I saw this movie in 1980 when it came out, in fact if I remember correctly, I saw it the night BEFORE it came out at a special screening. I loved this movie, thought it was amazing. I was 15 at the time, and a straight male. Granted, at the time I knew no out lesbians, nor did I know anything about lesbians. I did not in any way view this as a gay movie at the time, this was a movie about friends, about two people who were alone, and trying to find themselves through another person.
34 years later, I got to watch this again on the big screen, and I was surprised to see the theater crowded. This movie did not do well when it came out, and most people I know to this day have not seen it. So I was a bit surprised. When I mentioned to an acquaintance in front of me that I was shocked at how crowded it was, he mentioned that the audience was filled with lesbians. Obviously I wasn't paying much attention, I just saw a larger than normal female crowd.
I watched the movie again with the notion that the lesbians have adopted this film, and minus the flower scene, it was far from overtly lesbian. In fact it almost seemed to avoid being lesbian, for whatever reason. The scene where they are in bed together, they are not even spooning, which I sort of expected, even without the thought of it being lesbian themed. They were by the river in New York City, anyone who knows the area knows it would get damned cold at night, even during much of the Summer.
As for not being able to "get away" with lesbianim in 1980, Personal Best, a movie that was VERY much a lesbian film, grossed 2.1 million dollars in 1982, while Times Square only grossed 1.4 million dollars. I am guessing if the lesbian subtext had been included, or made much more prominent, it would have grossed much more from the free press alone.
I am fine with lesbians loving this film and it meaning something specific to them, anyone who loves this movie for whatever reason makes me happy. But people forget that movies are about how they relate to you, personally. You read into things, see things from your point of view, and take away things both intended and not intended when you see a film. But I saw this as two people who were alone and unhappy, finding each other and trying to make sense of their place in the world. Straight, lesbian, bi, I couldn't care less. To me it's more homophobic or at the very least a generalizing of stereotypes to believe that two girls who care about each other and depend on each other to survive have to lesbians.
As for the ending, well, again, you can put your own feelings and spin on it, but neither one of those girls is going to have an easy life. But keep in mind, Pammy was 13 in this film, both the actress and the character, and Times Square was not the place for a 13 year old at the time. Her Dad, though an a-hole, obviously loved her and had softened a bit by the time the film was done. Nicky unfortunately was a seriously troubled girl, and most likely had substance abuse issues. Pammy saw that Nicky needed more help than she could give, plus didn't want to live her teen years on the streets of New York City. I wouldn't say this is a happy ending, but the thought of Pammy staying with her and continuing that lifestyle is a way more unhappy ending, and I have seen the results of that ending too many times in my life.
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