Career Girls 1997

In 1996, Annie is en route to London, eagerly anticipating a weekend visit with her flatmate, Hannah, whom she met six years prior at the Polytechnic of North London. As they travel, Hannah shares her struggles with her alcoholic mother, while Annie discusses her own mother’s search for love. Living under her mother’s roof, Annie admires Hannah’s independence, a stark contrast to Hannah who feels burdened by the necessity of being self-sufficient since childhood.

Flashback to 1986, when Hannah and Claire welcome Annie into their shared flat. Together, they contemplate how to part ways with Claire the following year. A poignant moment arises as Hannah reflects on the lack of tears since her parents’ divorce at eight, a sentiment echoed by Annie, who admits to crying frequently since her own parents split. The following year introduces Ricky Burton, an awkward, stuttering man who temporarily lodges with Hannah and Annie after being evicted. During a pub conversation dissecting psychological traits, Ricky’s clumsy inquiries provoke Hannah’s frustration. While Ricky ventures out to a Chinese takeaway, Annie and Hannah discuss his feelings for Annie. In another vivid recollection, a drunken Ricky confesses his love, but Annie reveals her affection for someone else. His departure leads Hannah and Annie to seek him at his grandmother’s home in Hartlepool, where they learn he might be wandering by the shore.

Fast forward to the present, where Annie supports Hannah in finding a new flat. One peculiar listing leads them to Mr. Evans, whose flat is adorned with a painting of his naked ex-girlfriend and stacks of adult magazines. After a comical escape, they meet Adrian Spinks, an estate agent who turns out to be an old college flame for Annie, though he claims not to recognize them. Flashbacks ensue, revealing the tangled history—Hannah and Adrian’s brief romance, followed by awkward encounters with Annie that reveal both attraction and miscommunication.

In a later scene, the women learn that Adrian is now married with a child, prompting an important discussion about their past selves and growth since university. Over a meal at a Chinese restaurant, Annie admits that Adrian has lingered in her thoughts for the past decade, while Hannah reveals her hurt feelings at the time of Adrian’s departure. A nostalgic flashback captures their bittersweet farewell as they prepare to leave their university flat, coming to terms with their emotions.

While reminiscing about their families during dinner, Hannah contrasts her own turbulent upbringing with Annie’s warm family dynamic. An unexpected encounter with Claire during their stroll leads them back to their old neighborhood, where they encounter Ricky once more. This time, he’s sitting outside the same Chinese takeaway, clutching a toy elephant, a somber shadow of his former self. Ricky, now visibly frazzled and disheartened, shares the news of his grandmother’s passing and his struggles with the realities of fatherhood, casting a pall over their reunion.

Their journey continues with a somber visit to Hartlepool, where they find Ricky at the beach, his health both mentally and physically having significantly declined. Faced with the painful reality of Ricky’s condition, Hannah and Annie struggle with their emotions, ultimately moved by his dire plight.

Finally, back at the railway station, Annie and Hannah part ways, a poignant farewell underscoring the depth of their shared experiences and the unpredictability of life’s journey.