Girlfriends (1978)

A photographer and her girlfriend are roommates. She is stuck with small-change shooting jobs and dreams of success. When her roommate decides to get married and leave, she feels hurt and has to learn how to deal with living alone.

Director:

Claudia Weill

Writers:

Claudia Weill (story), Vicki Polon (story)

Stars:

Melanie Mayron, Eli Wallach, Adam Cohen

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Melanie Mayron	...	Susan Weinblatt
Eli Wallach	...	Rabbi Gold
Adam Cohen	...	Bar Mitzvah Boy
Anita Skinner	...	Anne Munroe
Jean De Baer	...	Terry
Christopher Guest	...	Eric
Nancy Mette	...	Denise
Kenneth McMillan	...	Cabbie
Bob Balaban	...	Martin
Albert Rogers	...	Hair Dresser
Jane Anderson	...	Omega Receptionist
Gina Rogak	...	Julie
Russell Horton	...	Photo Editor
Regina David	...	Rabbi's Receptionist
Amy Wright	...	Ceil

Storyline

In New York City, Susan Weinblatt and Anne Munroe are longtime roommates and friends. Susan is a struggling photographer who wants to get out of the wedding and bar mitzvah racket, those jobs which she primarily gets through her friend, Rabbi Gold, to selling the photographs she wants to take, but she realizes that she has to pay the rent. Anne is an aspiring poet and academic who looks to Susan as her primary guidance. As they move into a new apartment, Anne drops the news that she will not be moving in as she is getting married to her boyfriend, Martin. This news is bittersweet for Susan who is somewhat happy for her friend, but isn't sure if she likes all that Martin now represents to her. Both Susan and Anne will have to make professional and personal adjustments to their new situations, especially in what it means for not having the other as a constant in each their lives. While Anne has a "Martin", Susan has no one currently to replace all that Anne has been in her life. So ...

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | title written by female | feminist film | roommate | photographer | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Susan y Ana

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cyclops

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stanley Kubrick raved about this film in an interview with Vicente Molina Fox, which was conducted during the production of The Shining (1980), and named it his favorite film of 1978.

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Quotes

Susan Weinblatt: I don't know what's going on anymore.

User Reviews

Underseen masterpiece

I came across Girlfriends after reading a list of Stanley Kubrick's favorite films, and he rightly called it 'wonderful'. Shot in New York in the late 70's, when master filmmakers such as Cassavetes, Scorsese and Woody Allen ruled the cities screens Weill's film went largely ignored and her brilliant lead actress never went on to make another film except for a small role in a B sci-fi thriller.

There is an obvious kinship between Weill's style and that of Woody Allen - the nervous Jewish humor, the wit and sharp dialog, but Girlfriends omits the irony and stands on its own as a singular, intelligent story of friendship and troubled relationships told from a uniquely female perspective.

Sadly it is very hard to see this film today, No streaming service carries it, and Kim's New York just shut its doors for good. I bought a poor transfer on DVD. I hope Criterion gets around to it one day, because it is truly a wonderful film.