Dir. Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, US, 2001, 97 mins
Cast: Jennifer Westfeldt, Tovah Feldshuh
Kissing Jessica Stein is a well-meaning tragic-comic drama about love, life and sexuality in the modern world. Well written and performed by Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen the film is a witty and honest portrayal of the complex nature of love and friendship. Jessica Stein (Westfeldt) is an extreme romantic trapped inside a quirky, shy and retiring body who decides to attempt to become herself (or perhaps to become something other than she is) by answering an eloquent lonely hearts add in the hope that it could prove to be the embodiment of her romantic ideal. The author of the add, Helen Cooper (Juergensen), does turn out to be all that Jessica ever wanted, but issues of their sexuality, previous male lovers and Jessica's inability to admit their relationship to her Orthodox Jewish family begin to take their toll on the couple. The appeal of this film does not rest solely on its engagement with the issue of homosexuality, for though it is a touching and sensitive portrayal of lesbianism, it has the ability to go beyond it. Ideas about friendship, working life and intellectual life, family life and private life are all given a voice and it makes it a well rounded and engaging story. There are elements of the pretentious about this film that some may frustrating, any one among us who has seen one too many New York art gallery openings of the Sex and the City variety may wish to give this one a miss. It is intelligent rather overstated and sensitive rather than overbearing, however, and I hope you make an exception for this one. Eleri Evans |
