Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
This whole thing started with a mission: support female led films on opening weekend whenever possible.* If you want to read more about why, you can read that post here.
When it comes to women in Hollywood, we get three identities: mom, daughter and romantic lead. Maybe it’s because it’s February. Maybe it’s the stereotype. But whatever it is, this is the month of women falling in love. I would love to see this kind of movie from a man’s perspective, but alas. This month, we’ll settle for Gilly’s attitude and a film on being single as our reprieve.
FEBRUARY 5TH:
All Roads Lead to Rome (Directed by Ella Lemhagen; Screenplay by Cindy Myers; Starring Sarah Jessica Parker)
Logline: Maggie is an uptight, single mother and college writing teacher from New York City. In an effort to reconnect with her troubled teen daughter Summer, she decides to embark on a journey to a Tuscan village where she frequented in her younger days. Upon arrival, Maggie runs into Luca, a handsome former lover who is still a bachelor and lives with his eighty-year-old mother, Carmen. Summer (missing her “bad boy” boyfriend in NYC) and Carmen (secretly planning a wedding against Luca’s wishes to Marcelino, her one true love in Rome) impulsively steal Luca’s car and race off to Rome. Maggie and Luca quickly pursue allowing the two mismatched couples to spend some time together and develop a new understanding of each other.
FEBRUARY 12TH:
How to be Single (Screenplay by Dana Fox and Abby Kohn; Starring Rebel Wilson and Allison Brie)
Logline: New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, and what Alice, Robin, Lucy, Meg, Tom and David all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love.
Tumbledown (Screenplay by Desiree Van Til; Starring Rebecca Hall)
Logline: A young woman struggles to move on with her life after the death of her husband, an acclaimed folk singer, when a brash New York writer forces her to confront her loss and the ambiguous circumstances of his death.
Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (Directed and Written by Emily Ting)
Logline: An attraction forms when a Chinese American girl visiting Hong Kong for the first time meets an American expat who shows her the way, but timing may not quite be on their side. A walk and talk romance set in the beautiful city of Hong Kong, the film asks the question - what happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time?
FEBRUARY 19TH:
The Great Gilly Hopkins (Starring Sophie Nelisse and Kathy Bates)
Logline: 12-year-old wisecracking Gilly Hopkins finds herself shuffled from foster home to foster home until she meets Maime Trotter.
FEBRUARY 26TH:
Marguerite and Julien (Directed and Written by Valérie Donzelli)
Logline: An aristocratic brother and sister embrace passion and hope as they flee from society. A story of desire, love and death beyond all morality.
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One additional note before I go: I am not able to tell you if these movies are objectively good or feminist friendly, as I have not seen all of them. The point of this list is to give you a place to start. The truth is that we don’t have a lot to choose from, but part of the battle is giving you the information. Information is power. However, shared knowledge is also key. So if you see one of these films or have seen an early screening, please let us know if you recommend it or not in the comments.
