Empire film critic Helen O’Hara and broadcaster Wendy Lloyd take a deep dive into Greta Gerwig’s Little Women in this uplifting episode celebrating the joys of the award-winning classic.

Along with host Anna Smith, they take a look at the themes, the performances and the enduring feminist message, examining Gerwig’s clever use of structure and time.

The critics also review the new thriller Ema, Michelle Obama doc Becoming, the Netflix film Carrie Pilby and the Margot Robbie starrer Birds of Prey, all available to watch now at home.

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Inspired by real-life stories, The Assistant is a day in the life of a young woman (Julia Garner) who’s working for a powerful film producer. Writer-director Kitty Green joins host Anna Smith for an in-depth interview about power dynamics in the workplace, and making this film in the wake of the Weinstein scandal. Kitty also offers advice for filmmakers who are starting out.

Observer film critic Simran Hans returns to Girls On Film to give her views on The Assistant, and recommends two more films for home viewing: the foodie documentary Diana Kennedy – Nothing Fancy and a vintage rom com gem, Crossing Delancey.

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Director Carol Morley joins Anna Smith to talk about her #FridayFilmClub, the weekly watch party uniting film fans during lockdown. She shares heartwarming stories about the way it’s brought cinema lovers together, and explains how gender and diversity inform her film choices. She also gives an update on her upcoming films and tells how she discovered a young Florence Pugh while casting The Falling, revealing details of the schoolgirl’s incredible audition.

Three listeners who responded to our #LittleWomenBookClub invitation join Anna from their homes across the world. From the Netherlands, mother and daughter Lauri and Julia explain how the book has been passed down the generations in their family, and in the UK, 13-year-old Hannah gives her verdict after picking up the book for the first time.

Finally, Total Film magazine’s Editor-In-Chief, Jane Crowther, returns to Girls On Film to review three new digital releases: female spy thriller The Rhythm Section starring Blake Lively, erotic psychodrama Who You Think I Am starring Juliette Binoche, and buddy comedy Like A Boss, starring Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek.

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Film critic Hanna Flint is joined by her mother, former MP Caroline Flint, to discuss Little Women – the book and the film.

The pair chat with host Anna Smith about their personal relationship with Louisa May Alcott’s novel and Greta Gerwig’s adaptation, and the story’s relevance to modern day feminism.

In our latest Isolation Pod, Hanna and Caroline also share their recommendations for home viewing. They reveal which films they have watched the most times, and review two new digital releases: Love Wedding Repeat and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Anna also interviews Hollie Fraser, the founder of Books on the Underground, who shares her stories about working with Emma Watson.

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Actors Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells join Anna Smith for a lively discussion about films, friendship, nostalgia, and the notion of ‘strong women’.

The pair take us behind the scenes in their TV series Doll & Em, and talk about Good Posture, Dolly’s directorial debut starring Emily as a reclusive writer living in New York. Dolly also discusses Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Emily reveals the connection between The Newsroom and Doll & Em.

The second of Girls On Film’s special ‘Isolation Pods’, this episode also features Doll and Em’s recommendations for home viewing, from family favourites to edgy new gems on streaming.

In the first of a series of ‘Isolation Pods’ recorded online in our virtual studio, our host Anna Smith is joined by pioneering Saudi director Haifaa al-Mansour and Managing Director of Modern Films Eve Gabereau for a special discussion of al-Mansour’s new feature The Perfect Candidate – set for digital release this Friday 27 March.

We’re also joined by British-Bahraini trumpet player and composer Yazz Ahmed, who dedicated an original piece to al-Mansour, to discuss the power of music in the feature.

Our guest critic is Linda Marric, writer and broadcaster, regular contributor to The Jewish Chronicle, and reviews editor for HeyUGuys. Linda, Eve and Anna review new digital releases The Truth and Vivarium, as well as discussing the newly adapted BFI Flare LGBTIQ+ film festival.

The panel also discuss the challenges and adaptations facing the film industry, and how you can continue to support it from your sofa through these difficult times. Plus, our guests share their isolation movie recommendations to provide comfort, entertainment, and community through this unsettling period.

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An International Women’s Day special sees host Anna Smith joined by BAFTA-winning Misbehaviour director Philippa Lowthorpe to discuss Misbehaviour, the new film about the infamous Women’s Liberation protests at the 1970 Miss World Competition.

Anna also welcomes Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis), the Oscar-nominated director of the Marie Curie biopic Radioactive, and actress Kerry Fox (Shallow Grave), currently in Little Joe. Completing the panel is Contributing Editor of Screen International, Wendy Mitchell, to discuss the films Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Military Wives.

All this plus surprise special guests in the audience.

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Director Marielle Heller joins host Anna Smith for a special mini-episode devoted to her new film, A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood, starring Matthew Rhys and Tom Hanks.

Heller reveals the story behind casting Hanks as legendary children’s TV presenter Fred Rogers, and discusses the need for compassionate filmmaking. She also talks about following The Diary Of A Teenage Girl with the Oscar-winning Can You Ever Forgive Me? – and explains why Oscar voters need to change their views on directing. 

Director Sarah Gavron (Suffragette) joins Anna Smith on stage at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2020 for an inspiring conversation about female film collaborations and her gritty new teen movie, Rocks. Her associate director, Anu Henriques, reveals a new initiative supporting industry newcomers, and top Dutch film critics Dana Linssen and Lauren Murphy review three new releases with Anna.

First up is Bombshell, starring Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman. How does it represent the Time’s Up cause, and would it have been different directed by a woman?

Next up is The Long Walk, an atmospheric genre film from Mattie Do, the first female filmmaker to come from Laos. Finally, the critics dodge spoilers while dissecting the cult hit Parasite from director Bong Joon Ho.

All this plus a stimulating discussion about the lack of female directors in contention at Oscars 2020… No wonder the audience had plenty of questions and comments!

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