Watched this on a rec from someone who claimed it as their favorite film, yea I’m gonna bring the hate down on me but I don’t see it. Even as a documentary its kinda lacking, I will say one thing though Little Edie DOES look amazing for being in her mid 50s wow.
They’re kinda entertaining with their banter but it sure doesn’t equal entertaining for an hour and a half. Then I see their story has been turned into both a dramatized film AND a second documentary and I don’t get it. Was this just the earlier version of Hoarders? The 70s version of Carter’s brother, Clinton’s brother, Obama’s relatives kinda sensationalizing?
I dunno about “favorite film,” but I enjoyed it well enough. A little comedy, a little tragedy, a little inspirational, a lot delusional. All in all, I found it vaguely haunting-- definitely stuck with me for a few days after watching it.
There is something haunting about it, and I’m glad I watched it, but I also agree that it’s more than plenty of what it has to offer. I don’t understand the cult following.
I knew nothing what-so-ever about this film, then one day I just stumbled upon it partway thru on IFC (I think). While I agree, on the surface, it seems kind of boring & pointless, I found myself compelled to keep watching. I think it’s the combination of two people who were clearly normal, wealthy, upper-crust American aristocracy having slowly, willingly, and bafflingly slid into isolation and abject poverty, all the while seemingly carefree & oblivious to their situation. On the one hand it seems admirable that material wealth meant so little to them, yet on the other hand it seems tragically obvious that they both suffered from some serious mental psychoses!
There was also a Tony Award winning Broadway musical based on it.
I like it because this is what a ‘reality’ show truly should be, not the ridiculously un-reality bullshit you see today.
Hail Ants, you say it very well. Their’s is the situation before Blanche Dubois finally has to take the trolley.
In the 1800’s ladies wore old holey (but real) “from the Motherland” lace in their hair and pinned on their gowns.
People living past a peak of opulence sometimes surround themselves with what’s left, be it material or beliefs.
I remember reading of their situation in the news, simultaneous with the making of the 1975 documentary. I really never thought of it as something I wanted to see, but when I did years later, I found it very compelling. I saw it again, at least once. I was even more surprised the 2009 movie was so well done. The Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange performances were amazing, I thought.
I recommended the documentary to a couple of friends, to be followed by the movie. Not everyone’s cup of tea to be sure. To repeat the adjective Hail Ants (then I) used, compelling. Oddly so.