The Land Girls (1998)

Three young women from very different walks of life join the women's land army during World War II and are sent to work together on a farm in Dorset and the experience changes their lives forever.

Director:

David Leland

Writers:

Angela Huth (novel), Keith Dewhurst

Stars:

Catherine McCormack, Rachel Weisz, Anna Friel

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine McCormack	...	Stella
Rachel Weisz	...	Ag (Agapanthus)
Anna Friel	...	Prue (Prudence)
Steven Mackintosh	...	Joe Lawrence
Tom Georgeson	...	Mr. John Lawrence
Maureen O'Brien	...	Mrs. John Lawrence
Lucy Akhurst	...	Janet
Gerald Down	...	Ratty, Lawrence Farm Hand
Paul Bettany	...	Philip
Nick Mollo	...	Barry Hampton
Michael Mantas	...	Desmond
Nicholas Le Prevost	...	Agricultural Officer
Celia Bannerman	...	District Commissioner
Ann Bell	...	Philip's Mother
Nigel Planer	...	Gerald

Storyline

During World War II, the organisation "The Women's Land Army" recruited women to work on British farms while the men were off to war. Three such "land girls" of different social backgrounds - quiet Stella, young hairdresser Prue, and Cambridge graduate Ag - become best friends in spite of their different backgrounds.

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Plot Keywords:

united kingdom | great britain | young woman | falling in love | friendship between women | 

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Taglines:

The story of three young women and the events that would change their lives... The friendships that would stay with them forever... and the loves that would change their hearts.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Reverend Alan Bennett, seen conducting the christening near the end of the film, is the actual Rector of the church where the scene was filmed.

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Goofs

When the land girls watch the bombing of Southampton from several miles away, the flashes and sounds of the explosions are simultaneous. In reality, due to differences of speed, the sounds would arrive approximately 5 seconds later for every mile of separation.

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Quotes

Stella: [voiceover] When the war came it changed everybody's lives. I left my cosy job in an office and volunteered for the Women's Land Army. We all had to pull together to help win the war. We had to grow more food or starve. I chose the Lawrence farm to be near my fiancé Philip who was an officer in the Navy

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The X-Files: Fight the Future/The Land Girls/Mulan/Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's/Beyond Silence (1998)

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Soundtracks

Savoy Foxtrot
Written by Matthew Scott

User Reviews

Totally satisfying to heart and mind in deep contrast with newly released ENIGMA.

I must compare LAND GIRLS (1998)with the newly-released (2001) ENIGMA both of which I saw this evening. The more recent film is utterly cliche-ridden (Tom Stoppard, the screenwriter, even throws in a bit borrowed from John Buchan's 39 STEPS!) while David Leland's movie continues to surprise the viewer to the last frame. The horror,the restraint, the mood of Britain at war come through careful period reconstruction. Reality is heightened so that the dazzlingly photographed British countryside continually reminds us of the dark shadow of War which hangs over these young lives. The acting is uniformly good and many of the cast come from the British stage to deliver real truth-of-performance. Unlike ENIGMA'S characters you believe the Land Girls and the people around them.

Details

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 June 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amores en tiempos de guerra

Filming Locations:

Crowcombe Heathfield station, West Somerset Railway, Somerset, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,921, 14 June 1998

Gross USA:

$238,497

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$238,497

Company Credits

Production Co:

Intermedia Films, Channel Four Films, Greenpoint Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1