Film Festivals have been uplifting marginalized voices more and more recently. This year’s Boston Underground Film Festival lineup was packed full of dark comedies written, directed, and or fronted by talented women from all over the world. Women are often caught in a balancing act—upholding society’s sexist standards to be seen as desirable or respected, while also fighting for basic autonomy and rights. It’s a ridiculous contradiction, making comedy a perfectly apt genre to explore the complexities and ironies of women’s experiences. Here are some highlights from BUFF that put a fun twist on feminist cinema.
Sister Midnight (dir. Karan Kandhari)
The past year was loaded with films examining traditional relationship roles. Sister Midnight touches on this issue with more levity than The Devil’s Bath, à la Nightbitch. Uma (Radhika Apte) is a newlywed struggling to adapt to both her bumbling and inattentive husband and their new home in Mumbai. The film’s charm lies in its cartoonish elements, especially Apte’s performance and old school CGI. Overall, the film varies in tone from the more comedic aspects to long, quiet shots that emphasize Uma’s isolation in a society that has very specific expectations for her.
The Ugly Stepsister (dir. Emilie Blichfeldt)
Emilie Blichfeldt’s debut feature is a horror comedy in the way that dark satire can be considered “funny.” It’s a grim retelling of Cinderella with the focus on one of the stepsisters, Elvira. Trapped by poverty, Elvira’s mother is determined to marry her daughter off to a rich suitor at the prince’s ball. The only problem is that Elvira is “ugly.” Truthfully, she just looks like a normal child: awkward, with braces, baby fat, and a nose she hasn’t grown into. The main crux of the film is the torture (physical and emotional) that Elvira is put through to try to gain the attention of the prince. The Ugly Stepsister leans into the macabre origins of the Brothers Grimm tale, and has some incredibly gruesome scenes. Do not choose gummy worms as your movie theatre candy for this film—you will regret it.
Fucktoys (dir. Annapurna Sriram)
Probably the lightest of the dark comedies at BUFF, Fucktoys follows AP (played by the film’s writer/director) as she tries to make $1000 to ward off a curse that has supposedly been placed on her. AP is accompanied throughout the film by the rough and tumble Danni (Sadie Scott), AP’s old friend with whom she has recently reunited. As a trans person, it is always a highlight for me to see another trans person on screen! AP and Danni run all over Trashtown making and finding trouble as they attempt to get AP’s curse lifted. This film is dirty, sexy, raunchy, and fun.
The 2025 Festival circuit has only just begun, and if you missed any of these films at BUFF, keep an eye out for release dates and screenings in your area!