A refreshing little film that marked the directorial debut of Weill, GIRLFRIENDS strips away the pretentiousness of so many small movies and offers us a real look at real people. Weill spent many years as a documentarian; she uses her experience and her ear and eye for realism to present
us with an episodic story that mixes comedy and poignancy with excellent results.
Mayron is a chubby Jewish photographer whose roommate, Skinner, is leaving to get married. Mayron must now go it alone and contemplates her life, new insecurities, and cellulite. Mayron is so good in the role that she seems closer to "being" her part than acting it. Not unlike SHEILA LEVINE IS
DEAD AND LIVING IN NEW YORK, this character study of a certain type of urban Jewish woman never hits a false note. As Mayron's boyfriend, Balaban is depicted as likable and believable, an honest human being with honest problems. Mayron flirts with Wallach, a rabbi, and almost has a fling with him,
but she winds up as the house photographer doing weddings and bar mitzvahs. It's unsentimental, emotional, and made with great affection. leave a comment
