Julie is now without any means of support and no skills to get a job. Meanwhile, Claire, who says that all couples have their rough spots but that her own started the day she married her own cop husband Mike, decides to leave her husband and move in with Julie. The thing is, Julie and Claire do not even know how to balance a checkbook, although Julie's kids do. Claire has a job though and this helps Julie continue her studies. Julie's teacher, Mr. Miranda (played by monologist and actor Spalding Gray), soon realizes that Julie has a hidden talent for science, advanced mathematics, and computer science, so much so that he thinks she has a very good chance for a full scholarship to a science college after she passes her GED. Julie is not so sure she can pass the GED though because of the English portion of the test.
Julie has another complication as well. She knows that she is falling head over heels for Claire. She is confused by the feelings that she has for her best friend and is unsure how to tell Claire or how she will react when she finally does tell her. Julie is moving into a lot of unknown territory and is greatly conflicted but she knows that she cannot go back to the way her life was before. So, what will happen to Julie and her life? You will have to see the movie to find out.
"Julie Johnson" is a great film. You do not have to be a science major to appreciate it. Another thing about it is that by the end of it, not everything is tied up in a nice little package. Julie wins some things but not everything. Many things are left open-ended, just like real life. When the movie ended, I had to go outside and sit on a bench away from the other people who attended the screening at The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. I had to think about how in some ways Julie's life mirrored my own. I had to think about the things I've gained and lost in my own life. I thought about a woman I used to know and who I wished sometimes I could talk to her but I know I cannot. I had to bite the inside of my cheek a few times to keep from crying as I smoked a cigarette alone.
"Julie Johnson" has a web site at http://www.juliejohnson.com
AGLIFF runs from August 24th to September 6th, 2001 and will feature many fine films. If you get a chance to go you can call and reserve tickets at 512-458-9464.
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 | | ABOUT NICOLE
Nicole Blizzard is a published poet whose poetry has appeared in such publications as "Illya's Honey" and "The Open Window II" (Hidden Brook Press) as well as in TechnoDyke's writer's forum, "The WriteDyke". She is also a freelance writer exclusively for TechnoDyke.com on a variety of subjects. She can be contacted at nicole_b92@hotmail.com |
