The Land Girls

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The Land Girls ★★½ 1998 (R)

Based on the real life Women's Land Army in England, which consisted of female volunteers who helped take over the duties of farmers who were fighting WWII. Stella (McCormack), Ag (Weisz) and Prue (Friel) are three city girls who come to Dorset in rural Britain to work on the farm of crusty Mr. Lawrence (Georgeson). Since the war started he has had only his submissive wife (O'Brien) and headstrong son Joe (Mackintosh) to help him. Joe, who dreams of being a fighter pilot, ends up in bed with each of the women; but on their terms, not his own. The movie is more concerned with the hard work these women did and the historical context than with the individual characters, however. The shared sacrifice and camaraderie overshadow the romantic subplots. Shot on location in western England. 110m/C VHS . GB Catherine McCormack, Rachel Weisz, Anna Friel, Steven Mackintosh, Tom Georgeson, Maureen O'Brien, Paul Bettany, Lucy Akhurst; D: David Leland; W: David Leland, Keith Dewhurst; C: Henry Braham; M: Brian Lock.

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