15+ Movies to Watch for Women’s History Month
WOC COMMUNITY PICKS
We’re celebrating Women’s History Month with our list of movies to watch, celebrating women of color. From biopics, documentaries and stories about our lived experiences, we’re sharing our stories and voices.
1. Hidden Figures
Directed by Theodore Melfi
From IMDb:
“The story of a team of female African American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.”
2. He Named Me Malala
Directed by Davis Guggenheim
From IMDb:
“A look at the events leading up to the Taliban's attack on Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai for speaking out on girls’ education, followed by the aftermath, including her speech to the United Nations.”
3. Clemency
Directed by Chinonye Chukwu
From IMDb:
“Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams. As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill.”
4. Kim Ji Young: Born 1982
Directed by Kim Do-Young
From IMDb:
“Set in South Korea, a new mother reflects on the sexism she experiences throughout her life and in Korean society, while struggling with the challenges of PPD and giving up her career to be a stay-at-home mother.”
5. Killers of the Flower Moon
Directed by Martin Scorsese
From IMDb:
“When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one—until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.”
6. Language Lessons
Directed by Natalie Morales
From IMDb:
“A Spanish teacher and her student develop an unexpected friendship.”
7. Harriet (2019)
Directed by Kasi Lemmons
From IMDb:
“The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.”
8. The Swimmers (2022)
Directed by Sally El Hosaini
From IMDb:
“From war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics, two young sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use.”
9. Past Lives
Directed by Celine Song
From IMDb:
“In Korea, Na Young, a girl, and Hae Sung, a boy, are school mates and good friends. They often walk back home together after school. Na Young moves to Canada and then to New York with her parents. Hae Sung continues living in Korea, studies engineering, does brief military service, and takes a job. Both keep in touch periodically. Meanwhile in New York, Na has changed her name to Nora, become a playwright, and is happily married to Arthur, an American. Hae visits Nora in New York and spends some time with her and Arthur. What has the future in store for Nora and Hae in their relationship?”
10. Akeelah and the Bee
Directed by Doug Atchison
From IMDb:
“Eleven-year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with a local gang. She’s smart, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Akeelah participates in a spelling bee to avoid detention. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from an English professor, Dr. Larabee, for the more prestigious regional bee. As the possibility of reaching the Scripps National Spelling Bee looms, Akeelah could provide her community with someone to rally around and be proud of. If only she can overcome her insecurities and get past Dr. Larabee's demons and a field of her more experienced fellow spellers.”
11. Skater Girl
Directed by Manjari Makijany
From IMDb:
“Set in a remote village in India, the film follows Prerna, a local teen living a life bound by tradition and duty to her parents. But when London-bred advertising executive Jessica arrives, Prerna and the other children are introduced to an exciting new adventure thanks to Jessica and her old friend who cruises into town on a skateboard. The kids become infatuated with the sport. Determined to encourage their newfound passion, Jessica sets out to build them their own skatepark, leaving Prerna with a difficult choice: conform to society's expectations of her or live out her dream of competing in the National Skateboarding Championships.”
12. Little Forest
Directed by Soon-rye Yim
From IMDb:
“A young woman, after failing an exam, returns to her traditional village in Korea from the city. When she comes back, her mother has already eloped with someone; so, she stays alone in the house. Her two friends accompany her to make her feel comfortable. She makes use of her mother’s garden, which is known as the Little Forest. She then uncovers her mother's secret of cooking, and she starts living there during all the seasons of the year while harvesting the Little Forest.”
13. Roma
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
From IMDb:
“A year in the life of a middle-class family’s maid in Mexico City in the early 1970s.”
14. Whale Rider
Directed by Niki Caro
From IMDb:
“Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.”
15. Bones of Crows
Directed by Marie Clements
From IMDb:
“Cree code talker Aline Spears survives her traumatic past in Canada’s residential school system to continue her family’s generational fight against systemic starvation, racism, and sexual abuse.”
16. The Unknown Country
Directed by Morrisa Maltz
From IMDb:
“An unexpected invitation rushes a grieving young woman into a lonely road trip through the American Midwest towards the border between Texas and Mexico.”
17. War Room
Directed by Alex Kendrick
From IMDb:
“A seemingly perfect family looks to fix their problems with the help of Miss Clara, an older, wiser woman.”
Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)® receives no commissions through our movie list.
