Grey Gardens is a documentary about a mother and daughter ("Big" Edie and "Little" Edie) who don't know how to listen to each other, living in a house full of decaying and thwarted dreams. Along with at least half a dozen cats and a raccoon or two in the attic.
From the DVD back: Meet Big and Little Edie Beale - high-society dropouts, mother and daughter, reclusive cousins of Jackie O. - thriving together amid the decay and disorder of their ramshackle East Hampton mansion. An impossibly intimate portrait and an eerie echo of the Kennedy Camelot, Albert and David Maysles's 1976 Grey Gardens quickly became a cult classic and established Little Edie as a fashion icon and philosopher queen. Thirty years later, the filmmakers revisited their landmark documentary with a sequel of sorts, The Beales of Grey Gardens, culled from hours of never-before-seen footage recently found in the filmmakers' vaults.
I had been meaning to watch it for a while, and I finally got it from the library the other week. (I originally heard about it from the show Gilmore Girls when Lorelai and Rory are seen watching and talking about it in one episode.)
Actually, I didn't realize that the companion piece to Grey Gardens, The Beales of Grey Gardens, was on the second disc till Sunday. I had to watch it as soon as I found out, of course; and I knew I had grown to love these people because as the titles started and I found myself back at Grey Gardens, with Little Edie's face smiling and her slightly strident voice talking again, I felt happy. I liked The Beales of Grey Gardens as much as the original. It had less arguments, more dialogue and more of Little Edie's musings.
These are some screenshots I took from Grey Gardens. (I didn't take any from The Beales of Grey Gardens because I was feeling too lazy.)
Grey Gardens certainly isn't for everyone, in terms of personal taste, but if this has at all piqued your interest you should look into it more. It is a fascinating piece: strange, saddening, and beautiful all rolled into one. (And just a note, there was a movie made in 2009 about Big and Little Edie which is also called Grey Gardens.)
My sleeping problems mentioned in last post have gone away. Strangely enough, I've been going to bed earlier than I have in years. (Earlier meaning closer to midnight than 1 o'clock.)
I can tell I've been down lately because I haven't wanted to do much of anything. Sadly, it's the ennui where I don't really want to read or write, I just want to watch British telly on youtube. I like the depression that makes me read a lot - then I at least feel like I'm accomplishing something. Ah, well. :P
I think for the most part the ennui has skulked back to its corner. I've made yet another to-do list for the month of March and I am going to accomplish things; yes, I am! It's funny, I never used to make to-do lists, but I have been since last September. I find it helpful to step back and look at what I need to accomplish. I used to think free spirits didn't need such lists, but they do, really. At least this one does. It's probably because I'm not in school and find myself suddenly without direction. (Not that I ever followed my school schedule very well...) My to-do lists are in no way set in stone either. If I don't get everything done, I don't really care. As long as I did the things that really needed to get done.
Actually, I've been very productive today! Huzzah!
Hi Melee, look at this...my dream came true! heheh
ReplyDeleteWishing you much success with your March to-do list :) :) and I like your approach to it. I find this especially true for creative matters, wanting to do it is the most important thing, otherwise there's no joy in the activity. And I've found it helpful to try to enjoy whatever it is I'm doing, within reason. To check my posture & breathing throughout so that I don't stress myself so much.
Blessings
Hehe - so it did! =D
DeleteThank you, Jade. :) That is too true. I've tried to force myself to do creative things before and the result was disastrous. (Of course, when I'm just being lazy, forcing is necessary.) I shall keep those wise thoughts in mind.
I hope you are having a beautiful day! :)
grey gardens is ACE. i love the faded glamour of it all, like a tennessee williams play. they make me want to wear headscarves and bathing suits and perv on younger men xx
ReplyDeleteOhh yes - that's an excellent way of describing it. Haha, I know! Even though I've only seen it once, I find myself talking about "S-T-A-U-N-C-H women" etc. and I definitely feel the urge to wear headscarves and bathing suits. But I wouldn't go for any younger man whose astrological sign wasn't compatible with mine, of course. ;)
DeleteWell, here's to lists and productivity! *raises mug of hot chocolate* Your screenshots are really beautiful and your description has left me very intrigued about this documentary.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! *raises mug of slightly cold coffee* (It's all I had on hand, heh.)
DeleteThank you, B! Ooh, good - glad I could intrigue you. :)
I agree with B, so I'm raising my mug of coffee for you too (^^,)
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I heard of this movie, so I can't comment much on it. (hehe)
Hope the 'down feeling' will be over soon, Melee. Tsk.
Thanks, sweetie. Hehe. :)
DeleteThat's perfectly understandable. ;)
Ugh, me too! Thank you. xx
I saw the 2009 Grey Gardens and even that intrigued me a bit, I shall have to sit down and watch the true documentary some day. It is strange, when you get all the emotions of beauty and sadness and even a bit of disturbing, the way it makes you feel, it almost intrigues you in a bit of a twisted way. I watched "The Virgin Suicides" the other day and it left the same strange taste.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear you're feeling a bit better. It really is strange, when I was without school I too felt a bit directionless, I actually fell into a bit of a rut the first little while. The key is to keep busy :)
xx
I've been watching some clips from the 2009 Grey Gardens and its fascinating to see how accurately they've recreated scenes from the documentary.
DeleteOh goodness - yes! I know precisely what you mean. And those are the things that stay in your mind for quite a while.
I so appreciate knowing you too felt somewhat at a loss. I'm good at not being bored, but not very good at staying busy, quixotically enough. I guess this is my time to learn. xx
This is the first time I hear about this movie. But it sounds lovely for the way you describe it.
ReplyDeleteYou have been productive? I'm jealous of you. Productivity and I don't get along so well.
Lots of love ! x
I'm glad I could make it sound appealing. :)
DeleteWell, I was being productive... not so much now. I'm in the same boat as you, mostly - productivity and I are essentially strangers.
Lots of love to you too, sweet Lili! xx
I've never heard of Grey Gardens before! It sounds very interesting in a quirky sense... and I love quirky.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that you've been sleeping a bit earlier and getting things done. I've actually been staying later than usual because I'm addicting to reading free manga, quite effortlessly, on a kindle app. I don't think it's as helpful for my writing as devouring an actual book, but seeing a wide range of plots, twists, and characters has been really fun too.
I think that making lists is a good thing, especially since some important things are too tiny to remember - I need to get back to doing that because, with only a month and a half left of the semester, I feel like I could forget a lot of things!
Hang in there and keep crossing off your lists :)
It is very quirky, hehe.
DeleteSadly, I've not really been doing the sleeping early part anymore. Losing an hour really hit me hard this year. Oy.
I'm sure it must be partially beneficial! My sister and I had a friend who used to lend us manga... They were fun.
Yes! It's the tiny things that get me every time. Thank you, Kim - I will. :)