From female friendships to sporting stars and the liberating joy of dance, the brings together stories made by, and about, women.
Here are some of the highlights.
Hive
Sweeping three awards including the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival, Hive tells the story of Fahrije (Yllka Gashi), a woman whose husband went missing during the war in Kosovo. To support her family, she launches a small business but faces challenges in the patriarchal village where she lives. Kosovo-born director Blerta Basholli’s film is based on a true story: Fahrije Hoti’s husband went missing in a terrible massacre during the war; in her devastated village, she began making avjar (a traditional capsicum relish) and then learned to drive so she could make deliveries. Overcoming huge opposition from men and women in her community, she built a small business. The film focuses on those early days, and the resilience of women in the face of loss, and also entrenched beliefs about how they should live their lives. Basholi says of the film, “while the story is quite painful and sad, it is very empowering, it is about beginnings, change and how funny life can be in the most serious moments”.
Hive is streaming now at SBS On Demand. It will also air at 11:15pm March 8, on SBS World Movies.
Stream free On Demand
Hive
drama • 2021
drama • 2021
True Mothers
One of Japan’s most successful and respected filmmakers, director and writer Naomi Kawase (Sweet Bean, The Mourning Forest, Still the Water) makes beautiful, often poetic films about life, family, human nature and nature itself. True Mothers, adapted from a novel by Mizuki Tsujimura, tells the story of Satoko (Hiromi Nagasaku) and her husband Kiyo-kazu (Arata Iua), who adopt a baby boy. Six years later, a phone call disturbs their happy family life. A woman named Hikari says she wants her baby back – or she wants money. But is this really the mother of their young son? Flashbacks give us a glimpse of why being parents is so treasured by Satoko and her husband, and why their son’s mother gave him up for adoption. Motherhood – from many different angles – is also at the heart of several other titles in the collection, including Norwegian series , a story of single mothers who build an unlikely friendship after giving birth in hospital on the same day; and Spanish series , centred around biologist and photographer Manuela, whose painful early years sees her keep her adoptive family at arm’s length. She’s resolute that she will never be a mother herself, but when she gets to know seven-year-old Alba, who has her own family troubles, she realises that stepping up to a mother’s role can happen in many ways.
True Mothers is streaming now at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
True Mothers
drama • 2020
drama • 2020
Melk is streaming now at SBS on Demand.
Heridas is streaming now at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Heridas
series • drama • European Spanish
MA15+
series • drama • European Spanish
MA15+
Unleash
In a dim red light, a group of woman in dance costumes are see from behind. Several have their arms in the air. Credit: All Sourced Up
Unexpected realisations of a different kind unfold in Australian documentary Unleash, which follows 12 everyday women as they discover solace, fun and community through burlesque dance. With a range of ages, body shapes, cultural backgrounds and in some cases, big personal challenges, the women find freedom and friendship as they take part in a nine-week dance program, culminating in an on-stage performance. A little bit raunchy, often raw and always wonderful, this is a feel-good watch, from first steps to the stage.
Unleash airs on SBS VICELAND at 9.55pm on International Women’s Day (March 8). The documentary will also be streaming at SBS On Demand from 8 March.
Queen Bees
When a woman is at the centre of a film or TV series, it’s often a younger or mid-life woman, but Queen Bee features a brace of excellent older actresses, and takes us into a far less common setting for a film: a retirement community. After a fire means she needs to move out of her home while repairs are done, widow Helen (Ellen Burstyn) discovers the only realistic option is to spend the month in a nearby community called Pine Grove. Soon she’s caught up in the daily interactions of a trio of ‘Queen bees': resident bully Janet (Jane Curtin), Sally (the wonderful stage and screen actress Loretta Devine) and Margot (Ann-Margret). She also meets Dan (James Caan), another new resident. The film is a gently funny and sympathetic tale of dealing with change and new beginnings. And possibly new love, too.
Queen Bees is streaming now at SBS On Demand.
Making Waves: Extraordinary Women, One World Title
'Making Waves'. Credit: Feisty Dame Productions
You don’t need to know anything about the sport of waveski surfing to enjoy this documentary about an inspiring group of women from around the world who compete at the top level of this ocean sport. Among those dreaming of a world title are Australian’s Jackie Dillon, 65, and Melissa Farthing, 53, ranked 4 and 2 in the world. It’s a sport that spans decades: up against the pair is a 19-year-old from France who aims to offset her lack of experience with a tough training program, and a 35-year-old from England who has to train in freezing conditions. Their paths will bring all of them to the Waveski World Championships; can any of them claim the top spot? There’s no big prize money here, just the chance to put everything on the line and maybe, maybe, be crowned the world’s best.
Making Waves airs 9.25pm March 8 on SBS VICELAND. The documentary will also be streaming at SBS On Demand after it airs.
The Drover’s Wife
Brought to the screen by Goa-Gunggarri-Wakka Wakka actress Leah Purcell, this story of woman who has to run the family farm while her husband is away droving builds on Purcell’s 2016 play, which re-imagined a short story by bush poet Henry Lawson. Purcell not only wrote and directed the film but stars, too, in a powerhouse performance as Molly Johnson, the pregnant mother of four pushed to her limits trying to keep everything together, high in the Snowy Mountains.
The Drover’s Wife is streaming now at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
The Drover's Wife
drama • 2021
drama • 2021
Hear Leah Purcell talk about the making of The Drover's Wife and more when she talks to Karla Grant in an episode of Living Black.
Stream free On Demand
Leah Purcell - Screen Queen
episode • Living Black • Current Affairs • 26m
episode • Living Black • Current Affairs • 26m
Live Life
Life is great for 24-year-old aspiring journalist Nora – until it isn’t. Swedish series Live Life introduces us to Nora (Hanna Ardéhn) as she deals with a cancer diagnosis. Initially she hides the news from everyone, but she soon has to deal with the consequences of the bad news, and the chemotherapy that follows. Nora decides to grab hold of what she can and ‘live life’, supported by her friends Doris (Tina Pour Davoy) and Alina (Doreen Ndagire). The bonds of friendship between the three women is at the heart of this story, the directorial debut of Swedish actress Susanne Thorson. And in good news for those who’ve already discovered the series, season 2 is almost here, too.
Live Life season 1 is streaming now at SBS On Demand, with season 2 arriving on 28 March.
Stream free On Demand
Live Life
