Sherrybaby

Girls on Film kicks off its new season with SHERRYBABY by Laurie Collyer, selected by Free Clinic vzw.

In SHERRYBABY, Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is released on parole after serving a three-year prison sentence for theft committed to fund her drug addiction. She has now kicked her habit and must remain drug-free. If she fails to do so, she will have to return to prison. Sherry is determined to seize this second chance with both hands. She is eager to see her young daughter again after three years and is resolved to be a good mother to her. But the outside world turns out to be just as harsh as the one she left behind. As she battles her past, her addiction and the expectations of those around her, it becomes clear that true freedom requires more than just an open prison gate.

Free Clinic is a non-profit organisation that focuses on people who use or have used (illegal) drugs. Its mission is to improve the physical, mental and social health of its clients through a harm and risk reduction approach. The PROject is a gender-specific initiative for women within Free Clinic vzw’s drug support services, as women who are homeless or living on the streets and struggling with addiction remain more vulnerable than men. Through PROject, they create a homely environment in which women feel safe and supported. They focus not only on substance misuse, but also on how various factors—such as gender and social isolation—interact and contribute to the challenges women face. By doing so, they aim to empower women in socially vulnerable positions and support them in their recovery.

Girls on Film is a feminist film collective that aims to provide a broader platform for cinema by and about women. Every month, they screen curated films at De Cinema that spotlight women’s experiences and contributions to cinema (and its history). In Girls on Film: De Podcast, they explore the themes raised and the social relevance of the films in greater depth with a guest speaker.