It's 1934. Lillian (Jane Fonda) is struggling to write her play while living with her mentor lover Dashiell Hammett (Jason Robards). It's a fiery relationship but her closest relationship is Julia (Vanessa Redgrave). They were brought up together in Julia's grandparents' palatial mansion. Julia became a social activist battling the rising tide of fascism in Europe. She was beaten in Vienna, hospitalized, and escaped. Lillian returns from Vienna to write a celebrated play. She visits Paris where Lillian sends Johann (Maximilian Schell) to meet her. Despite her Jewish background, she is recruited to bring Julia's money to Berlin to bribe for her colleague's freedom.
These are great actresses. The movie spends too much time with Lillian's relationship to Dashiell and her writer's block. They end up adding very little to what is truly needed for this story. This movie needs to develop her relationship with Julia. Julia is the titular character and the more fascinating one. Meryl Streep has an early minor role but it's really insignificant. It takes awhile for the movie to get interesting. It's a slow start and the women don't get consistent time together until late in the movie.
These are great actresses. The movie spends too much time with Lillian's relationship to Dashiell and her writer's block. They end up adding very little to what is truly needed for this story. This movie needs to develop her relationship with Julia. Julia is the titular character and the more fascinating one. Meryl Streep has an early minor role but it's really insignificant. It takes awhile for the movie to get interesting. It's a slow start and the women don't get consistent time together until late in the movie.