December marks the long-awaited launch of “Women Talking” (December 23), Sarah Polley’s star-studded adaptation of Miriam Toews’ novel of the identical identify. Led by Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, and Jesse Buckley, the awards contender tells the story of girls coping with the aftermath of sexual assault of their distant non secular neighborhood.
Oscar hopefuls “Saint Omer” (December 11) and “Corsage” (December 23) additionally hit theaters this month. The former is representing France within the International Feature class, and the latter Austria. From Alice Diop, Venice winner “Saint Omer” facilities on a novelist who attends the trial of a lady accused of infanticide. Marie Kreutzer’s “Corsage” sees “Phantom Thread’s” Vicky Krieps taking part in Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Kasi Lemmons brings Whitney Houston’s story to the display screen in “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” (December 23). “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker” actress Naomi Ackie stars within the biopic of the late singer.
This month will even see the discharge of a slew of docs from girls administrators together with Geeta Gandbhir and Sam Pollard’s “Lowndes County And The Road To Black Power” (December 2), a glance inside a historic battle for voting rights, and Rachel Lears’ “To the End” (December 9), a portrait of 4 girls combating the local weather disaster.
These are the ladies and nonbinary-centric, directed, and written movies set to debut in December. All descriptions are from press supplies except in any other case famous.
December 1
“Farha” – Written and Directed by Darin J. Sallam (Available on Netflix)
“Farha”
A 14-year-old woman (Karam Taher) in 1948 Palestine watches from a locked pantry as disaster consumes her house.
“Qala” – Written and Directed by Anvitaa Dutt (Available on Netflix)
“Qala”
Set in Forties Kolkata, “Qala” chronicles the sophisticated relationship between a younger singer (Tripti Dimri) and her mom (Swastika Mukherjee). Will all her sacrifices be well worth the success she will get?
“Catfish Christmas” – Directed by Victoria Rowell; Written by Dara Harper (Available on VOD)
When a younger girl (Leigh-Ann Rose) returns house for the vacations, her meddling sister units her up with a good-looking soccer participant on-line, however issues may not be as they seem.
“Mistletoe Ranch” — Directed by Rhiannon Bannenbeg; Written by Claire J. Harris (In Theaters)
Aimée (Mercy Cornwall ) is a younger skilled photographer who breaks away from her job to return to Mistletoe Ranch, for the primary time in seven years, to see what’s threatening the household’s Christmas festivities. There, she should face her ex-fiancé James (Jordi Webber) and a dangerous monetary state of affairs. Forced to work side-by-side to avoid wasting the ranch, latest bitterness subsides as previous emotions of affection emerge.
December 2
“The Eternal Daughter” – Written and Directed by Joanna Hogg (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
“The Eternal Daughter”
An artist and her aged mom (Tilda Swinton) confront long-buried secrets and techniques once they return to a former household house, now a resort haunted by its mysterious previous.
“Lowndes County And The Road To Black Power” (Documentary) – Directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Sam Pollard (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
“Lowndes County And The Road To Black Power”
The passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 represented not the fruits of the Civil Rights Movement, however the starting of a brand new, essential chapter. Nowhere was this subsequent battle higher epitomized than in Lowndes County, Alabama, whose inhabitants was 80 % Black however had zero Black voters. “Lowndes County And The Road To Black Power” tells the story of the native motion and younger Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) organizers who fought not only for voting rights, however for Black Power in Lowndes County.
“Christmas With the Campbells” – Directed by Clare Niederpruem; Written by Barbara Kymlicka, Dan Lagana, and Vince Vaughn (In Theaters and Available on AMC+)
The conventional vacation romance film will get somewhat extra enjoyable this 12 months, when Jesse (Brittany Snow) will get dumped proper earlier than the vacations by her boyfriend Shawn (Alex Moffat). His mother and father persuade her to nonetheless spend Christmas with them, and Shawn’s good-looking cousin, whereas Shawn is away.
“Framing Agnes” (Documentary) – Written by Morgan M. Page and Chase Joynt (In Theaters)
“Framing Agnes”
The pseudonymous Agnes was a pioneering transgender girl who participated in an notorious UCLA gender well being research within the Sixties. Her intelligent use of the research to achieve entry to gender-affirming healthcare led to her standing as a celebrated determine in trans historical past. Blending fiction and nonfiction, “Framing Agnes” makes use of Agnes’ story, together with others unearthed in long-shelved case information, to widen the body by which trans historical past is considered.
“The Quiet Epidemic” (Documentary) — Directed by Lindsay Keys and Winslow Crane-Murdoch (In Theaters)
After years of residing with mysterious signs, a younger woman from Brooklyn and a Duke University scientist are recognized with a illness stated to not exist: continual Lyme illness. Their seek for solutions lands them in the midst of a vicious medical debate. What begins as a affected person story evolves into an investigation into the historical past of Lyme illness, and a path of suppressed scientific analysis and buried paperwork reveals why ticks — and the illnesses they carry — have been allowed to quietly unfold across the globe.
“Food and Romance” – Directed by Annika Appelin; Written by Anna Fredriksson (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
A sudden change forces Karin (Marie Richardson) to re-evaluate her life. With the assistance of buddies, meals, and fervour she refuses to simply accept that life has an expiration date and takes the second likelihood she is given.
“Twisted” – Directed by Vibeke Muasya; Written by Vibeke Muasya and Nikolaj Scherfig (In Theaters)
“Twisted”
A younger girl (Madeleine Masson) seeks independence from her protecting mom (Karen Leigh Sharp), solely to be questioning her personal sanity when newfound buddies die and her mom suggests Hannah is the reason for their loss of life.
“Christmas in the Caribbean” – Written by Nathalie Cox and Philippe Martinez (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Rachel (Elizabeth Hurley) has her wedding ceremony goals poof into the late-December air when her groom high-tails it out of the church minutes earlier than he says “I do.” Her two bridesmaids drunkenly determine to not let her completely good honeymoon go to waste and the women jet off to the islands. Their very first night meal brings a good-looking restaurateur Allesandro to their desk, and sparks start to fly between him and Rachel.
“Return to Seoul” (“Retour à Séoul”) (In Theaters)
“Return to Seoul”
“Darby and the Dead” – Written by Becca Greene and Wenonah Wilms (Available on Hulu)
“Darby and the Dead”
Darby Harper (Riele Downs) can see useless individuals. She is introverted and shut off from her highschool friends, however all that modifications when Capri (Auli’i Cravalho), the Queen Bee of the college’s most unique clique, unexpectedly dies in a freak hair straightening accident. Capri pleads with Darby from the opposite facet to intervene and persuade Capri’s buddies to proceed together with her party as deliberate.
“Hotel for the Holidays” — Written by Maggie Lane and Margarita Matthews (Available on Freevee)
Georgia (Madelaine Petsch) is an formidable younger girl and the supervisor of the high-end resort, which attracts company of every kind, all seeking to come to the resort as a sanctuary in the course of the vacation season. Georgia’s work and private life develop into entangled when she is caught between the charming resort chef Luke (Mena Massoud) and the delicate ex-prince staying on the resort, Prince Raymond (Max Lloyd-Jones).
December 5
“Broadway Rising” (Documentary) – Directed by Amy Rice (In Theaters)
“Broadway Rising”
The feature-length documentary chronicles the Broadway neighborhood’s harrowing and galvanizing journey again to the stage following the COVID-19 shutdown. The movie turns the highlight on the neighborhood and highlights their tales of hysteria, doubt, perseverance, and finally triumph on the long-awaited opening evening, September 14, 2021.
December 6
“Deinfluencer” (Available on VOD)
A younger cheerleader and influencer (Marie Luciani-Grimaldi) is imprisoned and compelled to participate in social media challenges on the behest of her seemingly motivated kidnapper. She quickly finds that she’s combating for her life, in addition to the lives of different younger girls.
December 7
“Bed Rest” — Written and Directed by Lori Evans Taylor (Available on Tubi)
A pregnant girl (Melissa Barrera) on mattress relaxation begins to surprise if her home is haunted or it’s all in her head.
December 8
“Smyrna” (“Smyrni mou agapimeni”) — Written by Mimi Denissi and Martin Sherman (In Theaters for One Night)
A century after the catastrophe of Smyrna involves life a transferring drama about an aged Greek American girl whose household diary recounts the 1922 burning of the cosmopolitan metropolis of Smyrna the place Greeks, Turks, Jews, Armenians, and Levantines as soon as lived collectively harmoniously.
December 9
“Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical” (In Theaters; Available on Netflix December 25)
“Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical”
Matilda (Alisha Weir), a rare woman armed with a pointy thoughts and a vivid creativeness, dares to take a stand in opposition to her oppressive mother and father and head instructor to alter her story with miraculous outcomes.
“One Fine Morning” – Written and Directed by Mia Hansen-Løve (One Week Preview Engagement; Returns to Theaters January 27)
“One Fine Morning”
A younger single mom (Léa Seydoux) elevating an eight-year-old daughter struggles to deal with her father, who’s been recognized with a neurodegenerative illness. While attempting to safe an honest nursing house, she runs right into a married good friend they usually start an affair.
“To the End” (Documentary) – Directed by Rachel Lears; Written by Rachel Lears and Robin Blotnick (In Theaters)
“To the End”
Four distinctive younger girls — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, activist Varshini Prakash, local weather coverage author Rhiana Gunn-Wright, and political strategist Alexandra Rojas — grapple with new challenges of management and energy and work collectively to defend their era’s proper to a future. From road protests to the halls of Congress, these daring leaders struggle to shift the narrative round local weather, revealing the disaster as a possibility to construct a greater society.
“Hidden Letters” (Documentary) – Directed by Violet Du Feng and Qing Zhao (In Theaters; Available on VOD December 23)
“Hidden Letters”
Spanning between previous and current, “Hidden Letters” follows two millennial Chinese girls who’re related by their fascination with a secret language of sisterhood, and their want to guard it in opposition to a perpetually patriarchal society.
“The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari” (Documentary) – Directed by Rory Kennedy (In Theaters; Available on Netflix December 16)
A detailed examination of the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption of 2019 during which 22 lives had been misplaced, the movie viscerally recounts a day when abnormal individuals had been referred to as upon to do extraordinary issues, inserting this tragic occasion inside the bigger context of nature, resilience, and the facility of our shared humanity.
“Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?” (Documentary) – Directed by Anne McCabe (Available on Disney+)
“Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?”
Actress and singer Idina Menzel’s many triumphs embrace iconic Broadway roles in productions of “Rent” and “Wicked” in addition to the legendary voice of Elsa in Disney’s “Frozen.” Yet one dream purpose has evaded her grasp: to headline the Madison Square Garden. Filmmaker Anne McCabe follows Menzel on a nationwide tour as she juggles the challenges of being a working mother with a grueling journey schedule, all making ready to lastly understand her dream.
“Confession” – Directed by Dayna Hanson (In Theaters)
An formidable, up-and-coming district lawyer takes on the just lately dismissed small city case of a younger girl who has accused three males of sexual assault. As she places her profession on the road to uncover the reality, little does she know the online she is untangling results in a sobering story of homicide, lies, and deceit which will change the town’s historical past perpetually.
“Divorce Bait” – Written by Cristina Nava and Ruben Islas (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Alexis Laguna (Vannessa Vasquez) is fortunately re-married however when she finds out that her buddies are divorcing, and have begun up to now others inside their circle, she begins to spiral. Who can she belief? Alexis comes up with a plan. She declares that she and Marco (Justin Berti) are getting a divorce to see which of her buddies will attempt to steal her husband.
“Something From Tiffany’s” – Written by Tamara Chestna (Available on Prime Video)
Rachel (Zoey Deutch) and Gary (Ray Nicholson) are pleased sufficient however not fairly prepared for the massive dedication of marriage. Ethan (Kendrick Smith Sampson) and Vanessa (Shay Mitchell), the proper image, are nearly to make it official. When a easy mix-up of presents causes all of their paths to cross, it units off a collection of twists and sudden discoveries that lead them the place they’re really meant to be.
December 11
“Saint Omer” – Directed by Alice Diop; Written by Alice Diop, Amrita David, Marie N’Diaye, and Zoé Galeron (One-Night Screening at MoMA) 
“Saint Omer”Rama (Kayije Kagame), a literature professor and novelist, travels from Paris to Saint-Omer to watch and write concerning the trial of Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanda). Coly is a scholar and Senegalese immigrant accused of leaving her toddler daughter on a seaside to be swept away. Rama writes a modern-day retelling of the Greek Medea fable concerning the case. As she learns extra about Coly’s life and the isolation she skilled in France, Rama turns into more and more anxious about her personal life and being pregnant.
December 16
“The Super 8 Years” (Documentary) – Directed by Annie Ernaux (In Theaters; Available on VOD December 20)
“The Super 8 Years”
A pure extension of Annie Ernaux’s literary work in its kind and content material, “The Super 8 Years” exhibits the pastimes, life-style, and aspirations of a social class in post-Sixties France by the lens of the Ernaux household archive.
“The Apology” – Written and Directed by Alison Star Locke (In Theaters and Available on AMC+ and Shudder)
Twenty years after the disappearance of her daughter, a recovering alcoholic (Anna Gunn) is making ready to host her household’s Christmas celebration when her estranged ex-bother-in-law (Linus Roache) arrives unannounced, bearing nostalgic presents and a heavy secret.
“Children of the Mist” (Documentary) – Directed by Hà Lệ Diễm (In Theaters)
“Children of the Mist”
In a village hidden within the mist-shrouded Northwest Vietnamese mountains resides an indigenous Hmong neighborhood, house to 12-year-old Di, a part of the primary era of her individuals with entry to formal training. In this insular neighborhood, ladies should nonetheless endure the controversial however accepted custom of “bride kidnapping.” One evening, when the younger woman’s mother and father return house from celebrating the Lunar New Year, they’re shocked to search out their home is silent: Di has disappeared.
“Avatar: The Way of Water” – Written by Amanda Silver, James Cameron, and Rick Jaffa (In Theaters)
Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) lives along with his newfound household shaped on the planet of Pandora. Once a well-recognized risk returns to complete what was beforehand began, Jake should work with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and the military of the Na’vi race to guard their planet.
“The Almond and the Seahorse” – Written by Kaite O’Reilly and Celyn Jones (In Theaters)
What occurs once you’re ambushed by time? An archaeologist and an architect struggle to re-imagine a future after traumatic mind damage leaves them adrift from the individuals they love.
“Nelly & Nadine” (Documentary) (In Theaters)
“Nelly & Nadine”
“Nelly & Nadine” is the unlikely love story between two girls falling in love on Christmas Eve, 1944, within the Ravensbrück focus camp. Despite being separated within the final months of the struggle, Nelly and Nadine handle to later reunite and spend the remainder of their life collectively. For a few years their love story was saved a secret, even to a few of their closest household. Now Nelly’s grandchild, Sylvie, has determined to open Nelly and Nadine’s unseen private archives and uncover their outstanding story.
“High Heat” (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
An ex-KGB operative turned chef, Ana (Olga Kurylenko) is focused by the native mafia in successful on her new restaurant to gather on her husband’s (Don Johnson) debt. Now, Ana should depend upon her deadly abilities as she goes on a lethal rampage to take out the complete crime syndicate one-by-one to avoid wasting her restaurant and survive the evening on this action-packed crime thriller.
“Lullaby” (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
A brand new mom (Oona Chaplin) discovers a lullaby in an historical guide and regards the track as a blessing. But her world transforms right into a nightmare when the lullaby brings forth the traditional demon Lilith.
“Saving Grace” (In Theaters)
When Sarah (Kirsty McKenzie) takes a live-in caretaker job on a distant island to flee her darkish, violent previous, she discovers her demons have adopted her, turning her tranquil new life right into a terrifying nightmare.
“Private Lesson” — Written by Yasemin Erturan and Murat Disli (Available on Netflix)
Posing as a personal tutor, Azra (Bensu Soral) secretly coaches college students on reaching their objectives in life and love — however not and not using a few bumps within the street.
December 20
“A Not So Merry Christmas” (“Reviviendo la Navidad”) — Written by Angélica Gudiño and Juan Carlos Garzón (Available on Netflix)
A curse is positioned on grinchy Chuy, who wakes as much as discover he’s lived a full 12 months, however is doomed to recollect solely Christmas Day. Every 12 months. From now on.
December 21
“Wildcat” (Documentary) – Directed by Melissa Lesh and Trevor Frost (In Theaters; Available on Prime Video December 30)
Back from struggle in Afghanistan, a younger British soldier scuffling with despair and PTSD finds a second likelihood within the Amazon rainforest when he meets an American scientist, and collectively they foster an orphaned child ocelot.
December 23
“Women Talking” – Written and Directed by Sarah Polley (In Theaters)
“Women Talking”
Do nothing. Stay and struggle. Or depart. In 2010, the ladies of an remoted non secular neighborhood grapple with reconciling a brutal actuality with their religion.
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” – Directed by Kasi Lemmons (In Theaters)
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
Discovered by file govt Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci), Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie) rises from obscurity to worldwide fame within the Nineteen Eighties to develop into one of many best singers of her era.
“Corsage” – Written and Directed by Marie Kreutzer (In Theaters)
“Corsage”
Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Vicky Krieps) was idolized for her magnificence and famend for uplifting vogue tendencies. But in 1877, “Sisi” celebrates her fortieth birthday and should struggle to take care of her public picture by lacing her corset ever tighter. While Elisabeth’s function has been diminished in opposition to her needs to purely performative, her starvation for information and zest for all times makes her increasingly more stressed in Vienna.
“Joyride” – Written by Ailbhe Keogan (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
“Joyride” follows 12-year-old Mully (Charlie Reid), who, after fleeing his father, steals a taxi and is shocked to discover a girl, Joy (Olivia Colman), within the again seat with a child. Joy has determined to provide her youngster away to a good friend, and Mully wants far from his debt-ridden dad, who’s after the money Mully has with him. And so two lovable rogues — an advanced middle-aged mom and a troubled adolescent — go on a journey throughout Ireland, progressively discovering in one another the friendship, love, and studying they by no means knew they wanted.
December 30
“Alice Darling” – Directed by Mary Nighy; Written by Alanna Francis (In Theaters)
“Alice, Darling”
A younger girl (Anna Kendrick) trapped in an abusive relationship turns into the unwitting participant in an intervention staged by her two closest buddies.
“Turn Every Page – The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb” (Documentary) – Directed by Lizzie Gottlieb (In Theaters)
“Turn Every Page” explores the outstanding 50-year relationship between author Robert Caro and his longtime editor Robert Gottlieb. Now 86, Caro is working to finish the ultimate quantity of his masterwork, “The Years of Lyndon Johnson;” Gottlieb, 91, waits to edit it. With humor and perception, this distinctive double portrait reveals the work habits, peculiarities {and professional} joys of those two ferocious intellects.