Hard to believe that November is here and it is another month where there are some terrific looking movies on the horizon.
The Closer We Get
No matter what genre you are into there's plenty to look forward to... and there are some exciting independent films just around the corner.
We take a look at some of the indie films that we cannot wait to see and some that you cannot afford to miss.
- The Closer We Get - released 6th November
November is set to be a great month if you are a fan of documentaries and the Closer We Get is one that is not to be miss.
The Closer We Get marks the return of Karen Guthrie to the director's chair for her fourth film in this genre. Guthrie has already brought us movies such as Jaywick Escapes, Living with the Tudors, and Bata-ville: We Are Not Afraid of the Future, but this is set to be her most personal film to date.
The Closer We Get is an insightful and incredibly moving documentation of a Scottish family with a huge secret; their father moved to Africa for 10 years leaving them all behind, to one-day return with an African son which he expects to be adopted by all other family members.
Left scarred and unable to approach him due to his patriarchal and intimidating facade, his children fear asking him why. Their mother has a serious stroke and the daughter, Karen Guthrie, who is also director of the film, is left to care for her and find out the truth behind her father's double life.
The Closer We Get has already played extensively on the festival circuit and has been winning over audiences and critics, as well as picking up awards and nominations. The movie was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and won Best International Documentary at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
The movie promises to be a moving, funny, and personal film that is unlike any other documentary that we will see before the end of the year. It is great to see Karen Guthrie back in the director's chair.
- Tangerine - released 13th November
Tangerine is another film that has played well on the festival circuit this year, after making its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of 2015.
Tangerine is the latest offering from filmmaker Sean Baker and is his first feature since Starlet back in 2012. As well as being in the director's chair, Baker has also teamed up with Chris Bergoch to pen the film's screenplay.
The movie is set to introduce us to two new stars, Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor who take on the central roles of Sin-Dee Rella and Alexandra. James Ransone, Mickey O'Hagan and Karren Karagulian make up the exciting and talented cast list.
It's Christmas Eve in Tinseltown and Sin-Dee (Rodriguez) is back on the block. Upon hearing that her pimp boyfriend (James Ransone) hasn't been faithful during the 28 days she was locked up, the working girl and her best friend, Alexandra (Taylor), embark on a mission to get to the bottom of the scandalous rumour.
Their rip-roaring odyssey leads them through various subcultures of Los Angeles, including an Armenian family dealing with their own repercussions of infidelity.
If you are a fan of independent film, Tangerine looks set to be one of the movies not to miss this November and will be a welcome break from the blockbusters that will be coming our way in the next few weeks.
- The Hallow - released 13th November
2015 has been another disappointing year when it comes to horror movies with none that have had me on the edge of my seat. However, this November The Hallow is set to hit the big screen.
The Hallow sees Corin Hardy make the leap into features as this will mark is directorial debut. Hardy is no stranger to the director's chair with short films Watchtower and In the Back already under his belt.
As well as being in the director's chair, The Hallow will also show off his writing skills as he has penned the film's screenplay, alongside Felipe Marino. Joseph Mawle takes on the central role of Adam Hitchens and is joined on the cast by Bojana Novakovic, Michael McElhatton, and Michael Smiley.
The Hallow was another movie that premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in January and it has been faring well with the critics ever since.
Deep within the darkness of secluded forest land in rural Ireland dwells an ancient evil. Feared by the nearby superstitious villagers as cursed creatures who prey upon the lost, their secrets have been kept from civilization and remain on their hallowed ground.
But when a conservationist from London moves in with his wife and infant child in order to survey the land for future construction, his actions unwittingly disturb the horde of demonic forces. Alone in a remote wilderness, he must now ensure his family's survival from their relentless attacks.
- The Dressmaker - released 20th November
We are big fans of Kate Winslet here at FemaleFirst and 2015 has already been a very busy year for the Oscar winner. This November she is back with The Dressmaker.
The Dressmaker is a big screen adaptation of the novel of the same name Rosalie Ham and sees Jocelyn Moorhouse back in the director's chair. This is the fifth feature of Moorhouse's career and the first since A Thousand Acres back in 1997.
Winslet is set to take on the title role and is joined on the cast list by Liam Hemsworth, Hugo Weaving, Sarah Snook, and Judy Davis.
Tilly Dunnage (Winslet), a beautiful and talented misfit, after many years working as a dressmaker in exclusive Parisian fashion houses, returns home to the tiny middle-of-nowhere town of Dungatar to right the wrongs of the past.
Not only does she reconcile with her ailing, eccentric mother Molly (Davis) and unexpectedly falls in love with the pure-hearted Teddy (Hemsworth), but armed with her sewing machine and incredible sense of style, she transforms the women of the town and in so doing gets sweet revenge on those who did her wrong.
We have been treated to some great Australian features over the years, and The Dressmaker is the latest and one that is not to miss. It looks set to be another great central performance from Winslet.
- Carol - released 27th November
Carol has been one of the most talked about movies on the festival circuit and is one of the films that is being tipped to be a major Oscar contender at the beginning of next year.
Carol is a big screen adaptation of the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith and has been adapted by Phyllis Nagy. The movie also marks the return of Todd Haynes to the director's chair.
This is the first feature film for Haynes since I'm Not There and sees him team up with Oscar winning actress Cate Blanchett for the second time.
Blanchett takes on the central role of Carol as she works with Rooney Mara for the first time. Blanchett and Mara take on the central roles and are joined on the cast list by Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler, and Cory Michael Smith.
A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Mara) is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens.
While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Chandler) threatens her competence as a mother when Carol's involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Paulson) comes to light. As Carol leaves the comfort of home to travel with Therese, an internal journey of self-discovery coincides with her new sense of space.
Blanchett and Mara look set to be in the Oscar race for their performances... could Blanchett be on course for her second Best Actress Oscar? This category really does look like it is going to be an exciting category.
