I'm not sure what to think of the Grey Gardens documentary. I understand it to be culturally significant, and if I knew my doc history (I really don't), I might see a new style of documentary emerge (is it?) that is voyeuristic and lets the subjects expose themselves. But taken out of the greater context and just watching it now, it's the voyeurism I take exception with. Though the film makers are arguably loving in their handling of the material, the simple idea of putting cameras on a couple of lonely, eccentric women whose lives are a portrait of what isolation can do to a person as the capacity to take care of oneself becomes compromised, appears cruel, or at least forces the audience to become cruel. The connection to the Kennedys - the Beales being the aunt and cousin of Jackie O. - makes me think a lot of people probably watched this at the time altogether gleefully, or shaking their heads in faux-sympathy. It's part of the film's point, its camera often finding those old pictures and paintings of more opulent times, but mostly, I felt sorry for these ladies who were half-performing for the camera, its eye triggering artistic ambitions of yore. But it's also 90 minutes of people cross-talking and shouting at each other. I rather like a review I read that imagines them as ghosts, trapped together, haunting an abandoned house, but it's not enough to make me like the film.
I would never want to set foot in that house with all of the fleas and raccoons... but it does look beautiful, and now that it's been fixed up, I'm curious to see what it looks like.
In regards to the Beales themselves... there were some absurdly hilarious moments, despite the tragedy of their demented, lazy lives. For instance when Edie is showing the Maysels the Omar Khayyam quote she had written on the wall and Edith keeps shouting to her (although this moment was followed by Edie making the all-too-correct claim that she "has the saddest life")... or when Edie is trying to sing "People Will Say We're in Love," and her mother keeps insulting her...
And although the Beales can be very irritating at times, I've never seen a film which is so disgusting and so beautiful at once.
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Comments 1 - 13 of 13
jhhayes
A very fascinating and unforgettable documentary.devilsadvocado
"When are you going to learn, Edie? You're in this world, you know. You're not out of this world."metermouse
This was such an interesting movie. I love that they let Edith and Edie to all of the talking. They were such fascinating people.akuma587
Really one of the quirkiest and memorable films I've ever seen.weirdboy
Go away! You've had enough fun all your life!Nowhere Man
All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.WilliamBravin
This was very good, although I was expecting something more.Torgo
Fascinating.Kind of an empathic exploitation documentary?
Siskoid
I'm not sure what to think of the Grey Gardens documentary. I understand it to be culturally significant, and if I knew my doc history (I really don't), I might see a new style of documentary emerge (is it?) that is voyeuristic and lets the subjects expose themselves. But taken out of the greater context and just watching it now, it's the voyeurism I take exception with. Though the film makers are arguably loving in their handling of the material, the simple idea of putting cameras on a couple of lonely, eccentric women whose lives are a portrait of what isolation can do to a person as the capacity to take care of oneself becomes compromised, appears cruel, or at least forces the audience to become cruel. The connection to the Kennedys - the Beales being the aunt and cousin of Jackie O. - makes me think a lot of people probably watched this at the time altogether gleefully, or shaking their heads in faux-sympathy. It's part of the film's point, its camera often finding those old pictures and paintings of more opulent times, but mostly, I felt sorry for these ladies who were half-performing for the camera, its eye triggering artistic ambitions of yore. But it's also 90 minutes of people cross-talking and shouting at each other. I rather like a review I read that imagines them as ghosts, trapped together, haunting an abandoned house, but it's not enough to make me like the film.Vinsmid
I suddenly realized they remind me of the splicers in Bioshock. Intriguing portrait.Jumping Elephant
I would never want to set foot in that house with all of the fleas and raccoons... but it does look beautiful, and now that it's been fixed up, I'm curious to see what it looks like.In regards to the Beales themselves... there were some absurdly hilarious moments, despite the tragedy of their demented, lazy lives. For instance when Edie is showing the Maysels the Omar Khayyam quote she had written on the wall and Edith keeps shouting to her (although this moment was followed by Edie making the all-too-correct claim that she "has the saddest life")... or when Edie is trying to sing "People Will Say We're in Love," and her mother keeps insulting her...
And although the Beales can be very irritating at times, I've never seen a film which is so disgusting and so beautiful at once.
few visible scars
Thanks for trying minmurph.. but the link has been stopped (this comment dated 1st April 2014.)Nuked
You couldn't write dialogue like that. And why would you, it's really fucking boring.