IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2
by Kate Bishop

Our reviewer gives "Walls 2" and HBO a big round of applause for tackling issues that are caustic and relevant, even in this "liberal" age.

If These Walls Could Talk 2, an original HBO movie, takes an in depth look at the lives of gay women in three different time periods.

Part One: 1961
The first episode is a look at a couple who have been together for fifty years. Edith (Vanessa Redgrave - Julia, Isadora) and her lifelong companion, Abby (Marian Seldes), have to deal with the utmost discreetness in the society they live in, during a time when liberal was a four-letter word. When Abby finds herself in the waiting room after Edith has a tragic fall, the mistreatment towards her becomes all too familiar because she is not "family."

Edith then has to go home to deal with the misgivings of Abby's family, because they do not want to acknowledge the relationship that went on for so many years. Abby's nephew (Paul Giamatti - Donnie Brasco) and his wife (Elizabeth Perkins - Big, Sweet Hearts Dance) rush from out-of-state to repossess all of Abby's belongings, including the house that also belonged to Edith.

However, since there was no will to contest legality, Edith is ultimately at a loss to protect herself or her belongings. This is a bittersweet tale of love and the reality of hardships faced by people who must hide their true life.

Part One was directed by Jane Anderson (How To Make An American Quilt).

Part Two: 1972
The house now serves as an apartment for four college women who campaign for the rights of women and the feminist issues that are so prominent during this era. Linda (Michelle Williams - Dawson's Creek) finds conflict and contention with her roommates when she falls for Amy (Chloe Sevigny - Boys Don't Cry), a woman who dresses to please herself and who does not fit her friends' image of an ideal partner, and thus does not fit in the realm of the rights they are fighting for.

Amy wears a tie, men's pants and shirts, and slicks her hair back like a mechanic. After enduring harassment and ridicule from her friends, Linda goes to Amy and exclaims her hypocrisy. The two must decide how to reconcile their feelings for each other without compromising their rights.

This segment was directed by Martha Coolidge (Rambling Rose).

Part Three: 2000
The house is now occupied by a young lesbian couple Fran (Sharon Stone - The Mighty, Casino) and Kal (Ellen Degeneres - EdTV, The Love Letter)). All they want to do is have a baby. They sit outside every day watching children at the playground, doing their best to reaffirm their wishes.

The provider of the sperm was going to be a gay male friend of theirs; however, he changed his mind after reconsidering the participation in the child's life. Fran and Kal begin their search at the sperm bank, where they learn of all the difficulties for finding the perfect donor.

Once Fran begins to ovulate, and they've settled on a donor, the many attempts to get pregnant becomes quite the challenge, which leads them to go through an insemination procedure. Both Fran and Kal remain calm and hopeful, realizing how grateful they are at the opportunities they have, especially after they realize Fran is pregnant. This segment, perhaps the most humorous in the trilogy, was directed by Anne Heche, in her directorial debut.

All three short stories deal with issues that are very real and very relevant, regardless the era they occurred.

If These Walls Could Talk 2 is another topical television event worth watching. Keep up the good work, HBO.

Kate Bishop is a graphic artist and writer in Atlanta, GA.

Got a problem? Email Kate at filmmonthly@hotmail.com