i am so sick of reading about people arguing whether or not some movie is exploiting edie's life and how everyone is trying to throw each other down with "i understand edie more than you". stop analyzing every little thing. there is going to be bias in everything, in every book, in every movie. watch ciao manhattan and just be in awe of seeing edie live. i honestly think it's a gift to be able to watch her. so please, shut up.
shareAmen! i just watched it for about the 20th time since i first saw it on VHS around 1989-1990...
Its sad to see Edie all *beep* up in the 1970 color part, but also a sobering reminder just how wasted and a waste she was by this time. She was in a downward spiral with almost no chance out. Her brain was fried by too many shock treatments and more drugs than i could ever do in 10 lifetimes!
It is however, as you note, just good to see her AT ALL! Without this schizo '65/'70 celluloid trip of a film we wouldn't be able to revel in her beauty, albeit tragic, and the soon-to-be-dead Edie of '70-'71 would be lost forever to us!
So, thanks to all who made this odd, disturbing, tragic and nostalgic film. Thanks to Edie for showing me the beauty, tragedy and love for life one person can have!
We love you and miss you Edie! Ciao Baby!
"*´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´"So shines a good deed in a weary world!"
Beautifully put, both of you. I watched a screening of this film last night in Los Angeles, put on as a tribute on the anniversary of her death. The director was there and told some amazing stories. Sure the exploitation angle does exist, but Edie was, if anything, the MOST determined to get the film finished. In fact, David Weisman called her the "co-director". He spoke of her authenticity and passion, as well as, of course, her self-delusion.
He said that the shock treatment scene not only WAS real, but that it was the first thing they shot when they got back together in the early 70's to finish the film. She said "If it's not real then there IS no movie". Even David wasn't certain what was meant by that, but he followed her wishes and the result is what we see on screen.
So, she was not some passive, wasted victim. Everything that we saw on screen was what she wanted it to be. Maybe she wanted a document of what she had suffered. It certainly does stand as a cautionary tale.