Southampton Playhouse’s “Woman in Film” Screening Series Features Julia Roberts, Michelle Rodriguez, and Agnès Varda

The Southampton Playhouse just opened its doors, but the momentum is palpable: an Oscars community watch party, presales for special screenings, and now a Woman in Film Screening Series celebrating International Women’s Day. One thing is for sure: the Southampton Playhouse has come out to play as many films as possible, giving the community its beloved theater back and reviving the magic of cinema.

While streaming has taken over our lives, hilariously pointed out in O’Brien’s “CinemaStreams” sketch at the Oscars this past weekend, there is nothing like seeing a film on a massive screen, sipping your favorite drink, and plopping popcorn in your mouth while watching trailers of the films premiering in the coming months.

The Women in Film Screening Series kicks off on March 8 through March 12 at the Southampton Playhouse (43 Hill Street, Southampton, New York, 11968). Check out the screenings below, and see you at the theater!

Erin Brokovich 
25th Anniversary

Sunday, March 9 at 6:00PM
Wednesday, March 12 at 6:00PM

“There are no holes in my research!” Julia Roberts’ fiery, Oscar-winning turn as the real-life environmental activist who exposed the groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California solidified the actress as one of the greatest performers of her generation. Director Steven Soderbergh assembles a lively crowdpleaser out of Brokovich’s relentless efforts to get at the truth behind the ominous forces responsible for poisoning an entire community. However, it’s Roberts who gives the movie its constant ammunition. At the time of its release, The Hollywood Reporter’s Kirk Honeycutt wrote that she “seizes the film’s eponymous role with fire-in-her-eyes possessiveness and injects the character with all the energy and drive she can muster.” 

Girlfight 

Saturday, March 8 at 7:30PM – Followed by a book signing
Monday, March 10 at 7:30PM

*Special book signing event featuring new release Cinema Her Way with author Marya E. Gates in person

Before she was one of the central faces of The Fast and the Furious franchise, Michelle Rodriguez had her “star is born” moment as the breakout of Girlfight, writer-director Karyn Kusama’s quintessential boxing drama. Rodriguez stars as ostracized Brooklyn teen Diana Guzman, who finds an outlet for her troubled personal life at the gym. While learning to navigate the male-dominated ring, Diana battles her way through a series of amateur fights and personal conflicts as she takes control of her life. Kusama’s award-winning debut is a riveting coming-of-age thriller and a first-rate sports movie. Saturday’s screening will be accompanied by a conversation with The Future of Film Is Female founder Caryn Coleman and film critic Marya E. Gates, who will sign copies of her new book Cinema Her Way: Visionary Filmmakers in Their Own Words after the screening. 

The Gleaners and I

Saturday, March 8 at 2:00PM – Followed by a Q&A
Tuesday, March 11th at 6:30PM

*Preceded by a special conversation on the green-friendly future of the Hamptons from the Sustainable Southampton Green Advisory Committee

By the year 2000, the 72-year-old Agnes Varda was one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of her generation, with films such as Cleo From 5 to 7 and Le Bonheur among the major achievements of the French New Wave. It was no small miracle, then, that she managed to reinvent her appeal and introduce herself to new audiences with this intimate and informative essay film, shot on a small digital camera and imbued with her infectious personality. Varda sets out to explore the subculture of gleaners in rural France, mining inspiring stories from people living on the margins of society and gathering the leftover materials from the surrounding farmland. In the process, she uncovers a poignant metaphor for her desire to glean meaning from the world around her. 

Varda’s endearing DIY approach to her story established The Gleaners and I as a groundbreaking achievement in digital video, but it was also the first significant environmental documentary of the 21st century. Touching on timely issues around sustainability and food waste, the movie explores subjects essential to society through a deeply personal lens. The Saturday afternoon screening will be preceded by a conversation with the Sustainable Southampton Green Advisory Committee about new initiatives to make the Hamptons more green-friendly. 

To buy tickets, please visit southamptonplayhouse.com