Two English Girls

The story begins in 1902 Paris, within a refined pre-war European milieu. It follows years of intimate entanglements through the 1910s and culminates in an epilogue set in the 1920s. The period features salons, publishing networks, and evolving social mores that influence romance and ambition.

The primary settings span Paris in the early 1900s and a summer on the coast of Wales, with key sequences in Calais, Belgium, and Persia. Paris functions as the artistic and social hub where Claude moves in intellectual circles. The Welsh coast provides the opening for romance and heartbreak, while Calais, Belgium, and Persia propel the characters into transnational experiences that shape their lives.

💔 Romantic Complications

The core of the film is a web of love and desire as Claude engages with both Anne and Muriel. Letters, diaries, and a broken engagement drive the emotional arc, with jealousy and secrecy testing loyalty. The tension between personal freedom and long-term commitment defines the relationship dynamics.

🎨 Artistic Life vs Personal Life

Claude moves in artistic circles and pursues a career that sometimes eclipses domestic happiness. Anne pursues sculpture and independence, while a publisher (Diurka) helps turn these relationships into a broader literary drama. The plot threads—affairs, publishing, and travel—highlight the cost of balancing creativity with romance.

🌸 Female Agency & Inner Life

Muriel's diary exposes her inner life, desires, and the strain of social expectations. Anne's actions reflect sexual curiosity, autonomy, and resilience within a society that negotiates propriety. The film foregrounds female perspectives, using diaries and correspondences to illuminate choices and consequences.