Hideous Kinky was based on Esther Freud’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name.  The film is beautifully shot and scored and well acted, but was a bit too languorous for my taste.  I don’t think the pace or meager plot would have bothered me so much had I not wanted to shake Julia all through the film.  I’m a spiritual seeker if ever there was one, but it was tough to watch a woman neglect her kids’ education and health while she searches for her own enlightenment.  I probably would have found Julia a more sympathetic character had I read the book rather that watched the film.  Winslet’s Julia is so spacey and disconnected that it’s hard to support her decisions throughout the film.  I think that was intentional, and it does raise an appreciable tension in the film.  Overall, it was a nice way to spend an evening, but I’m much more likely to buy the book than watch the film again.

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