Grey Gardens
Composite Score: 81.8
Featuring: Edith Bouvier Beale, Edith “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale, Brooks Hyers, Jerry Torre, Albert Maysles, and David Maysles
Directors: Ellen Hovde, Albert Maysles, and David Maysles
Writers: None
Genres: Documentary, Comedy, Drama
MPAA Rating: PG
Box Office: $36,923 worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Grey Gardens is arguably one of the most iconic documentaries of all time. It looks at the life of Edith and “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale, the aunt and cousin of Jackie O. who live in a dilapidated house in the wealthy suburb of East Hampton, NY. These two women present a fascinating case study in poverty, declining wealth, familial relations, mental health, celebrity, and even fashion. I say it is so iconic because it inspired an HBO film of the same title, starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange, and the first episode of the comedy and parody series Documentary Now. The Beales make the documentary a combination comedy, tragedy, and family drama. They are women comfortable with themselves and fully unaware of much else about their declining lives. The film is an absolutely fascinating watch.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Grey Gardens feels like a bit of an exploitation film, taking advantage of these two women’s hardship to create entertainment. The film presents itself as a comedy, and I did find myself laughing at the absurdity of these two women at the film’s start. As the film progresses, though, the film begins to feel more and more voyeuristic, looking in on the lives of two highly troubled individuals without offering much help at all. According to the filmmakers, the two women were not suffering from any mental health issues, and they were compensated for making the film. These facts notwithstanding, there are definitely some ethical hang-ups to be had about the film.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
This documentary takes a fascinating subject and puts it on display for all to see. The Beales seem to crave attention, so the documentary certainly accomplishes its goal by accomplishing theirs. The relationship between mother and daughter in Grey Gardens is part of what makes it worth watching. The codependence combined with resentment and an odd form of love exemplifies so many other mother-daughter relationships on screen and in real life. From Lady Bird to Pride and Prejudice and everything in between, true to life dysfunctional mothers and daughters have been put on display throughout film history. The extremely raw and real nature that Grey Gardens is able to bring to the discussion as a documentary helps keep it in its place as a classic documentary.
The realism of its relationships and its often copied and referenced but never quite replicated nature are what make Grey Gardens a Great Film and a classic documentary. The ethical questions raised about the mental health of the film’s focal points and the state of their living conditions keep it as one of the more controversial greats, but it remains one of the Greatest Films of All Time. Check out the documentary on HBO Max, and then, if you’re feeling adventurous, watch the film adaptation on the same service before switching to the first episode of Documentary Now. The prolific nature of the documentary keeps it worth watching.
