Okay, let’s dim the lights, imagine the satisfying clunk of a tape engaging, and settle in. Remember those trips to the video store, scanning shelves packed with promises? Sometimes, amidst the louder action flicks and splashy comedies, you’d find something quieter, maybe a bit stranger, with familiar faces on the cover hinting at something unexpected. That’s the feeling Some Girls (1988) often evokes – a film that landed in that curious space between teen romance and offbeat European art film, leaving a distinct, slightly perplexing memory trace.
It begins, as many youthful journeys do, with pursuit. Michael (Patrick Dempsey, then riding the wave from Can't Buy Me Love), a earnest American college student, follows his elusive girlfriend Gabriella (Jennifer Connelly) home for Christmas to the snow-dusted, historic streets of Quebec City. He arrives expecting reconciliation, perhaps a cozy holiday introduction. What he finds instead is the d'Arc family – eccentric, intellectual, emotionally labyrinthine, and utterly captivating in their strangeness. Gabriella promptly declares she no longer loves him, leaving Michael stranded in a beautiful, bewildering household presided over by a brilliant, bedridden, and terminally ill grandmother, a father who wanders naked quoting literature, and Gabriella’s two equally beguiling sisters.
An Outsider's Gaze
What unfolds isn't your standard romantic comedy structure. Director Michael Hoffman (who would later give us more stately fare like Restoration and The Last Station) and writer Rupert Walters (drawing from semi-autobiographical threads, lending the piece an air of lived-in oddity) craft something far more observational and atmospheric. We experience the d'Arc family entirely through Michael’s increasingly confused perspective. He’s the audience surrogate, trying to decipher the codes of this close-knit, slightly morbid, highly articulate clan. It's less about plot twists and more about soaking in the peculiar rhythm of their lives – the intellectual jousting, the sudden bursts of sensuality, the omnipresent shadow of mortality cast by the grandmother upstairs. Filming on location in Quebec City and Montreal was crucial; the Old World charm and wintry landscapes become another character, enhancing the feeling of displacement and melancholic beauty. It feels miles away, both geographically and tonally, from the sun-drenched suburbs of many contemporary 80s teen films.
The Mysteries Within
The heart of the film lies with the d'Arc women. Jennifer Connelly, already possessing that ethereal screen presence seen in Labyrinth, embodies Gabriella's capricious allure. She's intelligent, desirable, yet frustratingly opaque – a puzzle Michael (and the viewer) can't quite solve. But it's arguably Sheila Kelley as the fiercely intense, almost predatory sister Irenka who steals many scenes. Her directness and simmering sensuality offer a stark contrast to Gabriella's whimsy, pulling Michael into a different kind of emotional and physical entanglement. The third sister, Simone, adds another layer of playful complication. Their collective energy is fascinating – they operate as a unit, sharing secrets and affections in a way that feels both intimate and slightly unnerving to the outsider. Does their behaviour feel entirely plausible? Perhaps not always, but it serves the film’s almost dreamlike quality, exploring the confusing signals and shifting allegiances of young adulthood and attraction.
More Than Just Quirks
Beneath the surface eccentricities – the philosophical debates over breakfast, the casual nudity, the almost fairy-tale isolation – Some Girls touches on deeper themes. There’s the potent reality of grief and impending loss, centered around the formidable grandmother whose sharp wit remains even as her body fails. Her interactions with Michael provide some of the film's most poignant moments, grounding the romantic entanglements with a sense of life's fragility. It asks questions about the nature of love versus infatuation, the ways families shape us (for better or worse), and the often-painful process of figuring out who you are when removed from your familiar world.
The film wasn't a massive hit upon release; reviews were mixed, with some critics charmed by its unique flavour and others finding it perhaps a bit too self-consciously quirky or meandering. It grossed modestly against its estimated budget, solidifying its path towards becoming one of those half-remembered VHS discoveries rather than a mainstream classic. But its deliberate pacing and focus on mood over intricate plotting are precisely what make it stick with you. It's a film that invites reflection rather than demanding immediate reaction. You might find yourself thinking about the dynamics long after the credits roll – didn't we all know families with their own strange rituals and unspoken rules? What does it truly mean to connect with someone from a world utterly different from our own?
Some Girls isn't perfect. Its tone can sometimes wobble, and Michael occasionally feels more like a passive observer than a fully driving protagonist. Yet, its commitment to its specific, strange atmosphere is admirable. Patrick Dempsey delivers a nicely understated performance, capturing Michael's blend of hopefulness and perpetual bewilderment. The visuals have a soft, wintry beauty, and the overall effect is like uncovering a slightly faded, intriguing photograph from a trip you almost forgot you took.
***
Rating: 7/10
Justification: This score reflects the film's undeniable charm, strong atmosphere, and memorable performances, particularly from the female leads. It successfully creates a unique, slightly melancholic mood distinct from typical 80s fare. However, it loses points for a somewhat meandering narrative and occasional tonal unevenness that might frustrate viewers seeking a more conventional plot. It’s a solid '7' because its strengths – its peculiar beauty and thoughtful undercurrents – significantly outweigh its flaws, making it a rewarding watch for those seeking something different from the era.
Final Thought: More than just a quirky romance, Some Girls lingers as a bittersweet mood piece, a reminder that sometimes the most memorable encounters are the ones that leave us with more questions than answers, wrapped in the undeniable atmosphere of a specific time and place captured on tape.