By Milly McKinnish

2019 was a historic year for female filmmakers. 10.6 percent of the 100 highest grossing films this year were directed by women, according to PBS. While this doesn’t seem like a lot, it was growth from 2018, where women-directed films only made up 4.5 percent of the year’s top films.

However, awards shows haven’t reflected this change in the industry.

Of course, that isn’t much of a surprise. Over nearly a century, only five women have been nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards. It wasn’t until 2010 that a woman actually won the prestigious award––Katheryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker.” Only one other woman has been nominated since Bigelow’s win. And that was in 2018.
This week, while everyone else is catching up on the male-heavy Oscar nominees, opt for these five female-directed films (that the Academy just happened to overlook) instead.

If you’re in the mood for love…

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”

(“Portrait de la jeune fille en feu”) dir. Céline Sciamma

From its opening scene, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is a work of art.

A young painter named Marianne is given a simple task: paint the portrait of an aristocrat, Héloïse. The thing is, Héloïse refuses to have her portrait painted, as it will be sent to her arranged husband. Once he sees the portrait and officially approves of their marriage, she will move to Milan to be with him. This presents a challenge to Marianne––she must spend the day with Héloïse and paint her from memory at night. Things get complicated though, as Marianne and Héloïse start to fall for one another.

After you’re done watching the movie, check out actress Adèle Haenel’s revolutionary #MeToo interview.

Where to watch: “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is currently showing at the Ritz Five.

If you need a good laugh…

“Booksmart”

dir. Olivia Wilde

This movie has everything: yacht parties, laced strawberries, and a serial killer moonlighting as a pizza delivery driver. Sounds like the night before your high school graduation, right?

All throughout high school, Molly and Amy, the heroines of “Booksmart,” focused on one thing: school. When they find out that everyone else in their school also got into prestigious universities and partied, too (“I’m incredible at handjobs, but I also got a 1560 on the SATs” is one of the best lines in the movie), Molly and Amy’s world is shattered. They then make a pact to make up for four years of lost time in just one night.

Where to watch: “Booksmart” is available on Hulu.

If you want to cry…

“The Farewell”

dir. Lulu Wang

“The Farewell” revolves around one of director Lulu Wang’s family lies.

Awkwafina stars as Billi Wang, a writer who has to return to China after her grandmother, Nai Nai, is diagnosed with lung cancer. Here’s the catch: Nai Nai doesn’t know that––according to the doctors––she only has three months to live. The Wangs decide to fake a wedding so that they can have one last family celebration with Nai Nai.

Fun fact: Nai Nai is still alive today, six years after her terminal diagnosis. However, she is oblivious to the fact that she has cancer.

Where to watch: “The Farewell” is available to rent on Amazon for $0.99.

If you can’t get enough of J. Lo…

“Hustlers”

dir. Lorene Scafaria

“Hustlers” is So. Much. Fun.

Based on a true story, the heart of “Hustlers” is a group of strippers who have found a family with each other. After the 2008 recession, everything has changed, seemingly overnight. The strippers find themselves out of a job. Their solution? Meet their former Wall Street clients at high-end bars, drug the men, and then steal their money by charging their credit cards in the meantime.

With a cast that ranges from Cardi B to Lizzo to Betty from “Riverdale,” “Hustlers” has its fair share of laugh-out-loud and heartwarming moments. It also doesn’t hurt that the soundtrack slaps (if you’re on the fence about watching this movie, check out the Usher scene, which is pure movie magic).
Where to watch: “Hustlers” is available to rent on YouTube for $4.99.

If you loved “Lady Bird”…

“Little Women”

dir. Greta Gerwig

If you watch one Oscar nominee, let it be this one.

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel, “Little Women” follows four sisters each with their own interests and aspirations as they navigate life from childhood to adulthood during the Civil War. Please, don’t let the long dresses and 19th-century setting turn you away––this isn’t your average period piece. “Little Women,” deeply inspired by Alcott and Gerwig’s personal lives, is a celebration of female ambition and sisterhood.

Plus, afterward, you can take a multitude of quizzes to see which March sister you are. (I’m Amy, in case you’re wondering.)

Where to watch: “Little Women” is currently showing at the Roxy Theater and the AMC Dine-in Fashion District.

I’m looking forward to more films directed by women in 2020, like “Emma” and “Promising Young Woman,” but hopefully they’ll be recognized by the Academy and I won’t have to write this article again next year.

Your favorite wasn’t included in this list? Share it with us on Instagram @refine.magazine!

Skip the Oscars and Watch These Five Female Directed Films Instead