Carmen1205

This was a mesmerising yet heart wrenching film to watch. Ronit goes home to London, from New York to her orthodox Jewish roots to mourn the death of her father. Powerful performances from the three lead actors, especially Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, had me totally absorbed from the outset. I ached for their wasted years. Ronit; excommunicated from her home and family, now a successful photographer, warring with her determination to live her life her as she chooses yet burdened with a sense of loss, and Esti, devoting her life to the Jewish orthodox faith, married to their childhood friend Dovid, yet suffocated by years of a suppressed sense of self and longing.

Spellbound, I found myself holding my breath at the powerful electricity between the two female leads, 'masked' behind deadened facial expressions yet palpable in the fleeting glances, the long, lingering stares and then the slightest of touches shared between them. I fell in love with the two characters: Esti for her staunch commitment and vulnerability and Ronit for her strength of character.

When Ronit goes to her dead father's house, accompanied by Esti, in the loaded silences, I found myself willing them to give in to each other and breathless at Esti's first tentative kiss. Later, the anticipation in their exchanged glances on the tube and as they walked through the city, had me longing too.

The love scene can be summed up in one word: beautiful. No gratuitous sex or nudity here and definitely not your typical 'male oriented movie-sex'. Instead, probably one of the most touching, loving, passionate and totally erotic love scenes ever. It was not about two women having sex, it was two people in love being true to themselves and each other and a necessary and pivotal moment in the film. Esti's orgasm signifies release from years of repression and a key turning point for her - and for me when I realised that it is actually Esti and Dovid who are the characters with the greatest strength.

I absolutely loved this film, adored it ...and if it wasn't for the 'in your face' song choice of 'Lovesong' by the Cure, when Ronit puts the radio on in her father's house, I would have given this 10/10...but it's still great.

Decided I had to see this after catching the trailer a couple of times on TV and then watching Olivia Colman on Graham Norton's chat show so I went to the first showing at 10:30 am on New Year's Day. First off bravo to Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone who are all brilliant in this: exceptional performances of three very different women (and a fantastic English accent from Emma Stone). Their characters and intertwined relationships evolve throughout the film and the change in the balance of power is initially subtle but very clear, whilst the 'pretty' men remain powerless. Mesmerised from the beginning, I found myself holding my breath and at other times laughing out loud. (Queen Anne's meek response to Lady Sarah handing her a mirror and asking her what she thinks she looks like: "badger" is hilarious but for some reason I was the only member of our audience of 9 who laughed at all at any part of the film - what was wrong with the others?) I quite liked the unusual camera angles, the close ups of the characters and their steely eyes, and the use of the fisheye lens - which seemed to add to the dark comedic appeal and made me look and wonder about what the women were really thinking but the weird period/street dancing just made me feel a little uncomfortable and I'm still not sure why it had to be like that. SPOILER ALERT: The ending however, disappointed me slightly, almost as though I had been cheated out of a definitive ending - that said sometimes an ending that leaves its mark on you and has you thinking about it hours after you've left the cinema is the best kind - perhaps that's what Yorgos Lanthimos wanted. I think I understood it though: Queen Anne's sad realisation that she had chosen the wrong woman and Abigail's Pyrrhic victory - both trapped in a situation that neither satisfied nor made either happy, whilst Sarah although enjoying and overstepping the power she wielded and despite her blackmail attempt, did truly love the Queen. Finally to the titles, which I stayed to watch because they were unusual and very hard to read, which unfortunately made me all the more convinced there was to be something extra afterwards but no - unless you count the wildlife sound effects. A well deserved 9/10 and surely an Oscar nomination at least.

Forget about the LGBT status of this film, it is so much more than that. In essence this is a mesmerising and deeply touching story of two people who are inexplicably drawn to each other despite the numerous social and circumstantial barriers standing in their way. Beautifully put together, amazing attention to period detail and a musical score that underlines and accentuates the characters' emotions. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are incredible - their performances subtle yet so powerful and the chemistry between them is palpable, so much passing between them in just stillness and a look, that you ache for them both in different ways. Hand on heart this is one of the best films I've seen, not least because it reminded me of what it felt like to fall deeply in love with someone for the first time. I've seen this film 6 times in 10 days and I will return to it again and again. Brilliant.