Films are some of our first introductions to depictions of friendships in the real world. We get to see the good, the bad and the ugly unfold in front of us. Female friendships especially get a bad rap, typically with a betrayal over a boy or a backstabbing due to jealousy. While we have all gone through friendship breakups, these depictions couldn’t be further from the truth on the importance and love I feel for the friendships that I have with other girls. These relationships are often irreplaceable, with reciprocated support, trust and adoration for the other person/people. Girlhood can be the most amazing thing, but it isn’t always depicted accurately in the media that we consume. So, I’ve curated a list of some of my favorite, more accurate representations of female friendships!
Mamma Mia!
Donna, Tanya and Rosie represent the lifelong sisterhood that good friends can become. Their support for each other never wavered, being there through single motherhood, life milestones and heartbreak. They also pick up right where they left off, demonstrating that life may separate you geographically, but your bond can never break.
Sex and the City
While Sex and the City is a TV show, I can’t not include Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha. To this day, I don’t think that there is a more accurate depiction of the eps and flows of friendship quite like Sex and the City. Each of the women experience so much heartbreak and love throughout the show, but the real love story is their friendship.
Lady bird
Lady Bird (Christine) and Julie are such a wonderful representation of teen friendship. They fight, they grow apart, but they are able to forgive and come back together. There is something so sweet about seeing two friends growing up together, and their friendship continuing to grow with them.
Clueless
Cher, Dionne and Tai have a complicated relationship, which can be very realistic. While Cher may be overbearing, she truly always has the best intentions. Through communication and accountability, they are able to overcome their boy drama, and recognize how special their relationship is!
Bottoms
PJ and Josie are flawed, chaotic and blunt, but so are teenage friendships. Their fierce loyalty and admiration for each other shine through their schemes for romanic love, and their platonic love for one another really steals the show. I really enjoyed seeing their relationships be both humorous and also harshly honest.
The Princess Diaries
Mia and Lilly’s relationship is a very contested one. In my opinion, their friendship is realistically truthful, illustrating the flaws that teenage girls can have. While I don’t condone Lilly’s reaction to Mia’s royalty, we can’t forget that she was always there for Mia when no one else was. Change is always difficult, and I think Lilly was having a hard time reconciling Mia’s transformation and absence in their old life. Their growth throughout the film shows young girls that forgiveness is a must to form strong bonds!