Les années copain

The book this shameful, waste-of-time movie was based upon is actually quite good. It's called "Heartbreak Hotel" by Anne Rivers Siddons; she writes often about the South and being a mid-westerner, I'm grateful for some of the history and cultural explanations I've gleaned from her novels. Though she frequently can pour it on pretty thickly with lots of words, I find her character development to be good. That's why this movie was so disappointing; everyone was shallow and one-dimensional, there was no attraction for me to see between Maggie and Hoyt. And the sensationalism of Maggie confronting the black woman was blatant pandering and insulting to any of us who grew up during the civil rights years. Shame on the people who re-wrote a decent, moral book into this trashy screenplay! What a waste of talent and money.

I liked this film. It was set in Alabama (I gather in Dothan, home of Fort Rucker, because of the presence of soldiers).

Ally Sheedy was so innocent looking and she fit the part nicely. I was only 15 in the 1957 setting and not interested in civil rights - too busy playing ball and watching the Milwaukee Braves beat the Yankees in the World Series.

Toward the end of the film, who was the governor who let the black girl into the university? It wasn't George Wallace because he blocked the entrance and I believe that would have been at the U of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, or was it a school in Montgomery? I've been to many Alabama cities but all after the protests and riots. I still saw racism; but, that would be true in all states. How can a white person root for a black athlete and still be racist?

What a stinker. This movie was a total bore. I wanted to like this film because I'm a fan of all of the major characters. However, the characters were totally unbelievable. The Southern accents were laughable. There was no chemistry between any of the actors, let alone the two main stars. The acting was stiff and wooden, and appeared forced. In other words, it looked like they were acting. Poor Ally had a sour looking face the entire film. She must of realized what a stinker this movie was. I'd rate this movie no better then a local high school drama play. If you want to see a movie about racial injustice, rent the DVD classic, To Kill A Mockingbird; don't waste $14.99 buying this mess.

While the movie may have some moments that are not particularly politically correct, remember the movie was made in 1989 but set in 1957. At that time these were not incorrect, wrong to have happened, but not incorrect in the time it was set. Having grown up in a small town in Mississippi in the sixties and saw a lot of racial tension I thank God every day that I had intelligent parents who taught me you judge a person by the person, not by color. And the relationship between Ally Sheedy's character and the black dorm matron spoke volumes without even having to say anything. Maybe I see it differently because I grew up in a time when crosses were still burned often and the Klan marched on our court square often and awful things happened that shouldn't happen to anyone. Thanks for your time. Barry.

This review deals with accuracy, not political correctness. I was an idealistic 11 year old girl living 90 minutes from Oxford, MS, and Ole Miss in 1957--the year and setting for this film. I can confirm several things:

(1) For anyone interested, the wardrobe for the female cast is so dead-on accurate to the times, it's almost scary. When (early on) a coed flounces into the room modeling her new sweater--exact replicas of that sweater were gracing the halls in my school. The other fashions were spot on and had me reliving those years.

(2) This is totally accurate sorority-girl-college-life in this era. It is based more on Ole Miss than a fictitious Alabama school. Bit of TRIVIA--two sorority sisters who lived in the same house at Ole Miss went on to become Miss America 1958 and Miss American 1959: Mary Ann Mobley (58) and Lynda Lee Meade (59). If you'd like a glimpse into what it was like to live in a sorority house on a southern campus--this is it.

(3)Through the turbulent 60's, often Southern schools were oddly separate from the war protests and flag-burnings occurring on other campuses. I was in college in Mississippi from 1964-1968, and our campus was as peaceful as a Sunday School picnic.

(4) Lastly, re: the interaction between Maggie and the two African American cooks in the sorority house kitchen. It's more politically correct to argue today that black-white friendship, love and cordiality didn't exist--that it was never this way--but I lived it. I both witnessed and experienced scenes like that of genuine affection, laughter--and yes, even scolding--from older women to these younger pampered girls more times than I can count.

SUMMARY: For fashion accuracy, setting accuracy, and a couple of scenes depicting interracial relationships, it's accurate. I lived it. As for the acting and direction--I can't speak to that.