How does one cope after the end of a marriage? Or during the end of a marriage, for that matter? Pretty easily, actually, in my experience (and my ex's experience, perhaps, though not as easy as mine, but not for the reasons you think). Of course, I realize that we were lucky – which sounds odd to say in the context of failed matrimonial relations; it just wasn't working, for either of us, and new-found freedom is liberating and exciting. But we really were lucky – because we weren't in love anymore. It's easy and freeing to admit to each other, we are not working and besides no longer in love, and have the split be logical and amicable; it is more difficult to be in a relationship with someone, for you both to be in love with each other still, but to have to admit: this is not working and we need to split. Life's hard, sometimes, man. But that's life, isn't it? We cope the best we can and we try to move on.
Which brings us to our topic: this week's installment of the Louisville Exclusives Series at Village 8 Theaters: Just Like a Woman, helmed by Rachid Bouchareb, director of the Oscar-nominated short films Dust of Life, Days of Glory, and Outside the Law. Just Like a Woman follows two women, Marilyn (Sienna Miller) and Mona (Golshifteh Farahani) whose marriages are over. Trying to cope, Marilyn finds solace in belly dancing, and brings Mona along with her on the journey. Along with themes of friendship and the loss of love, Bouchareb explores the relations between the Western and Arab worlds, intending to make two more films which look at these ideas, to make a thematic trilogy.
Just Like a Woman is scheduled to play at Village 8 until next Thursday, July 11. Village 8 is located at 4014 Dutchmans Lane. Further theater information and showtimes can be found at the Village 8 website.
Image: Internet Movie Database
