Girl Talk
By Siddarth Puri
May 17, 2003 9:00 p.m.
Who says dating is just for couples and that the only way to
make friends is to join a sorority?
While the focus of these articles has been on romantic
relationships, platonic friendships can be the most substantial and
valuable relationships people have. With that in mind, the Daily
Bruin decided to set up two female students in order to help
introduce them to new people.
Our two “Girl Talk” participants were Gelareh
Nikpour and Suzanne La Barre. A fourth-year psychology student, La
Barre describes herself as an outgoing girl with her own sense of
style. Nikpour, a second-year women’s studies and
international development studies student, is described by her
friends as a spunky, smart entertainer.
The two girls first got acquainted while sipping on their Chai
tea and banana-chocolate hazelnut shake at Cacao, a small coffee
shop on Santa Monica Boulevard. Complementing the distinct and
unique coffee shop setup, their own personalities shined through
their conversations and interactions.
“Gelareh was an amazing person,” said La Barre.
“She had all the qualities I look for in a friend ““ she
was interesting, intellectual and had great hair.”
Enjoying Cacao’s ambiance, as well as each other’s
company, the two talked about everything from the Clothesline
Project and feminist issues to school and pornography.
“There wasn’t really an awkward silence when we
spoke,” said Nikpour. “We had a lot in common regarding
women’s issues and ideas about society at large.”
From their chattering at Cacao, the two then went to the Century
City AMC to further their friendship by watching “Down With
Love.” The movie recounts the story of a suave New York
journalist, played by Ewan McGregor, and a staunch ’60s
feminist, played by Renee Zellweger, who tries to redefine the
women’s roles in society.
“The movie was a good spoof on all the older romantic
movies,” said La Barre. “The exaggeration and
over-the-top plot twists and characters made the movie really
entertaining.”
Not only did the acting and the ability to exaggerate actions
and emotions impress the two friendly gals, but the movie’s
costumes and set designs also awed them.
“The costumes and sets were extremely colorful,”
said La Barre. “They were so bright and catchy ““ they
really kept your attention and gave you the impression that you
were in ’60s New York.”
While the costumes and sets added to the success of the movie,
McGregor also played a huge role in winning over the hearts of
these viewers.
“There were numerous scenes when Ewan took his shirt off
or when he was just in a towel,” said Nikpour. “Those
scenes definitely kept me watching the movie and concentrating on
the screen even when Renee was in the way with her high-pitched and
squeaky voice.”
McGregor’s accent and suave personality also added to his
charm, according to La Barre. The characters themselves were more
like caricatures, rather than real people, which entertained rather
than put off the two viewers.
“The movie, did, however lose some of its entertaining
aspect at the end,” said Nikpour. “The whole movie was
a spoof of romantic movies, but the end, which was very
predictable, left the viewer feeling like it blended into those
older movies rather than trying to make a statement against
them.”
According to La Barre, the movie combined both humor and
extravagant plot twists to keep viewers on their toes. There were
many scenes where audience members were totally thrown a curve ball
and shocked with what was going on, she added.
From their tasty treats both at Cacao and on the screen, the two
created the foundation for a friendship.
“This was a great experience,” said Nikpour.
“So often I meet girls I want to hang out with, but never get
a chance to ““ so it was refreshing to actually hang out with
someone new and click with them.”
