The Glorias
by Alexandra Casarotto
Setting the stage for a life on the road, this inventive biopic takes us on a journey out of the traditional tropes of a cinema biography. A film that could only be coined as ‘Taymor-esque’ uses a non-linear approach to tell the life of equal-rights activist, Ms. Gloria Steinem. Her transgressions with each marker of individual who attempts to impede or dissuade Steinem from pursuing what her will and her mind are insisting is necessary; is refreshingly envisioned. Taymor attracts the attention of the audience in such a way that allows this young aspiring writers to re-examine how incredible it feels knowing one can re-invent and re-imagine a different life and future. The message is light-hearted and true; you are always growing and changing.
It is thanks to ms. Steinem that girls and women across the world can seek opportunities and feel brave and bold enough to pursue careers in industries previously dominated by men. This film is perfectly timed as a necessary piece of media to impart wisdom from a generations past to one which allows young girls to take the torch and bring it forth into the future.
As someone who had heard the buzz surrounding Steinem’s book ‘life on the road’ I was cautiously optimistic to see how Taymor would tackle the many messages and names that appeared in this giant’s manuscript.
I believe the bus was the perfect vehicle (literally and metaphorically) to provide us with a direction (even when our beloved protagonist was uncertain of her own). Gloria’s path is unpredictable, non-traditional and poignant offering up a true and raw encounter with a life that did not follow the same straight-lined and pre-package path as most biopics try to promote. ‘The Glorias’ demonstrates the messiness and distraught voices of women over the course of several decades fighting for rights. These issues are not always successful and there will be adversity and critics at every turn of Gloria’s journey. The ability to rise and to confront such opponents is why we remember the name Gloria Steinem so well. Her voice and her memories carry through each actress who embodies her at each crucial age, from 8 until her present-day self. These ages are important for every girl, a time of self-discovery and personal growth, a time to explore your body and your mind, to develop passions and interests. Taymor covered steinem’s education of feminism from the encounters as a young girl to complete disregard for the status-quo, and finally as the activist and leader that she has become to us all today.
The talented actresses portraying Steinem took a piece from her manifesto and made themselves the diverse chameleons of the art that have earned them award-recognition in the past. Gloria in all her stages as a woman are confined to a bus, where they converse and disagree with one another. Personally, I think that is absolutely fucking brilliant. What most people probably missed is how they would address themselves if they sat in a bus with their former selves and discussed the decisions made. It is evident that there will be regrets and embarrassment; what I believe Taymor is getting at here is the importance of not always agreeing with your former, younger self. Listen to your current self, rather than the person from 10 years ago. While it is alright to briefly withdrawal into the primality of being a child when you are scared, or a young tween when you are annoyed, or even your 20 or 30 year old self when you are feeling unsure and naïve; your current judgment should always reside from where you are standing. These actresses worked with this messaging beautifully, and I hope that it resonates with other viewers as it has with me.
In terms of its shortcomings there are very few to write of, excepts for the lengthy run-time which exceeds the two-hour mark. I nonetheless loved and appreciated the many themes and lessons that are embodied in the life of Gloria Steinem. Her experiences are inspiring and unique, yet universally relatable for all women living today. In the twenty first century women are still fighting for rights and protection, for recognition and the ability to control what is their own. ‘The Glorias is a must-see’ sapphire gem with a message for all.