Olivia Wilde talks with Lisa Kudrow about her directorial debut, a fresh take on the high school dramedy. Centered on an inseparable pair of overachievers trying to cram a night of partying into their high school careers on the eve of graduation, Booksmart (2019) has no shortage of the genre’s misadventures and bon mots. With a razor-sharp script and standout performances by Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever (think Lucy and Ethyl by way of Abbi and Ilana), Booksmart’s takeaway on female friendship and empowerment is that figuring it out is better with a BFF. The conversation was part of MoMA Contenders, The Museum of Modern Art’s renowned series of influential, innovative films from the past 12 months. Whether bound for awards glory or cult classic status, each of these films is a contender for lasting historical significance.