Unter Fremden

I saw this originally in 1990 on PBS American Playhouse. That series (American Playhouse) often aired these little "gem" films and it's a great shame that the series is no longer on PBS. But times were different then.

Anyway, this film is one of those gems. No plot needed here, one can quickly become involved with each of these ladies and their lives...their performances are so poignant and delicate as our real lives are and their tales could be anyone's. There are some funny sequences, and the lady named Cissy is just precious--she has a great laugh and her face is so bright and cheery. She could be the great lady next door who becomes a wonderful neighbour to invite in for afternoon tea.

For me, the real treasure of this film's effect is the feelings tinged with sadness, especially for the lady/character named Constance. What a superb lady. She could be my own grandmother! I have now watched this film several times, and each time I see Constance with her face full of pain and remorse for something past, it pains me to watch. When she is standing there all alone looking out onto the lake listening to the birds or trying to hear them and she drops her medicine pills into the lake, as if she wants to die....it causes me such pain to watch. Later in the film, when she tells Mary she can't hear the bird singing, but she would give anything to hear the bird again, I cried like a baby.

I am rather suspicious that much of the ad-hoc performances from all the ladies were left on the cutting room floor and that is too bad. I would have wanted more from each one of them, but most especially about Constance. Her eyes often look so full of tears, it makes me want to reach out and hold her!!! I am teary-eyed just typing this about her. Constance, wherever you are now, thank you for allowing us into your life, however briefly.

All the ladies are brilliant and I highly recommend this to anyone who have great-grandmothers, grand-mothers and yes moms too, because they could have been in this film.

This film will ring true to those of us who spent childhood afternoons with batty maiden aunts. Though batty maiden aunts vary in personality, temperament, and social skills you're sure to find one that is familiar because you have a whole busload to choose from. This beautifully shot and laconically paced film is sort of a rambling walk through the pasts of a group of older women from various backgrounds who get temporarily stranded in an isolated spot in Canada. Though the personalities of the characters are a little as-to-be-expected, the acting is guileless and the dialogue completely natural. Prepare to have your curiosity peaked about medicinal herbs, pornographic boot jacks, and the hunting habits of Cissy's cat. The only device I found a little annoying was the stopping of the action to show off old photos from the women's lives. It bothered me at the time, but looking back I understand what they were trying to do and even feel a little nostalgic about it; which, of course, is utterly appropriate. It's definitely off the beaten track, not either as flamboyant or banal as art films are want to be. But, In Good Company is definitely a well made piece worthy of a larger audience.

This charming film about a stranded busload of older women in rural Canada is mostly improvised with non-professional actresses. Yet we get to know each of the women, their pasts, their strengths, their hopes.

After their bus breaks down, the 7 older Canadian women and the younger bus driver (who sprains her ankle) wander down the road til they find a derelict house on a lake. It's an odd assortment of women who seem to have little in common, yet they find (and so do we) that our connections to one another always outweigh our differences.

Alice is a Mohawk Indian, Cissy, Beth, and Winnie are from England, Mary is from the USA, Constance was brought to Canada as a child, Catherine is a Canadian nun. Michelle is the bus driver. The women set to work exploring the house, finding food, making beds, etc. As the women work, they tell the stories of their lives. But they also discover their connections to nature.

Seemingly, the women have had ordinary lives with husbands, children, jobs, illnesses, losses. At various points in the film as each woman is telling her story, we are shown a small gallery of photos from her life. It's very moving to see the old woman telling her story while her youth passes before us in vintage photos.

There are many funny moments as the women try to fish, catch frogs, pick berries, or play. Most of the women settle into their temporary world quite well. A couple remain mostly outside the group.

What the film ultimately shows us is that even in old age, we can learn, experience new things, enjoy friendships, and even find joy in old age.

This is a remarkable film.

If you're looking for flashy, special effects, don't touch this one at the video store. If you're looking for a film to move you, touch you, and leave you forever changed, grab this one and run home to put it in the VCR (couldn't find it on DVD). This movie totally blew me away. The "actresses" are unbelievably real and true to their persons. I love film making like this.

The "realness" and the natural beauty of this film will stay with you long after the final scene. Superb casting of these fine women. Beautiful scenery. Wonderful interaction. I can't say enough great things about this wonderful film! I loved it! Rent it when you want to feel good about life...........

A superb movie dealing with life, the interplay of human strengths and weakness, and growing older. The movie uses non-professional actors playing themselves, and is wonderfully refreshing, thought provoking and moving. I give this movie a high recommendation.