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| Divine
Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sister Club
Directed By: Callie
Khouri Plot
Summary - Review 1 - Review
2 - CURRENT REVIEWS
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| A classic Southern tale of hilarity set in a sleepy Louisiana parish, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood follows a group of lifelong friends who stage a rather unorthodox intervention to help a young playwright unravel the truth about her complicated, eccentric mother, find forgiveness and acceptance, and let go of her painful past.[TRAILER] Underscoring "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" is the simple, yet sincere notion of enduring friendship. In one sense, it is the bond between mother and daughter. In another, the bond within the four-woman sisterhood that unites the subjects of the film, giving each both a community in which to forget their worries and a support group to fall back on when time get tough. They are an intriguing bunch, friends through decades, and in the film's best moments are guides down a glorious memory lane. Yet, "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" seems to grow weary of their so-called secrets. Just as Vivi, Caro, Teensy and Necie work their charms, the film seems fixated on abandoning them in a recreation of the past, using an irritating array of flashbacks that interrupt this loveable sisterhood. The story grows from a confrontation between Sidda (Sandra Bullock) and her mother Vivi (Ellen Burstyn). Sidda has been featured in a recent "Time" magazine article and has not chosen words about her family or her childhood very carefully. Vivi's reaction to Sidda's candid revelations is anything but tame. She curses, cries, and slams the phone against the kitchen table. Just about the time she removes all pictures of Sidda from the house, her sisterhood supporters ride in. They are elderly now but have remained friends from early childhood. In a blood oath, they have promised to "let no man put asunder." So here they are again, together. Some seventy years later, they have not forgotten their pact. And, in a keen bit of planning, Vivi's partners scheme behind her back to kidnap Sidda and resolve this unneeded quarrel. The majority of the film exists in this abduction. In a remote cabin, the Ya-Ya sisterhood allows a new member to peer into their memories for the first time. Through pictures, artifacts, and stories, Sidda is told about her mother, this group's sacred bond, and her mother's struggles of which Sidda was never aware. The goal: to instill Sidda with a sense of empathy-to understand who her mother is and why. While reminiscing, there are riotous retellings of times past. One memorable scene features the four women, sweltering on a summer evening, commandeering the family car to create their own breeze. Cruising down the moonlit road, topless and screaming, they pass the local sheriff and are chased by a flashing squad. Interestingly, we never quite learn how that story ends. Then again, it doesn't matter. The joy of these stories is the people, the places, and the action, never the end result. In a surprisingly short span of time, the audience begins to bond with these four aging women and the young, passive Bullock. Through their stories, it is obvious they have a friendship to be admired; a closeness that most people wish they had more of in their lives. It is these late-night talks and revelations that keep this film intact. It is when director Callie Khouri begins to use flashbacks that it threatens to fall apart. And there are several, all retelling the days of both Sidda's and Vivi's childhood. The stories told in these vivid memories are important. Vivi's mother was an overbearing, proper southern woman. Sidda's childhood saw some of Vivi's worst days. They are not merely memories but tools of deconstructing each character's emotions. It is more the way these flashbacks are created that renders the film, at times, nearly incoherent. There are at least two scenes containing passionate emotional outbursts where the audience is clueless as to what is happening. The members of the sisterhood, so distinctly portrayed in the present, become indistinguishable young girls in the past. When Sidda and Vivi's long-overdue confrontation occurs, it seems like a diminished afterthought to the conclusions of these intrusive side stories. As long as "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" focuses on the here and now, the story seems fresh and real. When Vivi and her sisters laugh, they embody the memories that bring a smile to the face. When the distracting flashbacks start, the familiar faces and chemistry are gone. Without them, the magic of the storytelling fades. Nostalgia is a powerful thing. Just remember your first kiss, that perfect midnight giddiness with best friends or that moment with your child you'll never forget. The Ya-Ya sisterhood successfully tugs on our hearts, but it becomes clear that these two hours would be better spent reflecting on our own treasured memories than getting confused by this group's sordid past.  
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| Steve's review was a welcome plus to the movie. It has such wonderful actresses, but has been marketed as such a stereotypical chic flick, that I certainly don't want to see it (neither I might add would any self-respecting girl). But then again maybe not... | |
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