LOLA VERSUS

US, 2012, 87 minutes, Colour.
Greta Gerwig, Hamish Linklater, Joel Kinnaman, Zoe Lister Jones, Bill Pullman, Debra Winger.
Directed by Daryl Wein.

Lola Versus is in New York story co-written by the director, Darrel Wien, and co-star, Zoe Lister Jones, who appears as Lola as friend, Al us.
The film is a star vehicle for Greta Gerwig who was emerging as a star of independent films and went on to write and star in Frances Ha. Her fiancé is played by Swedish actor, Joel Kinnaman, and her confidante friend by Hamish Linklater. There is a bonus with Bill Pullman as her father and Debra Winger as her mother.

The film is set particularly in New York City, the style and problems of New Yorkers in their late twenties. Some audiences were very sympathetic to Lola while others thought she was selfish and exploitative. Clearly, the makers of the film wanted her to be sympathetic but an anti-New York attitude may judge her harshly.

Her character in this film can be compared with her character in Frances Ha.

1. A contemporary drama? For 29 to 30 year olds? Interesting characters, situations, identifying with them? For older audiences, with some patience? Younger audiences?

2. A New York story, particularly New Yorker? How American in general? Universal in interest? New York society, friends, families, meals, study?

3. The title, the focus on Lola, her struggles, the versus? Her fiancé, men and women, parents?

4. Lola, turning 29? The background of her family? A range of friends? With Luke, waking up, his proposal, the engagement, happiness, preparing for the wedding? The planning with her parents? Her friends and the wedding dress? Her assured future?

5. Luke, his character, sudden cold feet, his fear, leaving? Lola devastated? The difficulties because of the arrangements, the money and costs?

6. Alice, eccentric, her character? Lola’s friend? A free spirit? Her relationships, friendship with Henry, comments on Luke? Her advice, being a sounding board? Her own life?

7. Henry, Luke’s friend, friend with Alice? His life, music, the band, not very good? Listening to Lola, advice, friendly relationship, sexual relationship, the repercussions?

8. Lola’s parents, her retired father, perpetually cheerful, offering advice? Her serious mother, the restaurant, trying to control her daughter? And discussions?

9. Luke, his return, sense of being lost, going out, the new girlfriend and Lola’s hostile reaction?

10. Lola and the encounter with Nick, sexual, breaking off?

11. Lola, the complications of the relationship with Henry? Coming back, spending the night with him? Further confusion?

12. Lola, her thesis, the presentation of the theme, silence, the reaction of the panel? Her returning to restaurant work, the picture of the nasty customer?
Discussions with her mother?

13. Taking time to write, being more herself, her achievement, presenting her thesis, the success and congratulations?

14. The interlude with Luke, his continued support of her?

15. The year passing, her experience, 30th birthday, with each of her friends, a sense of freedom, starting again?