Career Girls
| Career Girls | |
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Promotional poster for Career Girls
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| Directed by | Mike Leigh |
| Produced by | Simon Channing Williams |
| Written by | Mike Leigh |
| Starring |
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| Music by |
Marianne Jean-Baptiste Tony Remy |
| Cinematography | Dick Pope |
| Edited by | Robin Sales |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Film Four Distributors (UK) October Films (US) |
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Release date
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Running time
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87 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Career Girls is a 1997 British dramatic comedy film written and directed by Mike Leigh which tells the story of two women, who reunite after six years apart. The film stars Katrin Cartlidge and Lynda Steadman. The women were originally thrown together when they shared a flat while at university and the film focuses on their interpersonal relationship.
The film is not related to Louise Bagshawe's 1995 novel of the same name.
In 1996, Annie is on the train to London to spend the weekend with Hannah, her flatmate when at university (the Polytechnic of North London) six years earlier. Hannah laments about her alcoholic mother and Annie tells about her mother's search for a new boyfriend. Annie, who still lives with her mother, admires Hannah's independence. In contrast, Hannah laments being forced to be independent since she was a child.
Back in 1986, Hannah and Claire interview and accept Annie into their flat. Annie and Hannah discuss getting rid of Claire the next year. Hannah and Annie discuss how Hannah hasn't cried since she was eight when her parents split up. Annie, whose parents also divorced when she was eight, says she cries all the time. The following year, Ricky Burton, a socially awkward stutterer, has temporarily moved in with Hannah and Annie after being kicked out by his landlord. While discussing psychological traits with them in a pub, Ricky's untactful probing angers Hannah. While Ricky visits the Chinese restaurant beneath the flat, Annie and Hannah discuss the argument and how Ricky fancies Annie. In another memory, Ricky drunkenly confesses his love for Annie, but Annie says she's in love with someone else. Ricky leaves, but he doesn't reappear, so Hannah and Annie visit his Nan's home in Hartlepool. His Nan tells them that Ricky has gone out, possibly along the sea front, they go to look for him.
In present day, Annie accompanies Hannah as she looks for a flat to buy. One flat is owned by a Mr. Evans, whose flat contains a painting of his naked ex-girlfriend and pornographic magazines. Evans hits on Hannah and offers both women alcohol. They run out of the flat making excuses and are still laughing as they drive off. Adrian Spinks, a real estate agent, meets them at the next flat. Annie recognises him as an old college boyfriend, but Adrian says he doesn't recognise them. In between their conversations, flashbacks show Hannah and Annie's history with Adrian. After meeting at a club, Hannah takes Adrian home and sleeps with him. The following morning, he walks into Annie's room and tries to chat her up. In other flashbacks, Annie tells Adrian about a recurring sexual fantasy. Later, they kiss and discuss why he split up with his ex-girlfriend. Adrian says he didn't want the commitment, and leaves when Annie asks why.
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