Taglines: Friendship pulled them together. Love tore them apart.
London, 1962. Two teenage girls – Ginger and Rosa – are inseparable. They play truant together, discuss religion, politics and hairstyles, and dream of lives bigger than their mothers’ frustrated domesticity. But, as the Cold War meets the sexual revolution, and the threat of nuclear holocaust escalates in the Cuban missile crisis, the lifelong friendship of the two girls is shattered – by the clash of desire and the determination to survive.
Ginger & Rosa is a drama film written and directed by Sally Potter and distributed by Artificial Eye. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2012, and was released on 19 October 2012 in the United Kingdom.
About the Story (2013)
In 1945, teenager Nat is giving birth in a hospital bed. Whilst she is in labour, Anoushka- the pregnant woman in the next bed- reaches out and takes her hand, beginning a life-long friendship. Nat’s daughter- Ginger, and Anoushka’s daughter- Rosa, grow up and become close friends. Rosa’s father leaves whilst she’s still a child, profoundly affecting her view of relationships.
By 1962, 17-year-old Ginger and Rosa are spending all their time together, and even dressing the same. Rosa begins drinking and behaving promiscuously. Nat disapproves of their friendship, as she thinks Rosa is a bad influence (Rosa’s own mother agrees with this). Ginger’s father, Roland, takes the opposite view to Nat and encourages his daughter’s wildness and independence. Roland and Nat are having trouble in their marriage and have broken up often in the past. Roland is an attractive, free-spirited professor who is implied to have been unfaithful several times. Meanwhile, Nat gave up her career as a painter to raise Ginger, and often feels resentful and bored.
Rosa and Ginger attend different schools (due to Rosa failing the 11-plus exam, which Ginger passed). However, they often skip school to spend time together, and Ginger’s grades suffer as a result. Ginger (who dreams of being a poet) starts to become interested in the anti-nuclear movement and attends rally meetings. Despite her wild behaviour, Rosa is a practising Catholic, and she takes Ginger to church so they can pray for the world together.
Soon after this, Ginger’s parents break-up after an argument over dinner. Roland moves out and enjoys his independent, bohemian lifestyle more. Nat visits Ginger’s school and asks that Ginger be allowed to take more ‘Home Economics’ classes. Nat believes that her daughter will eventually become a housewife, and she wants Ginger to be better prepared than she herself was. Ginger and Nat argue over this, and Ginger moves in with her father.
Rosa begins spending more time with Roland (as Ginger now lives with him), and eventually begins a relationship with him. Ginger is disturbed by the romance between her father and best friend. She is tempted to leave Roland’s home and move back in with her mother, but she changes her mind after seeing Nat is happy and has begun painting again. Roland knows his behaviour is making his daughter unhappy, but while he sympathises with her sadness, he does not stop the affair. Rosa believes that she and Roland will have everlasting love, but Ginger tells her she will end up like Nat- with Roland leaving her when she gets old. Rosa tells Ginger that she thinks she’s pregnant. Ginger is devastated and runs off to a protest rally, where she is arrested.
Roland and Nat and their family friends confront Ginger, who reveals that she has a terrible fear that the world is going to end. In reality, Ginger’s growing worries about the world are masking her greater fear of what’s happening between Roland and Rosa. As Ginger blurts out the truth of the affair, Nat is devastated. Some family members confront Roland and accuse him of acting irresponsibly towards his daughter, but he replies that Ginger is an independent adult. The family members try to show Roland that Ginger still needs a responsible father figure.
Ginger and Rosa (2013)
Directed by: Sally Potter
Starring: Elle Fanning, Christina Hendricks, Alice Englert, Annette Bening, Timothy Spall, Alessandro Nivola,
Screenplay by: Sally Potter
Production Design by: Carlos Conti
Cinematography by: Robbie Ryan
Film Editing by: Anders Refn
Costume Design by: Holly Waddington
Set Decoration by: Liz Griffiths
Art Direction by: Andrea Matheson
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature disturbing thematic material involving teen choices – sexuality, drinking, smoking, and for language.
Studio: A24 Films
Release Date: March 15, 2013
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