International Women’s Day Movies | CinemaWorld
To the women who’ve seen us through it all—the messy phases, the heartbreaks, and the late-night laughter that keeps us grounded. This International Women’s Day, CinemaWorld is raising a glass to the friendships that sustain us, with six films that celebrate the unbreakable bond of female solidarity.
1. Breathing Underwater (2024)
After being examined in a hospital for mysterious bruises on her body, Emma moves into a women’s shelter seeking refuge. There, she meets a group of women, each fighting their own silent battles.
Co-written by partners Eric Lamhène and Rae Lyn Lee, the script was deeply shaped by the time they spent collecting research at a local shelter, drawing from the intimate stories and first-hand accounts of the women they met there. As the residents bond over shared trauma and burgeoning hope, the film paints a delicate portrait of the incredible strength found in female solidarity.
This inspirational and touching film was Luxembourg’s Official Submission for the 97th Academy Awards.
CinemaWorld also interviewed the film’s co-writer and cinematographer, Rae Lyn Lee. Watch the interview here.
2. Like Crazy (2016)
This Italian comedy-drama follows the wild escape of two women from a psychiatric clinic in Tuscany. Beatrice, a motor-mouthed, self-proclaimed countess, is the polar opposite of the new resident, Donatella—an introvert who keeps to herself.
As they race across the Italian countryside, dodging doctors and their pasts, the two women embark on a chaotic search for happiness. A vibrant film that embraces the craziness of womanhood, Like Crazy claimed the Best Film Award at the David di Donatello Awards in 2017.
The film stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti, the former who plays Carla Bernaschi in Human Capital, the 2013 collaboration between acclaimed Italian director Paolo Virzi and Valeria herself. Human Capital also won the Best Film at David di Donatello 2014.
3. Under the Fig Trees (2021)
In a dreamy, sun-drenched Tunisian orchard, several generations of women and men work side-by-side during the summer harvest. Under the shade of the trees, they flirt, argue, and exchange whispered secrets about their lives and loves.
Director Erige Sehiri beautifully captures a single day of work that reveals a deep, unspoken web of intimate female friendships, romance, and community. Under The Fig Trees was also Tunisia’s Official Submission for the 95th Academy Awards.
4. Sima’s Songs (2024)
Set in 1970s Afghanistan on the brink of war, Sima’s Songs follows lifelong friends Sima and Suraya—one a traditional Muslim singer, the other a wealthy communist activist. As their country descends into political chaos, these once-idealistic youths turned resistance leaders are forced to confront their clashing ideologies and social backgrounds.
Director Roya Sadat, the first woman director in post-Taliban Afghanistan, deftly weaves together the nation's traumatic history with the resilience of women, illuminating a shadowed past through the lens of Sima’s and Suraya’s enduring friendship.
5. Just Like a Woman (2012)
Renowned actresses Sienna Miller and Golshifteh Farahani star as Marilyn and Mona, two women whose lives are falling apart in Chicago.
Marilyn is a housewife who has just lost her job and discovered her husband’s infidelity, while Mona, an immigrant from North Africa, is fleeing the guilt of an accidental tragedy involving her mother-in-law. Leaving their broken lives behind, they embark on a journey to Santa Fe with a singular, spirited mission: to compete in a professional belly-dancing contest. Directed by Rachid Bouchareb, this soulful road movie explores how two women from vastly different cultures find common ground through their shared pursuit of a fresh start.
6. A River Within (2018)
Directed by popular South African actor and filmmaker Ivan Botha (Road To Your Heart, Forever), this action-adventure drama follows five women, each struggling to stay afloat in the currents of their own realities. Seeking an escape, they join an 'Adventure Therapy' expedition on the Orange River for a rafting trip through the unforgiving wilderness.
But the true test begins when their guide gets swept away by terrifying white-water rapids, leaving the women to their own defenses. Stranded in the mountains, they must overcome their vast differences and learn to rely on their individual strengths to survive. A River Within is a gripping tale of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and the power of true friendship.
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