What Are Friends For?

About This Movie

So, 'What Are Friends For?' is an interesting TV movie from 1980 that dives into the world of two 12-year-old girls navigating the complexities of friendship amid their parents’ divorce. The tone is a mix of innocence and a touch of seriousness, capturing that awkward age perfectly. The pacing is gentle, allowing for those quieter moments that really let you feel the weight of their promise to stick together no matter what. The performances from the young leads are quite genuine, showcasing that raw emotional honesty, which is sometimes hard to find in child actors. It’s distinctive in its portrayal of loyalty and resilience, and it feels like a time capsule of childhood friendship against the backdrop of adult issues. There’s a simplicity to it that really resonates.

TV movie exploration · Themes of friendship · Childhood and divorce