Film Review — “The Glorias”
Q1. All of these films feature historic figures. What is unique about the filmmaker’s approach to bending concepts of the ‘bio pic’?
A1. In “The Glorias”, Julie Taymor’s pinpoint timely yet rousingly old-fashioned biopic about the life and times of Gloria Steinem, the legendary feminist leader is portrayed by four different actresses at four different stages of her life. What’s most unique about The Glorias is that the director actually gets to have it both ways, presenting Steinem as a complex woman coming into her own but also as a symbol of something larger than herself. Dramatizing Steinem’s life during different periods, and with different actresses, Taymor has crafted an exceedingly thoughtful portrait of a leader and the women’s movement she championed. Instead of starting at the beginning of Steinem’s experiences and marching a chronological straight line through them, the film, directed by the always experimental Julie Taymor, leaps forward and backward through different eras of her life, dipping in for significant moments from childhood, adolescence, and various phases of adulthood,
Q2. What is ground-breaking about this film? Why is it receiving so much attention at this time?
A2. What is groundbreaking about this film is the fact that it took four actresses to play her and showcase her impactful life. Through the film, we see Steinem rise as the face of the women’s movement and are introduced to various themes that are prevalent in todays society. The siren call of the road is instilled in her by her father who believes in travel as life’s ultimate education. There’s the constant sexual objectification that Steinem endures, and badgering about her love life, a constant nuisance that feeds the fire of her fight. Ultimately, through her work she finds a connection to indigenous and Native culture, which shows her that matriarchy isn’t just possible, it’s elemental. In the age of the global Women’s March, The Glorias’ feminist message couldn’t be more timely.
Q3. What did you learn about these historic personages? What was revealed?
A3. I learnt that it is important to stand up and speak for what you believe in, no matter the criticisms or consequences that follow. Being a social activist, Gloria spoke for women’s rights due to which she was subject to criticism. However, that did not stop her commitment to the women’s movement and continued on her own way, speaking out, lecturing widely, and organizing various women’s functions
Q4. What was the high point of the film for you? Was it the performances? Style? Cinematography? Or one key scene?
A4. The high point of the film for me was the cinematography. The different eras shown in the film are distinct from one another through the use of desaturated color palette, like a faded photograph, blending in black-and-white footage of the four Glorias on the bus.
Q5. How does celebrityhood play out in the script? How does it play out in the promotional stories surrounding film?
A5. The film uses a lead actor to celebrate womanhood and feminism throughout the script. The pivotal figure who fought, and continues to fight for gender equality, sparks intense emotions in the viewers. The promotional stories surrounding the film weave a compelling, non-traditional tapestry of one of the most inspirational and legendary figures in modern history.
The trailer of The Glorias can be viewed here:
