The women of the Larusso crime family are no strangers to adapting to tough circumstances. In the wake of their world being unexpectedly uprooted, these women learn to fend for themselves in New York City during the late 20th century, even with the cards stacked against them. Led by their unsteady but loving mother Francine (Jennifer Esposito), two very different sisters — destructive Connie (Odessa A’zion) and dutiful Rose (Emily Bader) — are the next generation of women who must grow up in this turbulent world controlled by unspoken rules that dictate who they are and who they become.

Written and directed by first-time filmmaker Jennifer Esposito, this gritty mob drama with a feminist twist provides a layered, original look into the dynamics of a crime family by focusing on its usually invisible female members. With strong performances across the board — including powerful supporting turns from Annabella Sciorra and Domenick Lombardozzi — this gripping crime saga shows that ambition and violence are not solely the purview of men in the world of organized crime.––Karen Kemmerle

Jennifer Esposito