Me Without You

The subject of the new film Me Without You is one many of us will find uncomfortably familiar—toxic friendship—the one person who you feel understands you completely is the one person who causes the most damage to your self image. That idea is very much on display in this story of the friendship between Holly (Dawson’s Creek Michelle Williams) and Marina (Anna Friel), neighbors whose unhappiness with suburban life outside London in the early 1970s draws them together. By the time punk descends on them in the late 70s, the dynamic of their friendship has begun to assert itself. Marina is the bolder of the two girls, embodying the qualities Holly lacks. However, without Holly, Marina is playing to an empty theater so to speak since Holly is the person who pays attention to her no matter what. This dynamic is tested when Holly falls for Marina’s older brother, Nat (Oliver Milburn). By the time the 80s hit, the girls are in full-blown competition over one of their professors (Kyle MacLachlan). Realizing that this friendship is causing her more harm than good, Holly has to make some drastic changes in her life. But how?

Director Sandra Goldbacher, whose first film was the Minnie Driver flick, The Governess, has created an interesting film that does its best to illustrate the flaws in all of its characters which not condemning them. Under other circumstances, Marina could be viewed as a monster for all the things she does to Holly, but Goldbacher and co-writer Laurence Coriat go to great lengths to show not just the behavior of these women, but the reasons behind it as well. They are aided by a great performance by Friel, who embodies Marina with strength and weakness simultaneously. Williams has the trickier of the two roles since she is the less showy character, but she manages to make Holly compelling nonetheless. And who knew she could do a credible British accent? I am still not sure if it was typecasting or just sheer good luck, but Sting’s wife, Trudie Styler, plays Marina’s lush of a mother like she’s way too comfortable in the role. Either way, Sting will now know what his bride will look like after all those years of sun damage to her skin.

It’s a shame Me Without You has yet to breakout of the art house ghetto since its probably one of the best films released this year. In a summer full of whiz bang action spectaculars, it’s a rare treat: A quiet, unassuming film whose themes and ideas are allowed to echo loudly through it. Now if only audiences would listen.

Submitted 09 August 02. Posted 22 August 02.