At a time when women have come under increasing infringement on their rights and their ability to be themselves, it’s encouraging to see filmmakers rising to the occasion to counter those misguided initiatives, to make it clear that they have much to offer and should not be prevented from doing so. Those contributions take various forms, and they’re now being showcased in three excellent new documentaries, all available for streaming online.

Living up to one’s potential is indeed inspiring, especially for those who successfully overcome tremendous challenges in doing so. Such was the case with Katharine “Kay” Graham (1917-2001), publisher of The Washington Post newspaper and CEO of the multimedia Washington Post Co. organization, the subject of the insightful new documentary from directors George and Teddy Kunhardt, “Becoming Katharine Graham” (web site, trailer). Having been unexpectedly thrust into this demanding management role after the tragic suicide of her husband Philip in 1963, Graham nevertheless assumed the reins of this position with the intent of keeping the Post as the respected family business that it had been since her father acquired it in 1933. Yet, even though Graham had some experience working for the paper and had always taken an interest in its quality and well-being, she nevertheless knew little about running a business. This was a task made all the more daunting simply by virtue of being a woman in what was at that time clearly seen as a man’s domain, one in which “the little woman” was often ridiculed for her ambition to fulfill her goal.

Over the years, however, Graham learned much, becoming a role model for women in the business world, despite not seeing herself as a diehard feminist. What’s more, during this time, she confidently presided over the ample challenges posed by publishing the Pentagon Papers and breaking the story about the Watergate scandal, incidents that changed the nation’s political landscape and put fundamental First Amendment rights to the test. Viewers thus witness Graham’s evolution in becoming a respected and successful business leader, despite everything that could have worked against her.

In telling this story, the filmmakers draw upon a wealth of historically significant archive footage, including damning excerpts from the secret White House recordings from the Nixon presidency, as well as recent interviews with friends, family members and colleagues who knew and worked with her, such as journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem, and close friend and mentor Warren Buffett. There are also segments from the 2017 Steven Spielberg film “The Post” featuring Meryl Streep as Graham during her contentious battle with the White House and its efforts to squelch the publication of the Pentagon Papers. And, of course, there are numerous clips with Graham herself, candidly and succinctly revealing her perspectives on what she experienced and what we must collectively do when faced with the kinds of daunting freedom of the press challenges that she and the Post had to contend with.

At a time when the roles and rights of women are being threatened and the credibility and reliability of the press has come under increasing (and, some would say, justifiable) scrutiny, “Becoming Katharine Graham” serves as a powerful reminder of the hard-won nature of these fundamental protections and the need to fight for their preservation. We as a society should be grateful for individuals like Kay Graham for doing so much in bringing them into being. This film is an excellent chronicle of those efforts and a potent cautionary tale about what we might stand to lose if we let our diligence lapse.

In a stressful, complicated age such as this, there’s much to be said for wanting to pursue a quiet, contemplative life, the attraction to which can be quite strong once one gets a taste of it. So it is for the Cistercian sisters of the Santa Rita Abbey, who reside in a modest monastic compound in the idyllic, stunningly beautiful high desert of southern Arizona. These remarkable women, who quietly work to further the cause of divinity for themselves and others in modern-day life, are the subject of filmmaker Victoria Westover’s intimate and revelatory new documentary, “Final Vows”(web site, trailer).

The devoted women profiled here have freely chosen to commit themselves to this humble, stable and dutiful but eminently satisfying way of life by following the Rule of St. Benedict in service to God, both in better coming to know themselves and in being of service to mankind, sometimes in unexpected ways. Filmed over the course of four years, the director has captured an inside look at this little-seen order of devotees to the Divine through interviews with the sisters and footage of their everyday lives. The film thus presents a wide-ranging view of monastic life that is likely to be far different from what one might expect. This overview includes both the spiritually introspective elements of their existence, as well as the practical aspects of daily living, such as their work in manufacturing communion wafers, the abbey’s primary source of income, and in combatting the incursion of nearby mining interests that threaten to damage the surrounding environment and their way of life. In turn, the film also shows how the sisters’ choice of this calling serves as a means to explore and discover their individual purpose in life through understanding their relationship with God. To this end, they have each taken different paths to get where they are, but the bottom line in each case is the same: finding one’s place in life and leading the existence one is meant to follow in expressing one’s true, authentic self, thereby setting an example for others to follow.

In addition, even though the sisters are part of a religious order, their emphasis here appears to be more oriented toward a spiritual approach, one less aimed at the group experience of religion and more directed toward the individual expression of spirituality. Consequently, this is an eye-opening cinematic experience that those who have become disenchanted by dogmatic religious experiences may find refreshing and enlightening, providing a rejuvenated outlook for one’s personal spiritual life. No concerted effort is made here to try and convert anyone to anything; in fact, several of the sisters make a point of noting that the demands associated with a commitment such as this can be substantial, observing that it’s not for everyone, especially in light of the nature of the vows one must take in following through on this process. Interestingly, though, this is not to suggest that this is a dour, ever-serious, thoroughly stringent lifestyle. In fact, it’s portrayed as one filled with love, life and laughter, as seen, for example, in the wry, plainspoken, sometimes-whimsical observations of upbeat, ever-cheerful but self-effacing Prioress Sister Victoria (a.k.a., “Sister Vicki”) and her reflections on the inherent joy that comes with finding oneself and living a productive and thoughtful life through an experience such as this.

As a result of all this, then, “Final Vows” is a truly revelatory examination of these women and a way of life that carries the tremendous potential for profound satisfaction, fulfillment and peace of mind at a time when those commodities might be hard to find otherwise. It’s a cinematic experience that delivers more than what one might expect at first glance, showing us that there are aspects of life we may well be overlooking and should consider pursuing, even if we don’t follow the same steps as the sisters in achieving that goal. Rather, this is a work that could well prompt us to emulate the inspiration and enlightenment these women have attained – and that we can attain for ourselves, too.

In an entirely different vein, it’s fascinating to witness how a truly gifted individual effectively draws from various resources and uses her considerable talents to yield astounding works of distinctively singular creativity. That’s especially true in the case of iconic actress/singer/dancer Liza Minnelli, the famous daughter of actress/singer/dancer Judy Garland and filmmaker Vincente Minnelli, the subject of the intimate new film biography, “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story” (web site, trailer).

Writer-director Bruce David Klein’s superb new documentary about the legendary entertainer is a revealing look at the professional and personal life of its subject, told in nine chapters, most of which focus on the influences who helped shape the life and career of the storied stage, screen and concert performer. Under the tutelage of her famous parents, as well as mentoring collaborations with multi-talented entertainer Kay Thompson, singer Charles Aznavour, director Bob Fosse, composers Fred Ebb and John Kander, and fashion designer Halston, Liza emerged as one of the most distinguished and readily identifiable figures in show business, rocketing her to stardom on multiple fronts. Her unique look, polished persona and stellar performances placed Minnelli in constant demand for years, thanks largely to her determination and perseverance to follow through on every venture she tackled, a quality that helped earn her an Oscar, an Emmy, three Tonys and a lifetime achievement Grammy Award.

At the same time, Liza’s personal life was as flamboyant, ambitious and colorful as her professional pursuits, one filled with more than its share of highs, lows, challenges and stresses (many of which were instigated or exacerbated by relentless press coverage), all of which are candidly examined and nearly all of which she managed to conquer. These explorations into her private and professional life are backed up with a wealth of archive footage, film clips from Minnelli’s Academy Award-winning performance in “Cabaret” (1972), and recent interviews with friends, collaborators and entertainment industry observers, including Michael Feinstein, Ben Vereen, Mia Farrow, Joel Grey, George Hamilton, Chita Rivera and actress/half-sister Lorna Luft, among others. This combination of elements makes for an insightful profile of the entertainer, even if it sags a bit in the middle and has an occasional tendency to gush in the presentation of its content. Nevertheless, “Liza” is a truly terrific true story that shows how success arises when it’s carefully conceived, deliberately constructed and meticulously packaged, yielding a result we can all genuinely admire.

In many ways, the women featured in these three films couldn’t be more different from one another. At the same time, though, they’re also remarkably similar in terms of their talents, integrity and commitment to their endeavors. They all serve as poignant reminders of what we’re all capable of in our own right. But they’re particularly noteworthy as role models for women, especially for those who may be feeling intimidated by the pressure to get them to adopt roles that others would unfairly try to impose upon them. Look to these films for inspiration and the drive to succeed in the face of naysayers and critics who might try to dissuade and discourage you otherwise.

Copyright © 2025, by Brent Marchant. All rights reserved.