Review of Ginger & Rosa (2012) by Jim G — 11 Apr 2013

Third Row Center Ginger and Rosa.

Went to see Ginger and Rosa, another movie that takes place in post WW2 but this time it is set in England written and directed by Sally Potter. Ginger (Elle Fanning) and Rosa (Alice Englert) are lifelong teenage friends in the cold war era England. Ginger is going to be a poet, but also has strong feelings about the nuclear bomb whereas Rosa is more romantic and seeking true love. And I am struggling with asking the question, why should I care? And not long after I am asking, is everyone in this movie an idiot?

There is a lot of trouble in this dysfunctional drama that uses rationalization as easily as Natalie (Christina Hendricks) picks up a brush and begins to paint again in the wake of hers and her husband Roland's (Alessandro Nivola) separation. The runaway roles for me were the more peripheral actors in the form of Oliver Platt (Mark Too) Timothy Spall (Mark) and Annette Benning (Bella) who play friends of this family who are also anti- nuke activists, yet at the same time provide perspective for their familial upheaval.

Throughout the movie, to hammer the "no nukes" sentiment home, there are a number of broadcasts that paint a pall over this "coming of age" tale. Of Ginger and Rosa. most of the time I simply shook my head and couldn't believe that people could behave so badly all around. Rosa for being duped into a bad relationship, and Ginger for trying to make it seem like nothing has gone wrong,while clearly broadcasting that she is breaking.

The movie is painful to watch, and all scenes of any solace also contain this restless tension that things aren't right, and that boundaries are being crossed that shouldn't be. Some rules are there for a reason, that is, not shattering the ones around you.

As most independent movies, this one does not give a satisfying ending. More or less, there is pain, and it seems, there may not even be any redemption from it. This is not a date movie, unless you relationship is on the rocks, in which case, go see this movie, as it might give you hope that things could be worse.