Die göttlichen Geheimnisse der Ya-Ya Schwestern

"Sisterhood" is a film that will make you laugh, cry, and remember the most important things in life, like friendship, family, truth, and relationships with those around you. It takes many trips down the path of life and is filled with laughter, sorrow, drama, but all around triumph. Maybe not exactly the same as Rebecca Wells great book, but pretty close.

This film is really a celebration of female relationships between; mothers and daughters, between girl friends and between wife and husband. There are numerous flash backs, but the film flows at a good pace that it is not a distraction at all.

The storyline is very light hearted to begin with, but gets darker. Ashley Judd does a great performance as an Alcohol addicted mother and Ellen Burstyn is also good as the older character, played by Ashley Judd. The humour is funny enough and does not go overboard. See this film with your girl friends, and make sure you bring a box of Kleenex with you. A two thumbs up.

`The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood' is about a mother/daughter conflict and then friends come to the rescue. A simple plot about some of our society's unimaginably complex unwritten and unspoken rules.

Ya-Ya is a wonderful cinematic experience. The acting and dialog are absolutely first rate and every major role is virtually perfect. They will be throwing darts at the cast credits to pick award winners. The movie is worth the price of admission just to see Maggie Smith perform even when she has no dialogue.

The movie's most remarkable aspect is what happens when it is viewed through a testosterone filter. It is illuminating to look at the IMDB voting demographics. One quarter of the males voting on this movie have given it a `1' out of 10 while only about 3% of the females gave it a `1'. Considering that there always appears to be a 3-5% background noise on any voting this an astounding gender discrepancy. As a 56 year old male it has only been in the last decade that I've had any inkling of the intricacies of female interactive dynamics. I suspect that puts me ahead of the curve as far as males go. As a society we indoctrinate our young females into the issues of the emotional power struggle, the dynamics of the `pecking order', and day-to-day collegial help and support at a level far removed from that which most males experience. I won't argue whether or not this is sexist but I believe the observation to be valid. This movie deals with these issues and, as such, I suspect the fundamental substance of the movie is illusive for much of the male audience.

At its heart this is not a chick movie. A `chick movie' is about things that female moviegoers like. This movie is about what it is to be raised a female in our society. Ya Ya 9/10

I sat down on a Saturday night at 9:30 to watch this movie. I watched it through twice before I went to bed that night, twice again on Sunday, and now it's Monday night and I've just watched it all the way through again. And I NEVER do that!

I came to this movie with little or no expectations. I had not read the book (but I will!), although I knew it had been a bestseller for awhile, and was on Oprah's list. I hadn't even paid any attention to who was in it, so was thrilled to see one of my very favorite actresses, Ellen Burstyn.

I can't really tell you what made this movie speak to me the way it did. I had a very happy childhood, and so couldn't relate on that level at all. The cast was phenomenal, particularly Sandy Bullock as Siddalee.

All I can say is what someone before me already said - this is one you should judge for yourself, not by what others say.

My wife loves this film. This is a woman whose favorite films include any woman whose last name is Hepburn. Yes, she is a romanticist from the past — understandable since she has a Ph.D. in medieval history.

Because she's played the film enough times, I've had the opportunity to watch it both in its entirety and in bits and pieces. And there's really a lot to it that most viewers are missing.

Why?

I think it's because it grows on you. The parts are all incredibly well played — certainly expected of mature actors like Maggie Smith, Fionnula Flanagan and Ellen Burstyn. But here even Sandra Bullock is enticing not just in her looks but in her expression of her character.

Some films you like right out of the gate. We all know which ones they are. Others have to grow on you. And unfortunately too many films are never given a second chance. YA-YA SISTERHOOD is one.

Watching it a second or third time is like sitting around a campfire and telling the same story over for the umpteenth time. We've all heard it before, but we still want to hear it again.

For those who have dissed this film, give it another chance. Perhaps when you're older. Perhaps when you're in a romantic mood. Perhaps when you're tired of stupid comedies, disgusting horror films and over-the-top action thrillers. Then I'm sure you'll see it in a different light and think, "Well maybe YA-YA SISTERHOOD is indeed a little hidden gem."