Chantilly Bridge

I had the opportunity to see Chantilly Bridge at a screening in NYC at the Village East (a father-daughter event). It was a beautifully made movie, wonderful cast, and a great follow-up to Chantilly Lace (which I had seen earlier in the week, but my daughter had not). BOTH of us enjoyed the movie thoroughly, and found the stories compelling, the acting very "real" (and as much of it was unscripted, that added to the authenticity), and while filled with feminist themes and lots of "girl-bonding", it was not just a "Chick flick"! Definitely worth seeing, and loved the addition of Patricia Richardson to the ensemble cast!

"Chantilly Bridge," the sequel to "Chantilly Lace" (1993), is the story of a group of friends facing late middle age and older, the problems and issues that happen along the way. The all-woman cast shows a friendship that has endured for all of their lives and the movie depicts this and how they are always there for each other - good and bad. "Chantilly Bridge" shows the love they have for one another. The women gather to pay tribute to Ruth and to help her daughter, Shelley (Patricia Richardson) pack up her mom's belongings and sell her home. The issues that are brought up in this movie are poignant and have real world substance. These lifelong friends reminisce, discuss life altering events in their lives and just being themselves as only old friends can do. It is a moving and thought-provoking movie.

Director Linda Yellen shot the film in a small town in Northern New York during winter. The movie features a lot of improvisation, and the all-women cast worked together to develop their characters and their concerns. This way of filming the movie gives it authenticity and sincerity.

This is a movie I would strongly recommend seeing.

This film holds you in its heart from beginning to end. It was authentic & relatable on every level. Acting, writing, directing, music, cinematography - all riveting, all right on the mark. The best friends in the story become your best friends, their struggles, your struggles, their joy, your joy. Yes, it's a film about women and friendship, but men should see it as well. So much insight. It will enlighten and enrich you. I've also never seen a movie that is so lyrical, not just in the dialogue, but in the way the dialogue, music and action are all put together. Kudos to these wonderful actors, and the writer, director, cinematographer and everyone else who worked on this film and put it together in such a beautiful way. Thank you. I will cherish this film and watch it, again and again.

I just saw Chantilly Bridge at the Village East in NYC - and it is an incredible gem of a movie, and one of the first in the long time where I felt I was on a journey with the audience - we laughed, gasped, cried - basically went through the rollercoaster of the movie (and life's emotions) together. It's about female friendship and the ties that bind us together -- and what we might just think could pulls apart is what's those relationships deeper and more resonant. The ensemble cast was just brilliant, familiar women who you just want to root for. I really am still finding the words to describe it. (Did not see Chantilly's Lace prior, so now I have to hunt that down).

Linda Yellen's CHANTILLY BRIDGE is a love note to the indomitability of female friendship and the beauty and complexities of found family as we age, love and grow. Though a sequel to Yellen's CHANTILLY LACE, seeing the prior film is not a prerequisite. I hadn't and yet was immediately swept up in each woman's quietly fraught world, cheering for her triumphs and mourning the inevitable losses and compromises that are part and parcel of the landscape of every life. Unvarnished dialogue, an authentic rapport and warmth among the characters, stellar storytelling and gorgeous filmography (the backdrop is the spartan beauty of a rural Upstate New York winter) make CHANTILLY BRIDGE an absolute must see.