Antonia and Jane

I had a bit of free time yesterday and decided to watch again a film I have loved and watched many times: ANTONIA & JANE. It always surprises me when people tell me they never heard of some of my favorite movies, and this one in particular seems to have been almost totally overlooked.

Friends from childhood, Antonia (Saskia Reeves) and Jane (Imelda Staunton) have a relationship that falls into disrepair after Antonia steals Jane’s boyfriend. But they cannot let their bond go entirely so they meet once a year for dinner. Jane is frumpy, insecure and paranoid while Antonia is successful, classy and attractive. Unbeknownst to one another, they share a therapist. It also turns out that each envies the other.

In a series of hilarious coincidences and by-ways, each woman muddles through her own romantic and sexual relationships while their friendship, however strained, remains constant. One-liners and quirky turns of plot make this a film that will provoke quiet laughter but underneath it all we can feel a sense of recognition of our own longtime friendships – which, if you’re like me, can sometimes make you wonder “Why am I still friends with this person?” and then you remember things you’ve been thru together and the answer becomes obvious.