This movie was very heartwarming. I loved Julia Child on TV and actually made boeuf bourguignon when I was in high school. I made my mother get a special pot to cook it in and I remember the search for peppercorns as spices were not as plentiful in stores back then. It was a wonderful meal. Meryl Streep is an amazing actress. She really got the voice just right.
I really enjoyed Anne's portrayal of this troubled young woman. Her mother's detachment, masking a hidden rage and underlying guilt was thought provoking. The reception was very multicultural and interesting but too long.
I knew this movie was about religious differences and their effect on relationships, as well as parental control issues. What I did not expect was the twist at the end where the father's bedside contrition had more effect on the daughter than all her mother's rote prayers and attempts to manage her life. It was a profoundly disturbing film, and I will plan to watch it again sometime.
This was a completely enjoyable film, just like watching 5 episodes of the show without having to wait a week to see what comes next. The scenery of New York is always thrilling and the clothes were colorful, although not as breathtaking as some of the outfits worn in the TV series. The girls looked their age in the beginning, but actually looked younger and fresher toward the end. Not sure if a sequel would have the same success.