Tag Archives: women directors

“I’m really confident. I had a perfect childhood. I had perfect parents and grandparents. They just love me, simply. So I have no fears.” — Mélanie Laurent

Posted on February 21, 2026 by sheila

Today is the birthday of French actress and director Mélanie Laurent. Probably most American audiences (and international audiences, outside of France) were first introduced to the extraordinary Mélanie Laurent in her perfoƒrmance as the revolutionary Shoshanna in Inglourious Basterds. Laurent … Continue reading →

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January 2026 Viewing Diary

Posted on February 9, 2026 by sheila

The Sound of Falling (2026; d. Mascha Schilinski) It took me a couple of days to shake off the effect of The Sound of Falling. I saw it at a screening room on 29th Street. I knew very little about … Continue reading →

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“I don’t need to ‘tell’ the story…The story is being told from itself by following the different moments in different locations.” — Mia Hansen-Løve

Posted on February 5, 2026 by sheila

One of my favorite contemporary film-makers is Mia Hansen-Løve. Hansen-Løve is interested in how people listen, how people walk and move through space from point A to point B, she’s interested in the locations where they live, the conversations they … Continue reading →

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“Often I pretended to a cameraman to know less than I did. That way I got more cooperation.” — Ida Lupino

Posted on February 4, 2026 by sheila

It’s the birthday of actress and director Ida Lupino. To give some perspective on her unlikely and inspiring trajectory: she was born into a theatre family dynasty. By the time she was 14, 15, she was playing adult roles. She … Continue reading →

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Review: Sound of Falling (2026)

Posted on January 16, 2026 by sheila

One of the best films of the year. lol Years are long, but don’t let this one slip by. I reviewed for Ebert.

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NYFCC essay: “My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow”

Posted on January 15, 2026 by sheila

All of the essays included in the program for the New York Film Circle Critics awards dinner, held a week ago on January 6, are now online. I wrote on the film we voted as the winner of Best Non-Fiction … Continue reading →

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December 2025 Viewing Diary

Posted on January 15, 2026 by sheila

Marty Supreme (2025; d. Joss Safdie) I have mixed feelings on this, especially the last scene, which is corny as hell. Not as corny as the last scene in Lady Bird, but in its way even more obnoxious. Robert Towne … Continue reading →

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NYFCC: Best Non-Fiction Film: My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow

Posted on January 7, 2026 by sheila

This year, the NYFCC awarded Julia Loktev’s five-and-a-half-hour documentary My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow Best Documentary. There were many good docs this year, it was a very strong year, but this one was undeniable. For … Continue reading →

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“I had not directed anything before. In fact I hadn’t told anyone to do anything before.” — Dorothy Arzner

Posted on January 3, 2026 by sheila

“I’d rather do a picture for a small company and have my own way than a B picture for Paramount.” — Dorothy Arzner It’s her birthday today. Here’s an excellent interview with her from 1974. I have written quite a … Continue reading →

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“The best thing that can come with success is the knowledge that it is nothing to long for.” — Liv Ullmann

Posted on December 16, 2025 by sheila

It’s her birthday today. In 2018 I was assigned by the Criterion Collection to write tributes to four of Ingmar Bergman’s actresses: Liv Ullmann, Bibi Andersson, (Liv and Bibi were paired together in one video – Bergman saw them as … Continue reading →

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