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Great Film overall

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

In 50's New Zealand, Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) had a rare bone disease as a child, with leg scars. She has no friends at an exclusive girls' school, which her struggling parents can barely afford. They take in boarders, for Pauline is bright. One momentous day, Paul's class gets a new student, imaginative Juliet (Kate Winslet), who is wealthy, intelligent, creative and outspoken. Because Juliet, too, has weak lungs and spent 5 years separated from her family in a warmer climate, the girls have a bond that begins a close friendship. Both girls love Mario Lanza and play-acting. In fact, they envision their own special heaven called The Fourth World, which has knights, princesses, and an elaborate landscape. Both the well-to-do family of Juliet and the poor one of Pauline are extremely concerned about the closer-than-close ties between the two girls. There are other family secrets afoot, too, which eventually result in Juliet's family planning to move away and in Pauline's mother taking steps to separate the girls. But, this results in a tragedy beyond comprehension for two young ladies driven into madness by their own imaginations and strong wills. This amazing film is one for the ages. Not only are the two young performers, Winslet and Lynskey, touching and horrifying beyond their years. but the creative landscapes, real and imagined, are superlative. Also fine are the supporting cast, the tantalizing script (based on true events), and the superb direction by Jackson. Don't miss this heavenly and hellish journey into New Zealand's most notorious crime of the twentieth century.

In 1952 Christchurch, New Zealand, 14-year-old Pauline Yvonne Parker (Melanie Lynskey) is a bitter introverted student from an all-girls school. Juliet Marion Hulme (Kate Winslet) is the flamboyant new girl from England. Pauline forms a friendship with Juliet obsessed with their imaginary Fourth World. Juliet's parents abandon her in the hospital with TB. Pauline's mother becomes concerned about her rebellious turn and the girls' possible homosexuality.These are two amazing performances. Lynskey is a wonderful weird introvert. The girls bring out the desperation of puberty coming-of-age. Director Peter Jackson brings out an interesting imaginary world. The movie brings out an early sign of wonder things to come.

I gave this film a 7 because it portrays the relationship the girls had very well. The fantasy world was very nicely combined with reality and all that happened is very accurate. The acting was good and the writing was too. The problem with this film is that it is a little too disturbing. I do not know how Jackson wanted us to feel but I was not happy for the two main girls and did not actually like them very much. I was kind of on the family's side rather than the teenagers' side. Also, there seemed to be an unrealistic age gap between the two girls with Pauline looking about 15 and Winslet looking about 22. They should have also shown more of the school life; how they were seen by their peers and teachers. On the whole a 'wow' kind of film, worth a watch.

This film is a staggering 20 years old now and I only got round to watching it a few days ago and I'm glad I eventually got to it.First and most importantly kudos to both Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey who carried this whole film, I have a slight and silly gripe and that is Kate's slightly over the top English accent (sounded that way to me). The chemistry between the leads was sensational and totally believable, so much so that when they finally commit the dastardly deed I was truly horrified. The sense of impending doom was almost to much for me to bear but only added to my enjoyment of the film.I also enjoyed the blurring of the real world with their fantasy world, I felt these scenes were shot extremely well and helped me dive deeper into the girls disturbed world view.A twisted, shocking tale of a very disturbed friendship and the consequences when that friendship is threatened, bravo.