August at The Globe Theatrette
Not that we planned it like this, but August seems to be the month of strong women at the Globe: We got determined mums fighting for their kids, clique-y seniorettes fighting each other, fierce Indian queens fighting for their country, Aretha Franklin fighting for autonomy and world fame, and a feisty Charlotte Rampling fighting for the right to live by her own rules. Enjoy!
New Zealand film THE JUSTICE OF BUNNY KING (M, 5 Aug) offers the double threat of Australian actress Essie Davis (The Babadook, Miss Fisher series) and our own Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit). Davis plays the titular Bunny King who, fresh out of jail, struggles to gain custody of her kids and to find a safe, warm home. The film highlights important issues of our time - social injustice, the housing crisis – yet is also “funny and deeply lovable” (Graeme Tuckett, stuff.co.nz). This should be one to be proud of.
“Mean Girls at an old folks’ home” could be the elevator pitch for QUEEN BEES (PG, 12 Aug), a cheeky comedy starring Ellen Burstyn as the reluctant newbie at a retirement home with a rather fierce hacking order. Bullied by the local gang of extremely territorial Queen Bees, Helen (Burstyn) decides to fight back and claim her rightful place amongst the bingo games and aquarobics.
From suburban QUEEN BEES to a real-life WARRIOR QUEEN (M, 5 Aug): Called “the Joan of Arc of India” by one biographer, yet somehow much less well-known, Rani Lakshmibai was the queen of Jhansi and a fearless soldier who led her army against the British East India Company in 1857. Co-starring Rupert Everett and Derek Jacobi, this is the true story of one of the most kick-ass young women in history you’ve never heard of. Let’s change that!
You probably have heard of the protagonist of RESPECT (TBC, 19 August), a certain soul singer named Aretha Franklin. Actress and singer Jennifer Hudson seems like the perfect candidate to take on the role of Aretha, and we can’t wait to hear her belt out the Queen of Soul’s iconic songs. Unlike recent concert documentary Amazing Grace, which concentrated on one specific performance, this epic biopic spans decades of Aretha’s life from her childhood at a gospel choir to worldwide fame. It’ll be grand!
We haven’t seen Charlotte Rampling on the big screen for a while, so we’re excited about JUNIPER (M, 26 August): Sporting a sardonic wit and an unapologetic love of gin (hence the title), Rampling plays strong-willed but physically frail Ruth who moves in with her reluctant teenage grandson Sam who is tasked with looking after her. Together, they must face the facts of family life, alcoholism, mortality – and love.
