Lion
PG
United Kingdom, Australia, 2016
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Garth Davis
Starring: Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, David Wenham
What's it about?
Five year old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of kilometers across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home. Based on an incredible true story Lion shows that love is the only truth a family needs.
[link title="'How we made Lion' - Director Garth Davis " url="node/108686"]
Volver
M
Spain, 2006
Genre: Drama
Language: Spanish
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Blanca Portillo, Antonio de la Torre
What's it about?
A surreal celebration of the resilience of three generations of Spanish women, from director Pedro Almodóvar. Sole, a young woman, visits her ancestral village to attend the funeral of Paula, her aunt. However, much to her horror, she encounters the ghost of her mother who died years ago who has returned to address issues left unresolved at the time of her passing. Volver is a celebration of female survival and generational relationships.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
PG
New Zealand, 2016
Genre: Comedy, Adventure
Language: English
Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison
What's it about?
Ricky (Julian Dennison) is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his grumpy foster uncle (Sam Neill) in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive in this hilarious and heart-felt adventure, that shows the power of love, kindness and family (no blood relation necessary).
[link title="Sundance: Taika Waititi returns with 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople'" url="node/56948"]
[link title="Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Interview with Sam Neill" url="node/65073"]
[link title="Hunt for the Wilderpeople review: Superbly written, beautifully performed and quite frankly hilarious" url="node/65807"]
Made in Dagenham
M
United Kingdom, 2010
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Nigel Cole
Starring: Miranda Richardson, Rupert Graves, Bob Hoskins, Sally Hawkins, Richard Schiff, Rosamund Pike, Jaime Winstone
What's it about?
Based on a true story, Made in Dagenham portrays a decisive moment in that decade of upheaval, when the fight for equal rights and pay was led – unexpectedly – by ordinary working-class women with one foot in the kitchen, one foot on the factory floor, and ears glued to the pop coming over the radio and telly from far-off London (19 kilometers and a world away). It‘s a vintage ―girl power tale.
[link title="Made in Dagenham Review" url="node/5222"]
Eternity
M
Belgium, France, 2016
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: Spanish, French
Director: Tran Anh Hung
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Berenice Bejo, Mélanie Laurent, Jeremie Renier, Pierre Deladonchamps, Arieh Worthalter
What's it about?
Valentine marries at the end of the 19th century, and love passes through her family from generation to generation. Eternity is a sensuous, impressionistic and poetic film told through the story of the women and relationships that defined a family across a century.
The Tree of Life
PG
USA, 2000
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Language: English
Director: Terrence Malick
Starring: Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Brad Pitt
What's it about?
Director Terrence Malick traces the evolution of an 11-year-old boy in the Midwest, from his first experiences of joy love and mercy (from his mother), to his introduction to the 'ways of the world' (from his father). Each parent contends for his allegiance, and the boy must reconcile their claims. His experience of the world, once a thing of glory, becomes a labyrinth as he seeks unselfish love. Malick examines family, faith, love and loss and how the natural world shapes us over our lifetime.
[link title="The Tree of Life Review: Malick ponders our place in the universe" url="node/5466"]
[link title="Why You Should Watch: The Tree of Life " url="node/15308"]
Their Finest
M
United Kingdom, 2017
Genre: Romance, War, Comedy, Drama
Language: English
Director: Lone Scherfig
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Richard E. Grant
What's it about?
1940, London, the Blitz; with the country’s morale at stake, Catrin (Gemma Arterton), an untried screenwriter, and a makeshift cast and crew, work under fire to make a film to lift the nation’s spirits - and inspire America to join the war. A witty, romantic and moving portrayal of a young woman finding her way, and her voice, in the mayhem of war... and the movies!
[link title="'Their Finest': A Relentlessly Charming WWII Romcom" url="node/85579"]
Tracks
M
Australia, 2013
Genre: Biography
Language: English
Director: John Curran
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Emma Booth, Adam Driver
What's it about?
In 1977, a young Australian woman named Robyn Davidson (Mia Wasikowska) set out from Alice Springs to trek across 2,700 kilometers of harsh desert of Western Australia to reach the ocean. Accompanied only by her dog and four camels, Davidson had no other purpose than to reach the ocean and find herself on a journey of self-discovery. An incredible true story about an enigmatic, strong, inspiring and bold woman.
[link title="Tracks: Mia Wasikowska and Robyn Davidson interview" url="node/1733"]
[link title="Tracks, a film that lets a woman thrive in the outback" url="node/14878"]
The Nightingale
G
France, China, 2014
Genre: Drama
Language: Chinese
Director: Philippe Muyl
Starring: Li Baotian, Li Xiaoran, Qin Hao, Xin Yi Yang
What's it about?
Zhigen, an old Chinese farmer, has lived alone in Beijing for over 20 years after moving to the city to allow his son Chongyi to attend university. He decides to make the long journey from Beijing to Yangshuo to honour the promise he made to his wife to bring back the bird that has been his only companion in the city. His daughter-in-law Qianying, a beautiful rich career woman, asks him to take along his granddaughter Renxing, an only child brought up in the lap of luxury. While grandfather and granddaughter set out on their journey - one travelling back in time, the other discovering her roots - Chongyi and Qianying, ponder the meaning of the life they have led in the sole pursuit of success and money. A heart-warming and uplifting 'road trip film' about connecting to your roots.
5 Flights Up
PG
USA, 2014
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Richard Loncraine
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Diane Keaton, Carrie Preston, Cynthia Nixon, Alysia Reiner, Josh Pais
What's it about?
A long-time married couple who've spent their lives together in the same New York apartment become overwhelmed by personal and real estate-related issues when they plan to move away. Over a hectic weekend they spend time pondering the sale of the apartment they've shared for more than 40 years. 5 Flights Up is a sweet and delightful film that looks at the bonds of love overtime (40 years if you want to be exact).
I Am Love
MA15+
Italy, 2009
Genre: Drama
Language: Italian, Russian
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Tilda Swinton
What's it about?
Over two decades ago, Emma left Russia to follow Tancredi Recchi, the man who had proposed to her. Now a member of a wealthy Milanese family, she is the respected mother of three. Although not unhappy, Emma feels confusedly unfulfilled. As cracks in the family façade appear, she is reawakened to the forces of passion and unconditional love. This gorgeous and decadent melodrama explores a woman and matriarch's pull between tradition and her own desires and needs.
[link title="I Am Love - Review" url="node/5052"]
[link title="Why You Should Watch: I Am Love" url="node/26245"]
[link title="Dinner and a Movie: I Am Love" url="node/38107"]
Browse the full Mother's Day Movie Collection at SBS On Demand.
And let's not forget films that a bit more heart-racing. Action film genre lovers, we've got you covered too, with these strong female-led action flicks.
What Happened to Monday
MA15+
Belgium, France, United Kingdom, 2017
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama
Language: English
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Marwan Kenzari, Christian Rubeck, Willem Dafoe, Glenn Close
What's it about?
In a world where families are limited to one child due to overpopulation, a set of identical septuplets must avoid being captured and killed by the government and the dangerous infighting all while investigating the disappearance of one of their own sisters. All 7 sisters are portrayed by the talented Noomi Rapace who not only brings each individual character to life, she is also incredible in all the action sequences and must be one of the top action stars currently in film.
The Villainess
MA15+
South Korea, 2017
Genre: Drama, Action
Language: Korean
Director: Jung Byung-gil
Starring: Kim Ok-bin, Shin Ha-kyun, Bang Sung-Joon, Kim Seo-hyung, Jo Eun-ji, Lee Seung-joo, Jeong Hae-gyun
What's it about?
Honed from childhood to be an elite assassin, Sook-hee embarks on a rampage of violence and revenge to finally earn her freedom and escape her past. This slick action film gives the watcher a first person view of the violence as we follow the female assassin through sword fights and motorbike chases, it's a slick and wildly entertaining ride.
