Julie and Julia

Like Sex and Lucia and You and me and Everyone We Know, the writing on a computer is a huge part of the story. But how to make this cinematic? I find the clacking keys and staring at cursors and appearing words on a screen not to be interesting. I do enough of it in my life - as I am now - but do we need to see all we do in life in a film?

With Nora Ephron at the helm, I expected this to be a lighter choice of viewing. It reminds me of Chocolat, which didn't deserve the food related comments of lightness. In a way, neither does this.

This story is interesting as two real life women win their struggle to become respected and publicly acknowledged for what they do. Julie Powell becomes a professional writer, able to leave her job offering a helpline for victims of the Twin Towers. Two generations earlier, Julia Child also leaves her government background to finally emerge as a famous cook whose groundbreaking book has outlived her.

The journey is the draw of the film - and that there is a gap between being unknown and success. It's the appeal of The House of Eliott, and why Coco before Chanel disappointed me: Coco jumps from milliner to catwalk, and I wanted to know about the process. The Julies each take on a project to fill their days and give them a purpose - a project that seems crazy and not likely to achieve anything. There are many moments of despair and rebuttal - but ultimately they do triumph. That's why I am often happier with the fluff of Hollywood over the supposed realism of art house. Because this story says - they did it - and you can too.

What's sad is that Julia Child does not meet her modern life admirer. Julia seems to reject Julie's blog about cooking her way through the Mastering the Art of French Cooking. When Julie goes to the Julia Child museum, I wanted its celebrated subject to jump out and say 'It's me! I've decided I love what you're doing!'

But as the film closes with a few lines - it omits that Julia and Julie ever met or communicate. With all the inspiration, I feel a note of sadness for both Julies.