MOVIE: THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE

Deftly composed by Rebecca Miller, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee tells the story of enigmatic Pippa (Robin Wright Penn), a middle-aged woman who has become far too comfortable hiding behind a veil of domesticity and sweetness. When Pippa moves with her ageing husband (Alan Arkin) to a retirement village, this radical upheaval forces her to reflect on her dysfunctional youth, as shown via a series of flashbacks. While too often mired in heavy-handed melodrama, this intimately-crafted film is peppered by flourishes of oddball humour and is given gravitas by a strong ensemble cast, which includes Keanu (“I’m Neo”) Reeves, Julianne Moore, Blake Lively, Winona Ryder and Maria Bello, whose fleeting portrayal of Pippa’s bipolar mother is both endearing and disturbing. (JH)

For your chance to win 1 of 5 prize packs of two Rebecca Miller novels – The Private Lives of Pippa Lee and Personal Velocity (which is just being released for the first time in Australia), with a total value of $300, head to the Giveaways section – get in quick!