HBO caused a stir when it aired If These Walls Could Talk, a portrait of three women from three generations (all who occupied the same house at various times) who had unwanted pregnancies. HBO utilizes the same gimmick in the sequel, this time telling the story of women who love women.

The three stories of If These Walls Could Talk 2 are uneven. Far and away the most powerful and moving story is the first, taking place in 1961, starring Vanessa Redgrave as a woman "widowed" when her partner of 50 years suddenly dies. Redgrave is phenomenal, and her piece alone makes this sequel worth watching. The 1972 portion stars Michelle Williams, who finds dealing with the sexual politics of the gay community increasingly more complex when she falls in love with a boyish woman (played by Chloë Sevigny). The most modern piece, taking place in 2000, portrays a contemporary lesbian couple (Sharon Stone and Ellen DeGeneres) determined to have a baby. The light nature of the story detracts from the more serious issues of the earlier segments. Despite the mixed fare, HBO once again proves itself on the cutting edge of moviemaking, with this rather daring film that will both provoke and entertain. --Jenny Brown

Reviews

Barnes & Noble

The 1996 anthology film If These Walls Could Talk earned kudos for exploring abortion through the eyes of three women of different eras. In If These Walls Could Talk 2, HBO again tackles complexities, dealing with the joys and sorrows of being a lesbian in the 1960s, the '70s, and today. Divided into three separate-though-related stories, the film's tone is one of gentle humor, careful pathos, and compassion. The first and most poignant tale, simply titled "1961," features Vanessa Redgrave in a haunting, Emmy-winning performance as an elderly woman mourning over death of her lifelong partner -- while her partner's family is coldly eager to move on. Next comes the surprisingly nostalgic "1972," directed by Martha Coolidge (Rambling Rose). This story introduces Linda (Michelle Williams of Dawson's Creek) as a politically active coed whose equally radical friends (Natasha Lyonne, Nia Long, Amy Carlson) frown on her choice of girlfriends -- a rather butch cross-dresser (Chloe Sevigny). The third segment, "2000," stars Sharon Stone and Ellen DeGeneres as a yuppie couple who, having made the decision to have a child, face the challenge of finding an appropriate sperm donor -- with help from, most notably, Kathy Najimy as a sympathetic gynecologist. "2000," the most lighthearted of the three segments, marks the directorial debut of Anne Heche, now DeGeneres's famously former main squeeze. If These Walls Could Talk 2 is at its most powerful when exploring the love between each of its couples. And while the pieces have their uneven moments, as a whole, they are thought-provoking and tender portraits. Doree Shafrir

Synopsis

All Movie Guide

This three-part drama, produced for HBO, examines the changing tides of the lives of lesbians in America, both politically and personally, as we eavesdrop on three stories taking place in the same house over a span of five decades. In 1961, the house is home to Edith (Vanessa Redgrave) and Abby (Marian Seldes), an elderly lesbian couple whose lifestyle is not accepted or acknowledged by their families. When Abby suffers a serious stroke and is on the verge of death, her family rallies to her side, but not understanding the nature of her relationship with Edith, she is not included as her loved ones say their final good-byes. After Abby's death, her nephew (Paul Giamatti) and his wife (Elizabeth Perkins) arrive from out of state with plans to sell the house, without consulting Edith. In 1972, the house is now home to four college students, Michelle (Amy Carlson), Linda (Michelle Williams), Karen (Nia Long), and Jeanne (Natasha Lyonne), all of whom are actively involved in the women's movement and also happen to be lesbians. The four find themselves at odds with the campus women's group when they try to promote an all-women's dance, while the other members of the group feel that feminism, not lesbianism, should be the focus of the group. Similarly, Linda faces hostility from her friends when she becomes involved with Amy (Chloe Sevigny), a very butch townie; Linda's friends see Amy's masculine attire and attitude as a form of self-loathing against being a woman, and while Linda cares deeply for Amy, she's not always comfortable with her and isn't sure that she wants to be public with their relationship. In 2000, Fran (Sharon Stone) and Kal (Ellen DeGeneres), a happy and firmly committed couple, are sharing the house, and after much discussion, they decide that they want to take their relationship to the next level and have a baby. However, deciding that they want a child and dealing with the practicalities of getting pregnant are two different things; Fran and Kal first debate about going to a sperm bank as opposed to asking one of their male friends to help out, and later, either going to a doctor to perform the procedure or trying it at home. DeGeneres' significant other, Anne Heche, wrote and directed the final segment; the 1972 story was directed by Martha Coolidge, and the 1961 episode was directed by Jane Anderson. Mark Deming