Those are actual tears running down my face. Not because there is tragedy in this film, for indeed there is tragedy. But from that grief blossoms a group of women that far outshine any sunflower ever grown.
First and foremost I must comment that if I were enmeshed in this group of plodding housewives known as the Women’s Institute, I would probably be in intense therapy. It is no wonder that when they decided to break out, they broke out in a big way. This isn’t to diminish the organization known as the Women’s Institute, they do countless good works and for many it seems this could be there one communication with the outside world. Just not for me.
The Women’s Institute, similar to women’s clubs here in the States, gets together and does small charity work - hospital visits, garden clubs, that sort of thing. They have a speaker at each meeting and the ones portrayed in this movie would have me digging my own grave and pulling the dirt over myself. Seriously, how interesting CAN potholders be?
As with most groups there is a leader, often pompous and self-righteous. Not that she doesn’t mean well, she is just focused on one thing, success. And, as is with most groups, there are always a few that are a bit rebellious. Not really bad women, just bored beyond tears with this mindless droning of these guest speakers.
Out little group of friends, the quasi-rebels, suddenly are faced with a tragic circumstance. One of their core, Annie, finds that her husband is dying - cancer I believe - and the group spends hours sitting at the hospital with her. With his death, they decide - well, really, being a group they have a leader, Chris - it is decided that they will do something to raise money to purchase a new sofa for the waiting room at the hospital, in memory of Annie’s dear husband.
It appears that the annual fund raising event of the Women’s Institute of Highgyll is a calendar. While many discussions are brought forth of the artwork at the W.I. Meeting - bridges, churches, flowers, etc. - our little rebel leader gets together with her mates and decides they will do a calendar featuring their little group. The unique fact of their calendar will be they will be going the full monty.
While calendars featuring ladies disrobed is not all that unique one must take into account that these women are well past their prime. Breasts have dropped to their knees, what butts they had at one stage are now ankles. Their hair is a nice gray shade, some have so many wrinkles you would have to screw their hats on their heads. In other words, who the bloody Hell would buy a calendar featuring 12 middle-aged housewives that have settled into the sunset of their lives?
And this, my friends, is what makes this movie so rich.
Calendar Girls was based on a true story and did in fact evolve in an actual calendar. The ladies raised enough money to purchase that sofa, 100 times over, and continue to earn money to this day with the release of another calendar. While the movie portrays a bit of antagonism between the leader of the Highgyll W.I. and the rebel calendar girls, it was actually received with enthusiasm when the suggestion was presented.
Absolutely central to the movie was the photo shoot and the effects it had on the various family members of this group. On the other hand, the popularity and fame they received almost took them to the point of a split in friendship, especially for Annie. For Annie, reluctant at first, it was all about memorializing her husband, not the fame and fortune. When it seemed that the others had lost sight of this fact, she stepped back and took stock.
There are so many points of hilarity in this movie you forget these aren’t polished models doing the work and dropping their robes for the camera. No it wasn’t high quality film work by todays standards and expectations, but that didn’t matter. The dialogue was often priceless and the facial expressions just made you laugh right where you were sitting. You can feel great empathy for these women who only wanted to do a good deed despite the fact that would mean dropping trou. In fact, during the photo shoot they really got into the gig and had a great time after their initial shyness wore off.
There was nothing rude or offensive or the least bit sexual in this film. Well, I might take that sexual part back for indeed, when photographed these women were beautiful sexual beings and that realization reflected in their attitudes and body language.
Even better was the extras on the DVD which included interviews with the real calendar girls and their insights on how this has changed their lives. During the filming, several of the women appeared as members of the Highgyll Women’s Institute audience.
Calendar Girls was written by Tim Firth & Juliette Towhidi, directed by Nigel Cole. It won the Bordeaux International Festival of Women in Cinema Year Result Award Golden Wave Best Screenplay, Juliette Towhidi, and the British Comedy Awards Year Result Award Category/Recipient 2003 British Comedy Award Best Comedy Film
Overall I really found no fault with the acting, directing or script in this movie. It didn’t seem to drag, there were no slow sections and certainly no boring scenes. It was fun, playful, thought provoking and just a delightful piece of film. I didn’t go into this viewing with any expectations, thought I might be a bit boring actually, but it was a nice change of pace from my usual viewing choices.
When 12 ordinary members of the Women s Institute, a prim and proper local ladies club, decide they need to find a more compelling way to raise money ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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