MovieChat Forums > Grey Gardens (2009) Discussion > Cannot believe this.... absolutely appal...

Cannot believe this.... absolutely appalling!!!!

posted 16 years ago by Nicholletta
44 replies | jump to latest

I have seen this movie many times since its original airing and I can not digest how those women (either real life or cinema created) could have lived in such filth!!! I mean wouldn't it have occured to them to clean up once in a while?!?!? Good lord!!! They pratcially destoyed their only home and did not give a damn. Even after Jackie O. came and paid for it to be all cleaned up, they still trashed the house again. Geez, give me a break. I know that they were society flowers. But even they could not see that they had wilted beyond repair and please don't get me started on keeping that many cats. The house was not fit for human habitation after that and they still stayed. Both obviously had some mental issues and just sunk further into them as time went on. It's deplorable and revolting. Enough said.

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[–] gonelunch1 15 years ago

Just a small point, but the cleanup was done before the inauguration, not after the assassination and apparently was done to avoid the story coming out before the inaugural. According to Sheehy's 1972 piece I believe JKO, although in the area, did not visit again.

[–] lilypad183 15 years ago

"Just a small point, but the cleanup was done before the inauguration, not after the assassination and apparently was done to avoid the story coming out before the inaugural."

gone,
the raid was in 1972, 9 years after jfk was killed.

the inauguration had nothing to do with the cleanup. jackie had already married onassis, he paid for the entire renovation. in the doc. little edie refers to thanking mr onassis and the shingles on the roof.

[–] monique79-1 14 years ago

Going back to previous posts, them being society flowers had nothing to do with their living conditions. They both had mental illnesses that any working class individual could have, the money in the beginning seemed to mask it. There was sever co-dependency issues as well as hording which I believe is a type of OCD/schitzo disorder I've heard. If this happened today they would benefit from mental help, but even back then people did not understand mental disorders and were ashamed by them.

[–] lilypad183 14 years ago

"as well as hording "

monique,
what exactly do you think were they hoarding? they had already sold off everything they owned, there was nothing left in the house.

[–] jeffoc 14 years ago

Cats. Animal hoarding is one of the most common types of hoarding. Its also the worst kind IMO

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[–] Quicksilver1900 10 years ago

I don't see them as animal hoarders. The house was so large with so many points of access due to its' dilapidated state, the animals just moved in as if it were an abandoned building. An animal hoarder deliberately collects animals and encloses them in his property. It's true that the Edies did feed them though.

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[–] gonelunch1 14 years ago

Good catch, Lillie. One source said there was a cleanup before the inauguration to avoid scandal, but you're absolutely right in pointing out that the full renovation was much later.

[–] Nova_UB313 9 years ago

Like master and muse, Little Edie stepped into her mother's world and it consumed her.

[–] cathy-creswell 9 years ago

That's right. They had wilted beyond repair. Why care for the house when no one cares for them? Every little thing they loved was steadily removed from their lives. I think it was a form of defiance, not thought out, but subconsciously done. I am a hoarder, and I can understand. If you are so beaten down and hopeless, life circling the drain, it can happen. I hope you NEVER have this happen to you, not the messiness, but the loss of a life.

[–] rrb_1 9 years ago

OP: the fact that, as you say, they couldn't see the hell into which they'd allowed themselves to descend is the most shocking indication of their sickness. The dilapidation of Grey Gardens is a metaphor for their psychological deterioration.

Little Edie's tale is a horror story that many people live: one of a child, or spouse, that allow themselves to be crushed by a loved one’s ego, possessiveness and cruelty. I found this film to be very well acted and written, but downright disturbing.

[–] lemonhead1 (424) 4 years ago

i know someone who lives WORSE than the Beales. It's disgusting, disturbing and downright vomit-inducing!

[–] modica (4169) 4 years ago

Why would you watch a movie that many times, if you are appalled by it? That is even more of a head scratcher.