Riley on Film

Riley on Film


Grey Gardens w Guest Hermione Flavia

July 28, 2018

In this episode I am joined by my return guest Hermione Flavia as we talk about fame, the film industry, and the 1975 documentary, Grey Gardens. We see here a mother and daughter living in squalor and talking together about their lives as quasi famous relatives of Jackie O. It reminds of dependence in family and co-dependence when poverty and mental illness prevent advancement. They also eat meals in their beds.

Grey Gardens (1975)
PG | 1h 34min | Documentary, Comedy, Drama | 27 September 1975 (USA)

From $2.99 (SD) on Prime Video
An old mother and her middle-aged daughter, the aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy, live their eccentric lives in a filthy, decaying mansion in East Hampton.
Directors: Ellen Hovde, Albert Maysles | 2 more credits »
Stars: Edith Bouvier Beale, Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale, Brooks Hyers

This film has 4 directors. I am struck by how 4 well known directors can see this subject matter as worthy of filming. It definitely sends some powerful messages. For me, the strongest one was about fame and how we can be guilty of measuring our worth or level of success of how famous we are (or are not).

There is so much space between squalor and mega fame. Why don't people focus more on everyday success. Why do we as a culture worship fame in its current forms. I watched this film and recorded a podcast with my guest Hermione Flavia.