Between Two Women

In 1950s Yorkshire, Ellen, mother of 10 year-old Victor, is stifled in a loveless marriage to her factory worker husband. In an otherwise dull life, Victor's teacher, Kathy is a source of light and colour. Soon, Ellen realises that her feelings for Kathy go deeper than just friendship.

Victor is a bright and gifted lad whose artistic ability brings him to the attention of his teacher, Miss Thomson. Her encouragement and her part in having his work included in a local art exhibition give her and Victor's mother, Ellen, common cause and, as a result, they spend a good deal of time together.

While Ellen is uneducated, she is intelligent and articulate and expresses how much she would like to have seen more of life; to have learned more. Miss Thomson - Kathy - listens and empathises with her new friend. As a result Ellen and Kathy, with Victor in tow, start to see each other socially.

Meanwhile, Ellen's husband, Geoff, who is a dutiful but unloving husband, and who struggles to find any way in which to relate to his son or appreciate his son's gifts, dislikes Ellen's new friendship, perhaps sensing that Kathy is more in a position to repond to Ellen's wider emotional and intellectual vistas.

As Ellen and Kathy's friendship deepens it becomes noticeable that there is connection building between them.

Summer comes, and one night while Ellen is away on holiday with Geoff and Victor, she realises, during a thunderstorm, that Kathy gives her things that Geoff never could, and with it she realises just how deep her feelings for her now lie. The realisation is like being struck by the lightning flashing outside.

Between Two Women is something of a family affair with Victor being played by Edward Woodcock, son of writer/director/producer Stephen and executive producer, Julie. Andrew Dunn, a capable actor, is not given the opportunity to bring more to a role that we have seen all too many times before - the gruff, emotionally repressed, working-class Northern male. Andrina Carroll, is charming as Kathy, but plays her with a touch of timidity that is somewhat at odds with her apparent sophistication and wide-ranging intellect. Barbara Marten, however, makes up for the other characters' deficits by portraying Ellen as a woman who is warm and loving, and whose eyes search for some far distant horizon that she is never likely to see; all the while with a hint of sadness that wins our sympathies.

With a running time of just 92 minutes, Between Two Women is not without its longueurs. At times the characters seem to be shuffled about without any real sense of purpose or meaning: a scene where Victor plays with a friend near a railway line hints at the possibility of great danger, but it plays out without incident. Perhaps the film's origins on commercial TV account for its peculiar dramatic rhythms. Elsewhere, a strangely inappropriate synthesiser soundtrack by Michael Hammer - sounding like something you might find playing in the background in a shop that stocks healing crystals - intrudes and does nothing to support the period feel of the film.

Woodcock's film seeks to explore the emergence of 'forbidden' love and does so without titillation, dwelling instead on emotional intimacy. But even there it never fully comes to grips it's subject, offering us no release through professions of love or even a kiss. Throughout, trains are used, somewhat heavy-handedly, as a metaphor for escape and freedom, not least when Ellen and her parents see off Ellen's sister and her husband as they embark on their journey to a new life in Australia, the 'Young Country'

Slow, intimate and with an adumbrative ending, Between Two Women would, I'm sure, be an altogether better film with a new soundtrack and some substantial re-editing.

Not much to say, its a sweet old movie with good acting, nice characters and a story that while simple and sometimes confusingly told; is perfectly fine and is a nice way to spend a viewing session.

I can't help but mention I love the fact its old women being portrayed as a romantic couple - its not explored a lot in movies and to see it in such an old movie was a pleasant surprise.

I also loved the main actor, Barbara Marten's performance, she has such expression in nearly every scene, but this isn't to over shadow the rest, the child actors as perfectly fine, and I particularly enjoyed Andrew Dunn's performance as Geoff, he plays the character very well and I just love his way of pronouncing words.

If you consider yourself a purist, romanticist or idealist, you would appreciate this title! Very subtle yet a captivating screenplay throughout. A magnificent portrayal of a woman's love that only could be brought by woman's heart. Devastatingly romantic story. I am quite impressed by the splendid talents of captivating leading casts, masterful director, screen writer and crew of those who made the creation of this Magnificent masterpiece possible. I would not call this movie a lesbian film. It deserves to be categorised as mainstream story of love and trust between women so beautifully and intimately portrayed

Since the beginning of civilisation philosophers, psychologists, many scholars and like had debated against the superiority of love that a woman can offer to all of man kinds (to both men and to women) . I personally view that of women are definitely superior to the others. Since the majority of us do not experience temporary loss of vision or complete loss of consciousness due to the required depth of sedation for major surgery such as open heart or open skull procedures. These procedures can cause tremendous trauma to your psyche. It is not unusual for patient and nurse to develop an almost like loving attachment to each other from the moment the nurse transfers you from a rolling bed to a recovery bed, then calling your name and caressing you as if rescuing you from desolated realm of unconscious. If you compare it with the same task performed by male surgical assistants at operating room ,you will be impressed with the fact that a woman's love is a priceless enlightenment. It is highly likely that someone like Ellen had finally awakened from a life-long repression to that enlightenment by following her own heart. Every female child has dreams of being swept up into a great adventure, of being the beautiful princess. Lamentably, when women grow up, they are often swept up into a life filled merely with demands, duty and responsibility. Many women are tired, struggling under the senseless pressure to be of a faithful servant, or a caregiver for children, husband or father and like. If Chen An had realised that demands from her father were unreasonable, the both girls could have survived. I have known an award winning blind female writer and her nurse companion who helped her publishing her novels until the end of writer's life age 72. The nurse died next summer found afloat on River Kamo during Gion Festival (Buddhist Spiritual season) leaving a will to be buried next to the writer. In fact I have seen them twice together on the bridge across a pond within the property of an ancient Buddhist temple in 1970's. Nurse were eyes to the writer and describing everything that the nurse can see. The both women looked very beautiful radiating the glory of love between them. They both were descendant of ancient noble families go back to 11th century and their presence seemed to enhance the tranquillity of the mid-autumn setting. I could not help but wishing their happy union forever from the moment I saw the strength and intensity of woman's love. I have always been a straight male, However, it has forever changed my attitude about woman's love. So let's wish the two women best luck and let them pursue their happiness! Julien Kujo a.k.a.,Pinecloud, Palo Alto, CA., USA

The storyline was slim, the actors were excellent and the tension true but there was far too much mere wanting and we didn't even get to enjoy the happy ending. It was as though this movie was made by a sexually uptight lesbian who loved the characters but was embarrassed by any physicality. Finally the overly dramatic and tacky music was distracting. There simply is not enough of a movie to write about that could fill up ten lines! A decent flick overall but all worry and no fun makes Jack a dull movie that was clean but plain. I would have to be bored out of my skull to view it again however worthy the film is in subtle ways.....can I stop writing now?

This jewel of a film is strictly for romantics. The film is a quiet character study of a woman who finds the courage to open herself to the possibilities of love and happiness. After a lifetime of repression and fear of disappointing family, the lead character can no longer deny the intense feelings that have developed between herself and her son's schoolteacher, and finally allows herself to experience what she really wants. The film may not contain the flash and raunchiness that many viewers are used to (no kissing, although there is some very heart-warming hand-holding), but for this viewer, it was stirring and captivating, and one of the most vividly romantic pieces I've seen in a long time. Magnificent acting highlighted this beautiful story.