Steel Magnolias

This blog-post being my first one , i start with the movie i watched most recently - 'Steel Magnolias'. A comedy-drama, it is adapted from a play based on the playwright Robert Harling's experience with his  sister's death. This movie released in the year that i was born , is an excellent example of the fact that emotions transcend cultures and languages. My mother who barely understands american english or their culture , was glued to the screen when Sally Field ( M'Lynn) slowly breaks down while coming to terms with Shelby (Julia Roberts') death. Her opinion about the scene was - 'Great Acting !! ' - this from a woman whose lifestyle and beliefs are dead-opposite that of the characters in the film. Julia Roberts received her first oscar nomination but to me the real winner was Sally Field . As a caring mother, advising her diabetic daughter against having a child , as someone who patiently sits by her comatose daughter's bedside at the hospital even as the father can't bear to be there , and finally as the strong-willed granny coming to terms with her daughter's death and bringing up her grand child, she truly stole the show in every scene.
                                                                This movie starts off really funnily , then takes a dramatic twist before finally ending on a 'happily ever after' tone. The casting is brilliant - incredible chemistry between the 6 leading women , especially the sweet n sour friendship of ouiser and clairee. This movie which i have watched 4 times already, introduced me to 2 of my favourite actresses - sally field and olympia dukakis. An ideal movie for a lazy afternoon......

One quote which summarizes the essence of the film :
Truvy: Honey, time marches on and eventually you realize it is marchin' across your face.......

Steel Magnolias on IMDb



More Movies later.......