Me Without You (2001)

The subject of this film isn't new at all. Nor is it original: the coming of age of two girlfriends. We follow them from their childhood in 1973 up to the first years of the 21st century.First, 'Me without you' offers a nice going back to those years for everyone around at the time. Getting nostalgic without overdoing it. After having gotten yourself in the right mood, it's only a small step to recall memories about your own first love-experiences from those years. This film's soapy & easy-going style invites you to them.This presentation is well supported by a tasty picturing. Without being great or expensive, it delivers just a right amount of intimacy to let the plot work.

'Me Without You' is an account of over twenty years of a tempestuous friendship between two middle class women; reminiscent of Mike Leigh's 'Career Girls' in structure, although the role of sexual jealousy and manipulation in their relationship reminds one more of elements of 'American Beauty'. As in that film, the truthfulness of the representation is somewhat compromised by the casting of a very attractive actress (here the American Michelle Williams, who's nice to look at though her accent sometimes slips) as the supposedly plain friend; but the period references are not overplayed, the atmosphere convinces throughout, and first flowering of teenage sexuality is deftly and enjoyable portrayed. Williams and co-star Anna Friel enjoy a natural camaraderie as teenagers then students, but possibly the film should have been made as a shorter drama: there's a natural plot-end about two-thirds of the way through, and the final portion of the story feels more constructed, as if designed to make a full length feature from a shorter tale. I still enjoyed it, if only as a taste of a youth I never quite had myself.

"Me Without You" is one of those films that's difficult to watch not because it's a terrible movie, but because it has the potential for greatness in its content and ideas but the execution is mediocre. Reading the plot description, I was hoping for the film to dive deep into the chaos that can be female friendships, but instead, I found a film too caught up in romantic subplots to really achieve this goal that it clearly aspires to.The film concerns Marina and Holly, two girls who grow up as neighbors and best friends. The film's episodic structure is separated into five different periods of the women's lives: childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, adult independence, and finally, motherhood. In the early periods, the two girls are inextricably bound, but their relationship suffers as a result of the insecurities of both characters leading to a power struggle between the friends.Marina, the more outspoken and wild of the two, makes a strong first impression, but soon, it becomes clear that her dramatic exterior masks a weak identity. In contrast, Holly is the more subtle and passive friend, but at her core, she is principled, passionate and ambitious in a way that Marina obviously admires but cannot replicate (though she certainly tries).These personality conflicts play out mostly through their relationships with men: Marina, for example, works to keep Holly from pursuing a relationship with her brother Nat, whom Holly has long adored. Also given much screen time is the sexual relationship that both girls simultaneously pursue with one of their professors. The triangulation causes drama with the ladies, further reinforcing their differences.My favorite thing about the film is that it chooses to explore these complex issues. So few Hollywood films really delve deeply into complex, female relationships. This film examines the problematic tension between the friends, rather than sugarcoating their bond like the typical chick-flick.What I disliked about the film was the execution and resolution. Rather than really focusing on the girls, their relationships with men are brought to the forefront. I would have liked to have seen other manifestations of these issues, rather than making men the catalysts for all the trouble. Furthermore, the resolution of the film is a bit weak. The women sever their ties, but little is told of how their break affects them. A whole movie could be written about the fallout of the break, and yet, the filmmakers leave it almost entirely up to the imagination.Thanks to great performances, good subject-matter, and interesting cinematography, the film isn't a complete wash. I'd recommend it to any woman (which mean practically every woman) who has suffered the heart-ache of a dysfunctional friendship.

If you love stories about the relationship between women, this movie will satisfy you in many ways. It spans decades of growing up, coming of age, and finally becoming unique individuals who learn to define themselves and accept themselves and each other. This is a rather unsentimental movie that captures your heart in subtle ways. The dialogue is fast and witty. The visuals are stunning and colorful. Both women are fascinating. If you like movies like Beaches and Where the Heart Is or even Entre Nous, and you like them because you fancy the dynamics of female friendship, watch this. This is a modern-day chick-flick. Rock star chick flick. It takes many chances and doesn't have a tight message to the story. It remains mysterious and you are merely a voyeur to this relationship. You are left to make your own assumptions and draw your own opinion of what these two meant to each other.Movies like this are rarely made.