Between Strangers is one of the rare movies I've seen that claims to have a woman empowerment message and actually succeeds. Usually, those movies end up saying all women really care about are men, and no matter how strong their characters are supposed to be, they let their lives be ruled by the pursuit of or treatment by men. This movie isn't really my cup of tea, but I certainly liked the consistency and the message.
Three women have completely separate lives, and each are unhappy in their own ways. Sophia Loren lives with her physically handicapped, emotionally abusive husband, Pete Postlethwaite. Mira Sorvino is following in her father's footsteps but unsure it's the right path for her. Deborah Kara Unger has abandoned her daughter and focuses all her energy on Malcom McDowell, her father recently released from prison. As you can tell, the movie starts out with each woman negatively influenced by a man.
As the movie progresses, each discover the direction that will start them on the right path. There was a scene that I fast-forwarded through because I felt it was only a vengeful, "wages of sin" scene: Malcom McDowell is homeless, and he gets harassed and beaten up by a bunch of punk teenagers, and it's pretty upsetting. Besides that, if this type of movie appeals to you, you'll probably like it. Look for Klaus Maria Brandauer as Mira's father and Gérard Depardieu as Sophia's confidante in the supporting cast.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence and adult subject matter, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. About five minutes before the end, after Mira Sorvino drives away, the camera swirls in a big circle to show the building's roof, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Three women have completely separate lives, and each are unhappy in their own ways. Sophia Loren lives with her physically handicapped, emotionally abusive husband, Pete Postlethwaite. Mira Sorvino is following in her father's footsteps but unsure it's the right path for her. Deborah Kara Unger has abandoned her daughter and focuses all her energy on Malcom McDowell, her father recently released from prison. As you can tell, the movie starts out with each woman negatively influenced by a man.
As the movie progresses, each discover the direction that will start them on the right path. There was a scene that I fast-forwarded through because I felt it was only a vengeful, "wages of sin" scene: Malcom McDowell is homeless, and he gets harassed and beaten up by a bunch of punk teenagers, and it's pretty upsetting. Besides that, if this type of movie appeals to you, you'll probably like it. Look for Klaus Maria Brandauer as Mira's father and Gérard Depardieu as Sophia's confidante in the supporting cast.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence and adult subject matter, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. About five minutes before the end, after Mira Sorvino drives away, the camera swirls in a big circle to show the building's roof, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"