underground cinema

Grey Gardens

5 februari 20:30 - 23:00

GREY GARDENS (1975)
Directed by Albert and David Maysles
100 minutes
In English with English subtitles

Grey Gardens is the name of a neglected, sprawling estate gone to ruin. The crumbling mansion was home to Edith Bouvier Beale, also known as "Big Edie," and her daughter, "Little Edie." The East Hampton home became the center of quite a scandal when it was revealed in 1973 that the reclusive aunt and cousin to Jackie Onassis were living in a state of utter poverty. But the reality of the situation was actually much more fascinating than what the scandal press were making out. So here we have this 1976 film portrait by documentary cinéma vérité pioneers Albert and David Maysles, as they discover the bizarre story inside the estate walls.

The two Edies have lived in almost complete seclusion since the mid-1950s, ever since Big Edie's husband abandoned her and Little Edie (then an attractive young socialite on the verge of a dancing career) was called home to care for her depressed mother. Twenty years later they continue to live in their memories while camped out in a single bedroom of the 28-room mansion overrun with cats and raccoons.

It would have been easy for this film to make fun of these two amazing women, but instead the Maysles brothers created a sensitive portrait which is both lyrical and mind-boggling. Five years after they made their Rolling Stones documentary Gimme Shelter, the Maysles brothers unveiled this intimate documentary of bizarre and poetic dimensions, which has become a cult classic and changed the direction of documentary filmmaking.

By the way, because this film exposed Little Edie to the larger world, directly after this film came out she became in vogue and was suddenly established as a fashion icon whose eccentric clothing style would have an influence on the world of fashion.