2 Friends

Jane Campion's first feature concerns a pair of girls whose friendship is fading away... and works backwards from there. The reverse chronology comes off as gimmicky and adds very little to the film. It does provide a more upbeat note to end on, but I think it would have been better accomplished via more of a flashback structure. But it works well enough, and the film is quite sweet with some genuine moments. I'd like to think the title has a double meaning, referring not only to Kelly and Louise, but also Louise and her mother, a strong relationship that was enjoyable to watch. The production feels a little flat, but there's a terrific whimsical sequence near the end, and the performances are endearing. A pretty nice movie, although again I could have done without the gimmicky structure.