Diva UK – September 2019

KAT HALSTEAD

is a writer and

movie buff with

a penchant for

female-led flicks.

@kathalstead

56 SEPTEMBER 2019

BY KAT HALSTEAD

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ETF

LIX

ANIARA

Directed by Pella Kagerman and Hugo Lilja

Drugs, orgies, suicide cults... bowling – it turns out there’s not

much you won’t resort to when your spaceship is knocked off

course and you find yourself on a slow, steady drift into exis-

tential crisis. That’s where we find the passengers of Aniara,

on a “routine” trip to Mars from an environmentally ravaged

earth. Adapted from an epic sci-fi poem, the Swedish fantasy

drama is huge in scope, but it’s the human story at the centre

that maintains its gravitational pull. As those onboard shift

between placated apathy, societal collapse and brutal police

state, the sapphic romance between ship employee MR

(Emelie Jonsson) and pilot Isagel (Bianca Cruzeiro) is intimate

and beautifully portrayed – a strong (if incredibly bleak)

reminder that human connection can provide more hope

than any rescue mission in the universe.

In cinemas and on demand 30 August

Pick of the Month

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HUSTLERS

Directed by Lorene Scafaria

With a cast like this, there’s no doubt these

women are gonna kick ass and take names

• there’s Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez,
  Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart
  (going “Dark Betty”), plus Cardi B and
  Lizzo in their debut movie roles. They’re
  a force to be reckoned with, as a group
  of strip club employees realise nice girls
  finish last and decide to turn the tables on
  their wealthy Wall Street clients. They’re
  taking their stripper shoes and stamping
  on the patriarchy, locking “the man” in a
  knee hook as they go. Inspired by a viral
  New York Magazine article, the movie is
  as much about female camaraderie as it is
  stripping or crime. “It’s like robbing a bank,
  except we get the keys,” says J-Lo. “Are you
  in?” Leaving our morals at the door, we
  could be convinced...
  In cinemas 13 September

THE POLITICIAN

Created by Ryan Murphy

Six-time Emmy-winner Ryan Murphy has always flown the flag for the misfits, the

dreamers, the divas, and, of course, our LGBTQI community. He’s taken us from

the high school halls of Glee to the sorority house of Scream Queens, from the

movie sets of Feud: Bette And Joan to the underground ballrooms of Pose – now

he’s back to school with dark comedy The Politician. Welcome to San Sebastian

High School, where rich kid Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) is on a mission to become

President of the United States – via Student Body President, that is. Like most

politicians, he’ll have to crush his rivals – including Rahne Jones as the school’s

LGBTQI rights activist – along the way. With an impressive cast that also includes

Jessica Lange and Gwyneth Paltrow, this show definitely gets our vote.

Streaming on Netflix from 27 September

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