GEORGIA

Directed by Ulu Grosbard, 1995.

Date: Sep 11th, 2005. Format: Dvd. Surrounding: Tampere.

Many have ignored this drama of two different sisters, just because they ignore the music it includes. Music is not the main key to this music drama. The more interesting character here is Sadie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who is quite lost in her hang-around life. Her big sister Georgia (Mare Winnigham) is a successful C&W artist, and Sadie would like to sing in public as well. But she doesn't have enough skills. Still, she sings in bars, mainly Georgia's songs in a more punk way. Sadie is now facing the demands of of growing up, getting rid of too tight family ties, and how to find herself and become independent. The scheme is familiar to all of us, but I found something special from it, because my big brother is also a gifted musician. I've played some instruments too, but never tried to follow his steps seriously, although my parents (especially my father) tried to find the equal skills from me. I liked especially the drums I got, but I was happy at "only" banging them; didn't have the ambition to learn to play. What Sadie does in singing, is just the same, but in the same time she really tries to be as good as - or even better than - her sister. And she believes, quite desperately, that she can. Sadie's akward, 9-minute guest performance in Georgia's mega concert is a truly overlooked triumph from Jennifer Jason Leigh. Why was Winningham nominated for an Oscar instead? What surprised me in this film was the ending, it can be interpreted in many ways. I find it actually pretty unidealistic for both sisters. What is success in music, really? ****