There’s been several terrific female coming of age films most notably ‘Book Smart’ and the latest is ‘Extra Geography’ that is based on a short story by Rose Tremain and adapted by Succession writer Miriam Battye.
Set in the early noughties in an English boarding school for girls it focuses on inseparable best friends Minna (Galaxie Clear) and Flic (Marni Fuggan) and share common interests notably entry into Oxbridge and a disdain for boys and those who desire them. It’s a engrossing first part with the girls as close as close can be when it comes to their spiky friendship. But their initial overriding concern is ‘What will happen if we don’t get into Oxbridge?’ For our editor it was Borstal (‘You’re fired! – Ed). Most of us remember the University interview and the awkward questions the professors asked probing your thirst for knowledge (again for our Editor he did have a thirst which he quenched by spending all day at the student union bar) and the usual final interview question, ’Where do you see yourself in five years time? saw our Editor reply, ‘On bail’ (‘Clear your desk, you’re definitely fired! – Ed).
What is ‘extra geography’?
But for Minna and Flic they decide that to enhance their chances they must become more worldly and to that end they audition for the school play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and set upon the idea of falling in love with the first person they see, an idea pioneered by Katie Price and her consequent 273 divorces. For the girls though this turns out to be their New Zealand geography teacher Miss Delavigne (Alice Englert) and its where the film gets its title as they attempt to get additional lessons at her lodgings. But when Minna gets a star role in the school play but Flic lands the non-existent role of ‘mound’ the Shakespearean equivalent of what must be 3rd sheep in the school Nativity play things take a turn in their friendship. Minna gets better dealing with boys and charming others so Flic determines to get the attention and affection of Miss Delavigne instead with the schoolgirls friendship slowly disintegrating.
Clear and Fuggan are excellent in the roles as their relationship grows increasingly rocky and there’s much to identify with for audiences recalling school friendships. It’s all expertly handled by director Molly Manners in her feature film debut after a number of TV series that has seen her win a BAFTA and after this it makes whatever her and her two leads do next keenly anticipated.
related feature : Jonatan Etzler on Bad Apples, Saoirse Ronan and the dark side of education
related feature : ‘School’s Out Forever’ – the kids take the law into their own hands!
Here’s the Extra Geography trailer….
The post Extra Geography – REVIEW appeared first on Any Good Films.
from Any Good Films https://ift.tt/YlCDHji
