Career Girls

Career Girls is about the reunion of two former students: sharp humoured, Hannah (Cartlidge) and extremely nervous, Annie (Steadman).

Ten years on they have become lower middle class, successful executives. During their first dry humoured nostalgic rendezvous, which is staged in a train station, we learn that they have a lot to recollect about. The action flows between their college days and the present day with great ease. A notable part is when they go flat-hunting in one of the 80’s yuppie blocks near Canary Wharf. Here they encounter one of Thatcher’s Basildon men (new-comer Serkis), who is outstanding. Looking out across London, Hannah asks him: “I suppose on a clear day you can see the class war from here”, which is typical of the statements this film is trying to make.

Career girls is a well-directed observation of the faults of human behaviour, delivered with Leigh’s unique wit. Mike Leigh has produced another great film, similar in style and quality to Secrets and Lies.

Victoria Black