What Is The Group About?
The premise of The Group in 241 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In 1933, eight young women from an elite private girls’ school stand together on the threshold of adulthood, their lives intertwined by years of shared education and deepening bonds. Among them is Lakey, the wealthy and strikingly beautiful leader whose influence has helped shape the group’s identity. As they graduate from their prestigious Eastern university, each friend faces the uncertainty of what lies beyond the insulated world they have known—a world about to change in ways none of them can foresee.
The film captures a pivotal moment in American society, the years between the Great Depression and the shadow of World War II, when expectations for women were beginning to shift even as social conventions still held considerable sway. Romance, marriage, career aspirations, and the search for meaningful purpose will pull each woman in different directions. Their interconnected stories unfold against a backdrop of personal discovery and social transformation, where triumphs and setbacks become the fabric of their shared experience.
As the friends scatter to pursue their individual paths, the narrative weaves together the intimate struggles of women coming of age in an era of transition. From domestic life to professional ambitions, from artistic pursuits to matters of the heart, each must reconcile her own dreams with the realities of her time. The enduring power of friendship is tested as distance and circumstance threaten to fray the ties that bind them—bonds that may prove more essential than any of them imagined.
What Happens in The Group?
The complete story of The Group, from the first scene to the last, in 317 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 8 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
After their days at a prestigious Eastern university, eight devoted women friends go their separate ways. Lakey, the wealthy and very beautiful leader, travels to Europe to begin a new life on her own, leaving the others to navigate the uncertain futures that await them back home.
The domestic lives of the group go largely awry as time passes. Priss marries an overbearing, controlling doctor, and her path is marked by two miscarriages before she finally welcomes a son. Kay—Lakey’s former protégée who was always less sophisticated and wealthier than the others—ties herself to an abusive playwright who cheats on her, a relationship that casts a shadow over her early years. After an unhappy affair with a cold, sarcastic painter, the luminous but restless Dottie puts aside her Greenwich Village flamboyance and settles into a marriage with a dull Arizona businessman. Pokey keeps busy at home, managing the responsibilities of two sets of twins, a demanding daily rhythm that tests her patience and heart. Helena roams the world in search of happiness, yet she struggles to find true contentment within the confines of a home. Meanwhile, Libby climbs the literary ladder, achieving success in her field despite perceptions that she lacks depth. Finally, Polly pursues love through an affair with a married man, but later discovers genuine happiness with a kind doctor.
As Europe trembles on the edge of war in 1939, Lakey returns home, and the group soon learns that the woman who accompanies her is more than a casual companion: she is a lesbian. The revelation unsettles the old dynamic, forcing each woman to reexamine the bonds they once shared and the paths their lives have taken. The story culminates in tragedy when Kay dies in 1940, after which Lakey returns to join the others at the funeral for one last time together, a poignant moment that binds them all in memory and shared history.
The Group Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Lakey leaves for Europe after graduation” to “The group comes together one last time at the funeral”. 6 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Lakey leaves for Europe after graduation
After their days at a prestigious Eastern university, Lakey, the group's natural leader, departs for Europe to start a life of her own. Her absence signals the first fracture in the tight-knit circle and foreshadows the divergent paths each friend will take. The departure marks a turning point that invites the others to pursue their own ambitions and desires.
When:Post-graduation, early 1930s Where:Eastern university campus
- 2
Priss marries an overbearing doctor
Priss enters a marriage with a controlling, overbearing doctor that soon weighs on her independence. The relationship creates a tense domestic life filled with power struggles and emotional strain. Her early married years set the tone for the sacrifices she makes for family.
When:1930s
- 3
Priss endures miscarriages and has a son
Priss suffers two miscarriages, each loss adding to the emotional toll of her constrained marriage. She ultimately gives birth to a son, a development that changes the dynamic of her family. The experience underscores how personal pain can coexist with the responsibilities of motherhood.
When:mid-1930s
- 4
Kay's unhappy, cheating-tinged marriage
Kay marries an abusive playwright whose infidelity and harsh treatment cast a dark shadow over their union. The relationship leaves her feeling trapped and disillusioned with love. Her experience becomes a cautionary tale within the group about partnerships built on toxicity.
When:1930s
- 5
Dottie ends her affair and marries a dull Arizona businessman
Dottie ends her affair with a cold, sarcastic painter and abandons her flamboyant Greenwich Village lifestyle. She chooses a more conventional path by marrying a dull Arizona businessman, marking a move toward domestic stability. The shift reflects the broader theme of compromise versus personal longing.
When:1930s Where:Greenwich Village
- 6
Pokey cares for two sets of twins
Pokey's life revolves around caring for two sets of twins, shaping her days and testing her resilience. The demanding motherhood role adds depth to the tapestry of how each friend builds a life beyond the university. Her experience contrasts with the more glamorous arcs of others in the group.
When:1930s
- 7
Helena travels the world but struggles at home
Helena journeys across the globe in search of fulfillment, yet she remains unable to find lasting happiness in domestic life. Her travels highlight a desire for adventure that clashes with the need for belonging. The arc underscores the varied paths taken by the eight friends.
When:1930s-1940s
- 8
Libby rises in the literary world, lacking depth
Libby becomes a successful figure in the literary world, enjoying acclaim and influence. Critics note that her work often lacks depth, illustrating the tension between achievement and substance. Her ambition drives her career and impacts her relationships within the circle.
When:1930s-1940s
- 9
Polly's affair leads to happiness with a kind doctor
Polly has an affair with a married man, an experience that unsettles her before she discovers real happiness with a kind doctor. The arc demonstrates how forbidden relationships can push someone toward a healthier, more genuine connection. Her journey reflects personal growth through emotional risk.
When:1930s-1940s
- 10
Europe's war outbreak prompts Lakey to return home
With the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939, Lakey returns home, bringing the experiences of travel and upheaval back into the circle. Her reappearance unsettles old dynamics as the group reassesses their bond. The homecoming sets the stage for later revelations.
When:1939 Where:Europe and home
Show the other 3 events of The Group Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Friends discover Lakey is lesbian
The group realizes that Lakey's traveling companion is more than a friend, uncovering that she is a lesbian. The discovery reframes their understanding of Lakey and reshapes the relationships within the circle. The revelation adds a new layer of complexity to their long-standing friendship.
When:1939-1940 Where:Lakey's homecoming gathering
- 12
Kay dies in 1940; Lakey attends the funeral
A tragedy claims Kay's life in 1940, sending shockwaves through the circle. Lakey travels back to attend Kay's funeral, rejoining the women at a moment of shared loss. The event marks a painful turning point that binds the survivors through memory.
When:1940 Where:Funeral
- 13
The group comes together one last time at the funeral
The eight women gather for one final farewell, reflecting on their divergent paths and the enduring bonds that still connect them. Although years and miles have separated them, the shared history remains a binding thread. The scene closes the circle with a sense of closure and lasting sisterhood.
When:1940 Where:Funeral gathering
Who Are the Main Characters in The Group?
8 characters, among them Lakey (Candice Bergen), Dottie (Joan Hackett) and Kay (Joanna Pettet): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Lakey (Candice Bergen)
Played by Candice Bergen
Wealthy and seen as the group’s poised leader, Lakey embodies independence and social savvy. Her return from Europe with a companion who is later revealed to be a lesbian shifts the dynamic and tests the circle’s tolerance. She remains a stabilizing force as the friends confront hidden truths at Kay’s funeral.
- 💼 Wealth
- 👑 Leadership
- 🧭 Independence
-
Dottie (Joan Hackett)
Played by Joan Hackett
Dottie begins with a flamboyant Greenwich Village lifestyle but settles into a more conventional domestic life with a dull Arizona businessman. Her arc contrasts bohemian aspiration with pragmatic compromise, highlighting the costs of pursuing happiness on her own terms.
- 🎭 Bohemian
- 🏠 Domestic life
- 🔄 Compromise
- K(
Kay (Joanna Pettet)
Played by Joanna Pettet
Less wealthy than Lakey, Kay endures an abusive marriage with a cheating playwright and experiences miscarriages before finally bearing a son. Her trajectory culminates in tragedy when she dies in 1940, altering the group’s sense of hope and sisterhood.
- 💔 Abuse
- 🏛️ Marriage
- 💪 Resilience
- P(
Priss (Elizabeth Hartman)
Played by Elizabeth Hartman
Priss’s marriage to an overbearing doctor strains her domestic life as miscarriages and motherhood complicate her sense of self. Her arc explores the pressures of marriage, fertility, and the desire for personal autonomy.
- 💍 Marriage
- 🏠 Domestic life
- 👶 Motherhood
- P(
Pokey (Mary-Robin Redd)
Played by Mary-Robin Redd
Pokey juggles family life with two sets of twins, embodying the demanding reality of motherhood within the group’s social circle. Her happiness centers on family and shared responsibilities, balancing ambition with caretaking.
- 👶 Motherhood
- 👨👩👧 Family
- 🕰️ Time management
- H(
Helena (Kathleen Widdoes)
Played by Kathleen Widdoes
Helena is a world traveler whose journeys fail to translate into lasting happiness at home. Her restless search for fulfillment reflects the tension between exploration and domestic contentment.
- ✈️ Travel
- 🏡 Home life
- 🧭 Restlessness
-
Libby (Jessica Walter)
Played by Jessica Walter
Libby is catty and ambitious, climbing the literary ladder even as she sometimes lacks depth. Her professional success contrasts with personal vulnerability, revealing the price of ambition.
- 💼 Ambition
- 📰 Literary world
- 🧠 Depth
- P(
Polly (Shirley Knight)
Played by Shirley Knight
Polly experiments with romance, having an affair with a married man before finding happiness with a kind doctor. Her arc tracks emotional awakening and the possibility of genuine connection after fraught relationships.
- 💘 Affairs
- 🩺 Doctor
- 💖 Growth
Where and When Is The Group Set?
The Group is set in Europe, Greenwich Village, Arizona and Eastern United States (1939-1940). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1939-1940
Set on the eve of World War II, the late 1930s frame the women's lives as they pursue different paths. The 1939 European conflict begins to cast a shadow on their plans, choices, and relationships. In 1940, tragedy strikes with Kay’s death, bringing the friends together one final time for a funeral.
Where
Europe, Greenwich Village, Arizona, Eastern United States
The story moves across continents and landscapes, from Lakey’s European chapter back to the United States. It alternates between Greenwich Village’s bohemian milieu, the American Southwest, and the academic circles of the East. These settings underscore the clash between independent female ambition and traditional domestic expectations.
- 🗺️ Diverse Settings
- 🏙️ Cultural Contrast
What Are the Themes of The Group?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Sisterhood, Identity and War & Loss.
-
01
Sisterhood
Eight women bound by friendship navigate marriages, careers, and personal quests. Their loyalty sustains them through joy and disappointment, while their differences test the strength of their bond. The group’s unity is both a source of comfort and a battlefield for competing desires and social expectations.
-
02
Identity
The revelation of Lakey’s sexuality introduces a quiet struggle between authenticity and social judgment. The film examines how personal truth clashes with conventional norms in a conservative era. Relationships are weighed against the risk of ostracism, shaping choices and loyalties.
-
03
War & Loss
The outbreak of war alters plans and accelerates life choices among the group. Personal happiness is interrupted by external upheaval, and tragedy strikes with Kay’s death. The funeral becomes a communal moment that cements their shared history and unresolved grief.
What Kind of Film Is The Group?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Mixed
A sober and reflective period drama that charts the diverging, often disappointing lives of a close-knit group of women, balancing moments of personal tragedy with a melancholic sense of shared history.
- melancholic
- nostalgic
- introspective
- sober
- reflective
- dramatic
- friendship
- coming of age
- female relationships
- marriage
Content notes: domestic abuse, abusive relationship, miscarriage, infidelity.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Group? Test yourself on the story.
