Female friendships have long been a staple in cinema, offering a unique Look into the complexities and nuances of relationships between women. From comedies to dramas, thrillers to romances, movies about female connections have something interesting to say. One way to explore this theme is through iconic movie duos that showcase the beauty and power of female friendships.
One such duo is Julia Child and Julie Powell from the film Julie & Julia. This biopic tells the story of Julia Child’s origins in cooking, intertwined with Julie Powell’s challenge to cook all the recipes from Child’s first cookbook. Starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep, this film is a delectable food-centric movie that’s sure to tantalize anyone’s taste buds. Another iconic duo is Aibileen and Minny from The Help, a period drama that follows an aspiring author who writes a book about African American maids’ perspectives on the families they work for. With a star-studded cast, this movie overcomes its lack of depth in writing with entertaining characters and a focus on female empowerment.
The list continues with Elizabeth and Gracie from May December, a psychological drama that follows an actress’s arrival in a small town to make a film about a married couple’s past. This movie explores the dangers of tabloid culture and the blurred lines between reality and fiction, featuring a talented cast including Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. Another iconic duo is Julie and Lady Bird, the protagonists of Lady Bird, a coming-of-age comedy that follows a teenage girl as she navigates her complex relationships with her family and friends. With Saoirse Ronan and Beanie Feldstein delivering standout performances, this movie is a heartwarming exploration of female friendship and self-discovery.
A Still From May December (Photo: May December)
Further down the list, we have Céline and Julie, the stars of Céline and Julie Go Boating, a French slapstick comedy that follows two young women whose lives are disrupted by a bizarre boudoir melodrama. With Juliet Berto and Dominique Labourier delivering stunning performances, this movie is a delightful watch that’s worth every second of its daunting runtime. Marie I and Marie II from Daisies are another fascinating duo, a Czech New Wave film that follows two young women as they decide to become as spoiled as the society they live in. This movie is a critique of social cues and empty conventions, exploring the true horrors of the world that people turn a blind eye to.
Next, we have Betty/Diane and Rita/Camilla from Mulholland Dr., a surrealist neo-noir that follows a wannabe Hollywood actress who finds a woman who’s been rendered an amnesiac by a car wreck. With Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring delivering masterful performances, this movie masterfully blends the line between dreams and reality, exploring the complex dynamic between these two women. Marianne and Héloïse from Portrait of a Lady on Fire are another iconic duo, a nuanced LGBTQ+ romance film that follows a painter who arrives to work on the wedding portrait of a young woman, only to find their relationship turning into something more. With Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant delivering standout performances, this movie is a refreshingly female gaze-y exploration of the sparks that fly between these two women.
Finally, we have Alma and Elisabet from Persona, a Swedish psychological drama that follows a nurse who’s put in charge of a mute actress and finds that their personas are merging in unexpected ways. With Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann delivering masterful performances, this movie is a complex exploration of identity and duality. Another iconic duo is Thelma and Louise, the protagonists of Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, a road trip neo-Western that follows two best friends who go on an adventure that soon turns into a high-adrenaline escape from the cops. With Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis delivering standout performances, this movie is a triumphant exploration of female liberation, friendship, and femininity.
