i've recently watched grey gardens (2009) an hbo production based on the lives of edith bouvier beale and her mother, edith bouvier. the film is based on a documentary filmed in the 70's that depicts the relationship between big edie and little edie, set in a magical yet tired estate in east hamptons, better known as grey gardens. what is intriguing about the story is the eccentricity of this mother and daughter relationship. born into privilege, groomed with high-society, and belonging to the bouvier family (edith bouvier is jackie o's aunt, while edith bouvier beale is her first cousin), big edie and little edie are perfect examples of the kind of women that dominate manhattan in the 1930's.
the lives of these two fantastical women take a different turn when big edie is cut off financially subsequent to her divorce. no longer is grey gardens full of music, parties, and expensive tapestry, but slowly the state of the estate turns from pristine to outright disgusting. the harsh impact of poverty is visible throughout the home. big edie resorts to hoarding cats, while little edie never marries and stays close to her mother in the deteriorating grey gardens. this relationship reminds you of norman bate's relationship with his own mother, except this relationship is simple, pure, and far from dark and twisted; yet is still infinitely curious.
although grey gardens falls into oblivion and loses its beauty and magic, what never seems to falter is the spirit of big edie and little edie.
most definitely an interesting story.
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