, what do they watch to the end, what do they pause, what do they rate highly... You get the picture.  They use this data to make decisions about content licensing and production. So, if you put women-directed films in your queue and you tell your friends to do the same, we just might start to have an impact on what Netflix chooses to license, and maybe even what they greenlight for their slate of original programming.  Here’s a little more about how they use their data. Shall we see if we can create some change?

Since this is the first Thursday after the Oscars, let’s start with five films that could have/should have/or did receive some big awards.  In no particular order...

QUEUE THIS!

1. The Loneliest Planet (dir Julia Loktev) - This is a beautiful, meditative film about a couple backpacking through the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia.  It’s pretty much an art film; so Broads, don’t expect a fast-paced jaunt.  Sit back and enjoy the scenery on the biggest screen in your home. And did I mention Gael García Bernal is in it?  Hani Furstenberg is, too, and she plays a great solid female character. This film was nominated for Gotham and Spirit awards and played a number of big international festivals (Grand Prize winner at AFI Fest).
2. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (dir Alison Klayman) - Netflix says: “This compelling documentary explores three years in the life of celebrated Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei, who uses social media and his art to inspire protests against the state, and suffers government persecution for his actions.” This was considered a big contender for an Oscar nom after a very successful festival run that included HotDocs, Berlin and Sundance (special jury prize awardee).  I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about this film and can’t wait to see it.
3. Take This Waltz (dir Sarah Polley) - Netflix says: “Filmed in Toronto, this intimate, unflashy romantic drama portrays a happily married woman who experiences a sudden and strong desire for another man. Further complicating the situation, the object of her desire resides just across the street.” I haven’t had a chance to watch it, but I’m very curious to see Michelle Williams and Seth Rogan in a film together- an interesting combination!  Plus, it was included in Melissa Silverstein’s yearly round-up of films that should have been considered by the Academy.
4. The Queen of Versailles (dir Lauren Greenfield) - Netflix says: “Meet the Siegels, glitterati who made a fortune in the time-share business only to see it crumble in the 2008 financial collapse. The site of their rise and almost-fall is their home (America’s largest), a gaudy replica of the Palace of Versailles.” This doc is part fun excess and part tragic downfall, but a very interesting ride throughout.  It’s also one that many thought would get an Oscar nom as it did very well on the fest circuit, including a 2012 Sundance directing award for Greenfield.
5. Fish Tank (dir Andrea Arnold) - Netflix says: “The life of hot-tempered teen outcast Mia (Katie Jarvis) takes an unexpected turn when her mother, Joanne, brings home a handsome and mysterious boyfriend named Connor (Michael Fassbender), who pledges to bring sweeping positive changes to the household.” Arnold won the Jury Prize at Cannes in 2009 for this film, and she’s also an Oscar winner (for her short Wasp - 2003). So, odds are, there will be some pretty good filmmaking here. It’s been in my queue for a while, I think I’ll watch it this weekend!

So, there you go, my first list. Hopefully, it’s the first of many. For those of you thinking, “How could she review films she’s never seen?”  Please know that I’m a busy filmmaker like many of you reading this now, so I’m inevitably not going to be able to watch everything that I’ve heard about on my journeys. Plus, the point of this list is not to offer reviews, but rather to make you aware of the many great films directed by women that are available on Netflix. So never mind me, get queueing!!