The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

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Courtesy of Screen Media Films
USA • 2009 • in English • 93 min • R

From all outward appearances, Pippa Lee (ROBIN WRIGHT PENN) leads a charmed existence. She is the devoted wife of an accomplished publisher (ALAN ARKIN) thirty years her senior, the proud mother of two grown children, and a trusted friend and confidant to all who cross her path. But as Pippa dutifully follows her husband to a new life in a staid Connecticut retirement community, her idyllic world and the persona she has built over the course of her marriage will be put to the ultimate test.

In truth, looks are deceiving, and this picture-perfect woman has seen more than her fair share of turmoil in her youth.  Embarking on a bittersweet journey of self-discovery, accompanied by a new, strange and soulful acquaintance (KEANU REEVES), Pippa must now confront both her volatile past and the hidden resentment of her seemingly perfect life in order to find her true sense of self.

By turns wry, humorous, and moving, THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE presents the complex portrait of the many lives behind a single name.

Club reactions by city:

moderated by Matthew Bernstein

I want to own this film so I can see it over and over–all women need to see it. It made me so glad that I'm not married.

A beautifully filmed movie about being who we are and trying to be good. Well written, acted, and edited, it brought many of the best aspects of independent film to the screen.

Brave, honest and raw at times, the film grabs us and takes us on a ride to place we never expected.

moderated by Brittain Smith

Very effective use of songs and Lucinda Williams.

Great acting across the board. Reminded me of Altman. Nice way of editing past and present seamlessly. Nice set design, very evocative of the periods in Pippa's youth. Great use of the plural 'lives' in the title. I had no idea Arthur Miller's daughter was so talented!

A bit hard to follow in places, but I got used to the shifts in time scenes and grew to appreciate them. Very well done. Hilarious!

moderated by Mike Budd

This movie has many layers and wonderful performances.

Loved the way the quirkiness was understated.

A little slow in parts and too much going on.

moderated by Patrice Petro and Gilberto Blasini

Robin Wright Penn was perfect for this role; she was terrific, and made Pippa a truly believable character.

The acting was excellent. I appreciated the intricate relationship between Pippa's current and past experiences and how well the film wove them together into a comprehensive whole. I came away with an appreciation of Pippa's complicated state of mind. I also came away with an appreciation for the way we come to understand the relationships amongst the characters. No relationship is as simple as it initially appears.

It made me want to go home, give my mother a hug, and apolgize for taking her for granted.

moderated by Michael Kerbel

Three cheers for Robin Wright Penn. She carried the movie magnificently. We should all have a little Pippa in us!

Great acting -- it's wonderful to see Robin Wright Penn in a starring role. I know some people might find the film slow, but I loved the pacing. It kept you guessing and engrossed in this woman's life.

A great movie about the messiness of life and a woman's ability to compartmentalize. I look forward to watching Pippa Lee's future secret lives.

moderated by Peter L. Stein

A Sunday morning treat - thank you for an engrossing story and wonderful acting.

Funny, sad, sweet and toally off the wall. I love the character of Pippa Lee and thought Robin Wright Penn's performance was remarkable. I am heading to Browser Books to buy the novel!

It is a a rare thing indeed, and so refreshing, to see a film that captures the inner workings of the complicated mind of a female protagonist. A great breakthrough performance for the teen Pippa Lee (Blake Lively).

moderated by Diane Carson

Honesty is a difficult thing to express in too many family relationships. Breaking through seems to be the message of the movie and that it's never too late, no matter what the cost!

Great film. Acting awesome. I think the editing/pacing of the film really reflected the internal conflict the characters were experiencing--and that's really hard to do.

Enjoyed the movie very much. The script was terrific, the theme of growing old, what we want out of life is so spot on. A very real movie.

moderated by Desson Thomson

Wow! Robin Wright Penn has always been under-appreciated and this proves it once again! Beautiful, gentle, tough, lasting -- the lead character and this movie!

I loved it! I thought it was a compelling story, well told (and concisely). I found it to be an authentic portrayal of a female way of being in the world.

Until the rather hackeneyed ending, this was an intelligently written and presented film.