QUEUE THIS!

Rachel Weisz in THE WHISTLEBLOWER - She has a gun!

I’m going to keep it short and sweet this week and not subject you to my bad jokes!  The focus of today’s list is recent festival films directed by women.  Most of these did have digital/theatrical releases, but they often flew under the radar. They’re good films that deserve an audience, so let’s put them in our queues and give them a new life!  These are all available via Netflix streaming, so it couldn't be easier!

The Whistleblower (dir Larysa Kondracki, 2010)  Netflix says: "Sent to Bosnia in the aftermath of civil war, an American policewoman uncovers evidence that U.N. peacekeepers are covering up sex trafficking. But when she brings her findings to light, she learns that her foes are more powerful than the law."  After watching this at the Athena Film Festival in 2012 I remember thinking, “Why haven’t I heard about this film before?!"  It’s a really solid film, with a great performance by Rachel Weisz, on a really compelling topic.  I don’t get why it didn’t receive more attention!

Wish Me Away (dir Beverly Kopf & Bobbie Birleffi, 2011)  Netflix says: "This poignant documentary, filmed over three years, profiles country music star Chely Wright, a devout Christian whose struggle to succeed in the music biz while hiding her homosexuality from her conservative family and fans caused her much anguish."  I don't really follow the country music scene, but I found Chely Wright’s coming out story so fascinating!

The Lather Effect (dir Sarah Kelly, 2007)  Netflix says:  "On the eve of selling her childhood home, Valinda (Connie Britton) hosts a liquor-drenched high school reunion party, after which she and a handful of her now 30-something friends clean up the wreckage and wax nostalgic about the long-gone 1980s. Eric Stoltz, Peter Facinelli, Ione Skye, Sarah Clarke and Tate Donovan fill out the cast of this intriguing ensemble dramedy."  It's basically a reunion with a bunch of your favorite movie characters from the 80's-- how can you not love that?

Return (dir Liza Johnson, 2011)  Netflix: "After a tour of duty in the Middle East, Kelli expects her life to return to normal when she rejoins her husband and two children at home. But she finds herself unable to fit in as she realizes her family and friends have changed during her absence."  I’m a big fan of Linda Cardellini and was excited to see her in a meaty lead role, which by the way, earned her a Spirit Award nomination this year.

Polisse (dir Maiwenn, 2011)  Netflix says: "This French drama presents a fictionalized but well-researched portrait of the juvenile protection division of the Paris court system, following a documentarian as she films the employees in the department and the children under its authority."  I haven’t had a chance to see this, yet, but I’ve heard really good things. It won the Jury Prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and had a lot of buzz around it, but sadly its stateside debut ended up being pretty quiet.


Have you seen any of these films?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.

QUEUE THIS!  is a weekly post by Destri Martino that appears on the Broad Humor Blog every Thursday morning. View the past two QUEUE THIS! posts here and here.