Our Ladies (2019)

Directed by: Michael Caton-Jones | 106 minutes | comedy, drama | Actors: Abigail Lawrie, Rona Morison, Marli Siu, Tallulah Greive, Sally Messham, Alex Hope, Jay Newton, Megan Shandley, Myra McFadyen, Bethany Tennick, Eve Austin, Kate Dickie, James Young, Claire Gordon

It’s 1996 and we find ourselves in a small town in the Scottish Highlands in teenage Orla’s bedroom. A poster of Leonardo DiCaprio hangs on the wall and pop music plays in the background. Orla prays to God and asks for three favors: a day without a fight, a new pair of boots and – in Scottish slang – “a good shag”.

In ‘Our Ladies’ we follow a group of Catholic schoolgirls on their way to a choral competition in the big city of Edinburgh. Finally, they get a chance to escape the daily grind and give in to their youthful sexual desires.

‘Our Ladies’ is an entertaining and sensitive film. Even though it’s always about sex, it never gets vulgar because the girls may act like they’re mature and mature, but you can tell by everything that deep down they’re still girls. Despite the fact that it is not always well acted, the casting has been successful and we follow a diverse group of girls in search of their true identity.

We meet, among others, the blond Manda, with the largest mouth of the group. Or Kayla, the singer of a punk band who, despite her innocent, wide eyes, slyly knows how to bend everyone to her will. And of course Orla, recovering from leukemia and determined to live life to the fullest. This subtly creates a slightly heavier undertone throughout the film. Live before it’s too late.

‘Our Ladies’ is based on the novel “The Sopranos”, not to be confused with the eponymous series written by Alan Warner (1998). Despite the fact that the film was released in 2019, it feels like ‘Our Ladies’ isn’t just set in the 90s, but was actually shot during that time. It feels dated. Young girls who are being seduced by older men, especially after the #metoo movement, are under a magnifying glass and you might not even be able to show them in this era. Also, some scenes are somewhat cliché, such as the well-known changing scene where the camera is the mirror for the girls to change while music is played over it.

Cinematically, ‘Our Ladies’ isn’t very challenging and you may feel more empathetic with the girls in book form. Sometimes it even feels like you’re watching an episode of a series instead of a movie. Perhaps because there are not really exciting events taking place, which in turn adds to the credibility of the film. They’re just teenage girls in the big city, who think they’re at the center of the world, that’s it.

The atmosphere of both the Scottish highlands and Edinburgh is wonderful to watch. Anyone who has ever been to Scotland will immediately recognize the small streets, the pubs and the overall Scottish mentality. You immediately feel like drinking a pint and chatting in the same Scottish accent.

All in all, ‘Our Ladies’ is an entertaining coming of age film that, despite the humor and light-heartedness, shows that – especially at that time – it must not have always been easy growing up as a young girl in a small, Catholic community. . ‘Our Ladies’ shows that you should enjoy every day and above all have the courage to spread your wings.