The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in Love directed by Maria Maggenti

New Line Cinema (1995)

ASIN: B0001HAGSI
94 minutes

Rated R
Viewing Level: 16 and above, but because it's rated R,
a teen may need parental consent.

Summary:

This is a sweet love story mixed with a coming-of-age tale between two high school girls from different social and economic backgrounds. Randy, a rebellious teen who lives with her aunt and her aunt’s girlfriend, meets popular and wealthy Evie when she brings her car to the garage where Randy works after school. Evie is a popular and affluent girl with a group of friends who flock around her, as long as she is the person they want her to be. As their relationship grows and Evie comes to the realization that she loves Randy and vice versa, Randy’s warnings about keeping their relationship under wraps go unheeded. An exciting climax brings both families together, whether they want to or not, for an ending that will be hard to forget. This film ends with a on-screen credit that reads, "For my first girlfriend: May our relationship finally rest in peace."

Critical Evaluation:

The best element of this film is the characterization of lesbians. They are not seen as different or wrong, simply as another type of family. Randy’s family consists of her aunt, her aunt’s girlfriend, and the ex-girlfriend who comes to live with them, and it is just as “regular” as Evie’s living with her mother who is divorced from her father. The main difference between the two teens is social class. There is a running line about how nice a car Evie has, even though it was purchased by her father out of guilt. Randy, however, works at a gas station after school, is looked down at school for being a “dyke,” and is presumably not as smart as Evie. Maggenti carefully shows that Randy has untapped potential by the way she devours and understands Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, showing the audience that people, in general, may not be what they seem. This film not only is a romantic romp with two teens who fall in love, but it is also a strong film that showcases how people are deeper and more precious than what may be apparent on the outside.

Reader’s Annotation:
Two young teens from different backgrounds find love in the unlikeliest of places.

This could be the beginning of a beautiful life.

Author Biography:

Writer/Director Maria Maggenti was born 1962 and raised in various locales including Nigeria, West Africa, as well as London, Rome, New York and Washington D.C. Graduating from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, with a double major in Philosophy and Classics, she later received an MFA in filmmaking from the NYU Graduate school.

Maggenti’s film debut started out in a writing class, creating and developing the script. Based upon her experience with first love when she was young, it started out as a dark story, but then grew to be lighter. After procuring producers who wanted more of a back-story, the screenplay flourished with how the two teens met and how their relationship blossomed. Maggenti has gone on to write and direct Puccini for Beginners, and she has also been a story editor and writer for Without a Trace.

Genre: Romantic Comedy/ LGBTQ

Curriculum Ties:

If there is a class on gender roles, this film would be a good addition,
although these are usually found in colleges.

Booktalking Ideas:

-How do Evie and Randy’s lives differ in terms of socioeconomic ties and family?

- "God, Evie, you are so sheltered," Randy tells Evie, who responds
"Well, unshelter me." In what way is Evie sheltered?
In what ways does Randy open Evie’s eyes?

View-Alikes:

-Imagine Me and You directed by Pi Parker.

-Show me Love directed by Lukas Moodysson.

-Loving Annabelle directed by Katherine Brooks.

-TV show – The L Word.

-Lost and Delirious by Lea Pool.

Challenge Issue:

The obvious challenge would be because the subject matter of two teen girls falling in love. One could reasonably argue that a story about two girls finding love should stand on the same shelf as the myriad of stories about a boy falling for a girl or a girl falling for a boy that inundate the local rental store. I would paraphrase what David Levithan (2004) has said when librarians come to him and tell him that some of their patrons “don’t agree with homosexuality.” Levithan writes, “Here’s the thing: being gay is not an issue, it is an identity. It is not something that you can agree or disagree with. It is a fact, and must be defended and represented as fact.” (p. 44). Levithan gives a perfect example in how he is Jewish, and if someone were to say “I’m sorry, but we can’t carry that book because it’s so Jewish and some people in my school don’t agree with Jewish culture” (p. 44), he would be protesting loudly alongside many others. Change the word “Jewish” to any other denomination or race and one would get the idea. I would gently remind patrons of the above and think of how they would react if it was one of their identities under scrutiny.

Reason to include in blog:

I remember watching this either in my senior year of high school or a bit after. The straightforward film about a blossoming relationship which just happens to be about two girls, one white and one African-American, was different from any other film I’d seen. The blend of humor, drama, and adventure not only made for an enjoyable viewing experience, but I think it would be appropriate for gay teens to show their parents in order for their parents to gain a deeper insight into their children’s lives.

References:

Hall, D. (Producer), & Maggenti, M. (Director). (1995). The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in      Love. [Motion picture]. United States: New Line Cinema.

Maggenti, M. (2011). In IMDB. Retrieved from  

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0535940/bio

Levithan, D. (2004). Supporting gay teen literature.
     School Library Journal, 50(10), 44-45.

The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love 1995. (2000).

Lesbian Film Guide, 109-110.

West, D., West, J. (1995). An incredibly true cinematic adventure.

Cineaste, 21(4), 41-42.

Film Clip: