This film is an interesting take on a biopic, blending elements of realism with more fantastical sequences set in Gloria's imagination. With references to The Handmaid's Tale, Wizard of Oz and more, these metaphorical inserts may not be for everyone but I felt they enriched the story. It features stellar performances from Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander, with appearances from Janelle Monae and Bette Middler.
I almost didn't watch this because I saw what a low score it had, and yet it seems this is perhaps to do with political leanings. Regardless of where your political views lie, this is an interesting look at an influential woman, and a beautifully made, entertaining film with a brilliant cast. The appearance of Gloria Steinem herself at the end was a particularly moving way to complete this intimate look at her life.
55 Reviews
Good but long
stephmorgan-480643 October 2020
Expected much more.
SnobReviews13 October 2020
Unfocused but well acted; "The Glorias" pays homage to a feminist icon with a talented cast but the final product is far from being iconic.
In this drama, feminist icon Gloria Steinem recounts her itinerant childhood's influence on her life as a writer, activist and organizer for women's rights worldwide. Based on a true story.
I can appreciate director Julie Taymor's vision (except for that "Wizard Of Oz" sequence, which was a bit much), but "The Glorias" leans more on the messy side rather than being wholly empowering. However the cast is great; Julianne Moore is terrific, Alicia Vikander delivers a solid performance, but Bette Midler is the scene stealer and kicks serious ass in her role. An inspiring and interesting story but overly long and uneven.
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In this drama, feminist icon Gloria Steinem recounts her itinerant childhood's influence on her life as a writer, activist and organizer for women's rights worldwide. Based on a true story.
I can appreciate director Julie Taymor's vision (except for that "Wizard Of Oz" sequence, which was a bit much), but "The Glorias" leans more on the messy side rather than being wholly empowering. However the cast is great; Julianne Moore is terrific, Alicia Vikander delivers a solid performance, but Bette Midler is the scene stealer and kicks serious ass in her role. An inspiring and interesting story but overly long and uneven.
Follow @snobmedia for more reviews!
10 stars for Alicia Vikander and Juliane Moore
elleryhowarth2 February 2020
A Below Average Long Film
alindsayal23 December 2021
This film took its time but finally made its way to the UK this week and I have watched The Glorias and here is my review for it. The premise of the film follows the life of Feminist icon Gloria Steinem as she campaigns for woman's rights.
Main Character There are a few people that play Gloria here, with the main two being Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander and they are both really good in the film. I personally preferred Vikander's section of the film because I thought her version of the character was more interesting and compelled me greater then when Moore was on screen. But both actresses do really good jobs in their roles and provide a decent outlook on this real person and the life that she led.
Supporting Characters There are some decent supporting characters here. Janelle Monae & Lorraine Toussaint were the highlights for me and I thought they provided some life and energy to the film when it needed it. But I also thought there were plenty of paper thin characters on screen, especially on the male front which made this film at times feel like a film that doesn't provide a fair argument. Also the child versions of Gloria didn't really do anything for me and I guess that wasn't the actresses fault but it was a part of the film I wasn't a huge fan of.
Story The story obviously is important and highlights a key part of the women's right movement and it does a decent job with that and is the part of the story that works. But this story is a bit all over the place, it jumps all over the place in terms of timelines which feels very jarring and unnecessary and it really hurts the plot. I thought the switch from Vikander to Moore was handled poorly and felt really weird, especially considering none of the other performers changed despite the time difference.
Script The script is also not great, the dialogue doesn't do anything, apart from one forced scene in the last act it feels a bit timid. For a story that is so heavy and emotional it feels like the characters never get angry and never show just how invested they are.
Style The style is also a real issue and for me the worst part of the film. As I said before, the changing of timelines is incredibly jarring and makes the film feel like a bit of a mess to watch. Also the film is 2 hours and 20 mins and that is way too long, it drags its heels in and tries to show so much that it feels so long and there is at least 20/30 mins that could have been taken off here. Also there are some really weird sequences that just feel really out of place and a bizarre choice.
Overall Overall, this is a below average film that didn't really interest me. There are some decent performances, but I would say this is only a film for people who are already interested in the Woman's Rights Movement and Gloria Steinem but other then that this one is worth a miss.
Rating - 4/10.
Main Character There are a few people that play Gloria here, with the main two being Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander and they are both really good in the film. I personally preferred Vikander's section of the film because I thought her version of the character was more interesting and compelled me greater then when Moore was on screen. But both actresses do really good jobs in their roles and provide a decent outlook on this real person and the life that she led.
Supporting Characters There are some decent supporting characters here. Janelle Monae & Lorraine Toussaint were the highlights for me and I thought they provided some life and energy to the film when it needed it. But I also thought there were plenty of paper thin characters on screen, especially on the male front which made this film at times feel like a film that doesn't provide a fair argument. Also the child versions of Gloria didn't really do anything for me and I guess that wasn't the actresses fault but it was a part of the film I wasn't a huge fan of.
Story The story obviously is important and highlights a key part of the women's right movement and it does a decent job with that and is the part of the story that works. But this story is a bit all over the place, it jumps all over the place in terms of timelines which feels very jarring and unnecessary and it really hurts the plot. I thought the switch from Vikander to Moore was handled poorly and felt really weird, especially considering none of the other performers changed despite the time difference.
Script The script is also not great, the dialogue doesn't do anything, apart from one forced scene in the last act it feels a bit timid. For a story that is so heavy and emotional it feels like the characters never get angry and never show just how invested they are.
Style The style is also a real issue and for me the worst part of the film. As I said before, the changing of timelines is incredibly jarring and makes the film feel like a bit of a mess to watch. Also the film is 2 hours and 20 mins and that is way too long, it drags its heels in and tries to show so much that it feels so long and there is at least 20/30 mins that could have been taken off here. Also there are some really weird sequences that just feel really out of place and a bizarre choice.
Overall Overall, this is a below average film that didn't really interest me. There are some decent performances, but I would say this is only a film for people who are already interested in the Woman's Rights Movement and Gloria Steinem but other then that this one is worth a miss.
Rating - 4/10.
bus ride
ferguson-62 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Greetings again from the darkness. Who hasn't dreamt of having a conversation with their younger self in hopes of instilling some wisdom to improve the forthcoming life decisions? Writer-director Julie Taymor (FRIDA, 2002) and co-writer Sarah Ruhl have adapted Gloria Steinem's autobiography, "My Life on the Road", and use cross-country bus trips as a vehicle allowing Ms. Steinem to chat with herself at four different stages of life.
The feminist icon and activist is played by four actors: Oscar winner Julianne Moore, Oscar winner Alicia Vikander, Lulu Wilson ("The Haunting of Hill House"), and Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the youngest Gloria. Childhood is called the formative years for a reason, and we do get a taste of how Gloria's nomadic hustler of a father Leo (Timothy Hutton), and her mother Ruth (Enid Graham) influence the woman she became. Her father (referring to himself as Steinomite) explained that travel is the best education, while her mother struggled with mental instability after being forced to give up her writing career.
Bucking the male-dominated world began in the era portrayed by Ms. Vikander, and it takes up most of the first half of the film. Discrimination and harassment were commonplace as she fought to be taken seriously as a journalist and writer. This portion includes her trip to India, where she was heavily influenced by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. In addition, we see Gloria's time as a (undercover) Playboy bunny, and the reactions that her corresponding article caused.
Ms. Moore is on screen much of the second half, including the founding of "Ms." magazine, and her affiliation with other activists like Dorothy Pitman Hughes (Janelle Monae), Flo Kennedy (Lorraine Toussaint), Wilma Mankiller (Kimberly Guerrero, "Seinfeld"), and of course, Bella Abzug (Bette Midler). There's a moment on the bus when Ms. Moore's Gloria tells her younger self, Ms. Vikander's Gloria, "Speaking your mind will get you into trouble." It sounds like a warning, but in fact, it's motivation for what's to come.
Ms. Taymor's film cuts between periods of Steinem's life with the multiple Glorias in action. The bus rides are an interesting choice as looking out the windows we (and Gloria) sees the streets of New York, the palette of India, miles of nature, and even her own father on the road in his car. Outside is filled with the colors of life, while inside the bus, the colors are muted, often black and white. We see actual clips of the 1963 March on Washington DC, including Mahalia Jackson, and the 1977 National Women's Conference. It just feels like something's missing here - like the movie doesn't have the heft Ms. Steinem deserves.
Sometimes Ms. Taymor's approach is a bit too artsy for the story, and there is only a brief mention of Ms. Steinem's nemesis, Phyllis Schlafly ... despite much attention to abortion and women's rights. Gloria's passion for issues is clear, and we note her motivation to transform an environment that stifled her mother. The film's music comes from Oscar winner Eric Goldenthal, and the cinematography from Rodrigo Prieto, frequent collaborator of Martin Scorsese and other elite directors. The timing is spot on for the film given contemporary issues, including the opening on the Supreme Court created by the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Despite this, the film might just be a bit too nice, or too lightweight given the history, accomplishments and impact of Gloria Steinem (who has a cameo appearance on the bus).
The feminist icon and activist is played by four actors: Oscar winner Julianne Moore, Oscar winner Alicia Vikander, Lulu Wilson ("The Haunting of Hill House"), and Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the youngest Gloria. Childhood is called the formative years for a reason, and we do get a taste of how Gloria's nomadic hustler of a father Leo (Timothy Hutton), and her mother Ruth (Enid Graham) influence the woman she became. Her father (referring to himself as Steinomite) explained that travel is the best education, while her mother struggled with mental instability after being forced to give up her writing career.
Bucking the male-dominated world began in the era portrayed by Ms. Vikander, and it takes up most of the first half of the film. Discrimination and harassment were commonplace as she fought to be taken seriously as a journalist and writer. This portion includes her trip to India, where she was heavily influenced by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. In addition, we see Gloria's time as a (undercover) Playboy bunny, and the reactions that her corresponding article caused.
Ms. Moore is on screen much of the second half, including the founding of "Ms." magazine, and her affiliation with other activists like Dorothy Pitman Hughes (Janelle Monae), Flo Kennedy (Lorraine Toussaint), Wilma Mankiller (Kimberly Guerrero, "Seinfeld"), and of course, Bella Abzug (Bette Midler). There's a moment on the bus when Ms. Moore's Gloria tells her younger self, Ms. Vikander's Gloria, "Speaking your mind will get you into trouble." It sounds like a warning, but in fact, it's motivation for what's to come.
Ms. Taymor's film cuts between periods of Steinem's life with the multiple Glorias in action. The bus rides are an interesting choice as looking out the windows we (and Gloria) sees the streets of New York, the palette of India, miles of nature, and even her own father on the road in his car. Outside is filled with the colors of life, while inside the bus, the colors are muted, often black and white. We see actual clips of the 1963 March on Washington DC, including Mahalia Jackson, and the 1977 National Women's Conference. It just feels like something's missing here - like the movie doesn't have the heft Ms. Steinem deserves.
Sometimes Ms. Taymor's approach is a bit too artsy for the story, and there is only a brief mention of Ms. Steinem's nemesis, Phyllis Schlafly ... despite much attention to abortion and women's rights. Gloria's passion for issues is clear, and we note her motivation to transform an environment that stifled her mother. The film's music comes from Oscar winner Eric Goldenthal, and the cinematography from Rodrigo Prieto, frequent collaborator of Martin Scorsese and other elite directors. The timing is spot on for the film given contemporary issues, including the opening on the Supreme Court created by the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Despite this, the film might just be a bit too nice, or too lightweight given the history, accomplishments and impact of Gloria Steinem (who has a cameo appearance on the bus).
It lacks focus
stevelivesey675 May 2021
A failed opportunity. The movie is overlong and becomes a hero worship of Stienem.
It's all over the place with It's bad writing, direction and inability to tell a story.
The 4 different Gloria's idea is Interesting and starts off well but falls away in an over stylized mess.
It's all over the place with It's bad writing, direction and inability to tell a story.
The 4 different Gloria's idea is Interesting and starts off well but falls away in an over stylized mess.
Gloria is a legend
natashasarin10 October 2020
4.5/10 on IMDb?? Is that because anti-feminists who haven't even watched it are just giving it 1 star? I personally thought it was a great movie that told Ms Steinem's story in an honest and inspiring way without preaching or overdoing anything. Alicia Vikander delivered an amazing performance (as per usual), and so did everyone else.
The only criticism I have is that it was too unnecessarily slow at times, consequently making the overall movie much longer than it needed to be. It definitely could have been shortened by 30 or even 45 minutes.
Disappointing
Gordon-112 October 2020
For a film on an important person of an important movement, I expected much more. The story telling is not so good, and is even confusing. For example, there are different ages of Glorias in one scene or even in one frame. There are way too many imageries for viewers to digest. I don't see how the women's rights movement develops, and I don't sense the passion in the characters or the women's rights movement.
Not so great
hanscarlsen-3847514 August 2021
To be politically correct is not enough to make a great movie. This one, while worth watching, is too simplistic and the characters are to cartoonish, without defaults or complications. It also spans over too many issues not properly developed. To have the main character tripicated also seems unnecessary, Wikander and Moore are not so differently aged that it requires them doubling. A disappointing experience nevertheless. It is also a bit boring to watch this type of American movies so one-sided in its ethical agenda. There is another world out there less programmed in a left-wing liberal topic but no less worth picturing.
Horrible
ameliamagnolia2 November 2020
loved it!
chicagovesuvi30 September 2020
I literally just finished streaming it... it was a pure delight. An exquisitely-directed (by Julie Taymor) tale of an iconic figure and those around her who had profound influence.
Kudos must also be given to Alicia Vikander, Janelle Monáe, Julianne Moore, Bette Midler, Timothy Hutton, Lorraine Toussaint and Kimberly Guerrero.
Anyone interested in the history of equality (and its long pursuit... especially in recent years) should make sure to see this one. It's a relay race! Every triumph is built upon a previous triumph.
Kudos must also be given to Alicia Vikander, Janelle Monáe, Julianne Moore, Bette Midler, Timothy Hutton, Lorraine Toussaint and Kimberly Guerrero.
Anyone interested in the history of equality (and its long pursuit... especially in recent years) should make sure to see this one. It's a relay race! Every triumph is built upon a previous triumph.
A sprawling and thoughtful biopic of feminist Gloria Steinem
Sir_AmirSyarif14 October 2020
'The Glorias' is an exquisitely-directed tale of the life and times of Gloria Steinem in a creative and compelling way with stellar performances from Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander. Though feels like a highlight reel at times, the movie never loses its focus and its powerful grip on the viewer's emotions. Glorious.
The telling of a remarkable life drowned out by "artistic" ambition
ack-56-74979310 June 2022
I thought like many others, that most of the bad reviews were from backwards misogynists, I wish I was right.
The movie's cast is impeccable and give really strong performances but it seems the film makers were pre-occupied with making a movie with "artistic integrity", rather than telling Gloria's story. Her life is so fascinating and impressive that a straightforward chronological movie would not only sufficed but barely scraped the surface of her life. This movie gave the surface a glance
The biggest let-down is that watching a three minute clip of Gloria talking about Marilyn Monroe gave me more insight to who she is as a person, than spending two and a half hours watching a movie about her life
This is such a missed opportunity and I hope someone will be able to make a movie that does Gloria's life story justice
Male, 36.
The movie's cast is impeccable and give really strong performances but it seems the film makers were pre-occupied with making a movie with "artistic integrity", rather than telling Gloria's story. Her life is so fascinating and impressive that a straightforward chronological movie would not only sufficed but barely scraped the surface of her life. This movie gave the surface a glance
The biggest let-down is that watching a three minute clip of Gloria talking about Marilyn Monroe gave me more insight to who she is as a person, than spending two and a half hours watching a movie about her life
This is such a missed opportunity and I hope someone will be able to make a movie that does Gloria's life story justice
Male, 36.
Lousy Director and Kill the Puppets
drednm4 October 2020
Plods along for 140 minutes in its telling of the life and times of Gloria Steinem. Her life has to have been more interesting than this windbag story into which director Julie Taymor injects her damned puppets in a Wizard of Oz riff. Title derives from having four actresses play Steinem at various ages. In small roles, Bette Midler is zesty as Bella Abzug as is Lorraine Toussaint as Flo Kennedy. But all four of the Steinems are pretty dull. The two adult versions are played by Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore. Stealing the film, ironically, is Timothy Hutton as Leo Steinem, Gloria's unorthodox father.
For those interested in Steinem, they'd be better off watching the recent TV miniseries Mrs. America.
For those interested in Steinem, they'd be better off watching the recent TV miniseries Mrs. America.
Film Review - The Glorias (2020) 7.1/10
lasttimeisaw19 October 2020
"When it's Moore's turn, her Gloria is seasoned with more compassion and resolution in her vocation, coursing through the landmark moments of spearheading ERA movement, authoring and editorializing Ms. magazine, a lifelong friendship with Wilma Mankiller (Guerrero), the first woman to serve as Cherokee principal chief in 1985, together with diverting appearances of renowned activists like Bella Abzug (Midler, a class act), Flo Kennedy (a mordant Toussaint) and Dolores Huerta (Sanchez). Deferentially paying homage to Ms. Steinem and her achievement, it is noticeable that THE GLORIAS tries very hard to sustain a fidelity that is artistically at the expense of Taymor's usual visual flourish (save for a crimson superimposition as a response to a male chauvinist question and an animated sequence of the cover of Ms. magazine's first issue) and narrative selection."
read my full review on my blog: cinema omnivore, thanks
read my full review on my blog: cinema omnivore, thanks
Is it over yet?
tamarapopovicbg1 October 2020
Neither one thing nor the other
YayNayorMeh14 March 2021
On paper the conceit of this film is fascinating. Have the same character/person at different stages of their life interact with their future/past self and give context and comment on the important moments of their life.
In practice this film is not the best example of that conceit. The scenes where the 4 Glorias are on the never-ending bus journey together are few and far between and feel like very brief, surreal interludes in an otherwise fairly basic biopic. Either commit to the surrealism and have the fantastical bus journey BE the film as they discuss each important moment in Gloria Steinem's life or dispense with it entirely and just do a by-the-numbers biopic. I think Julie Taymor tried to do both and ended up falling between too many houses.
I also think the film is a little too directly connected to the original memoir that Steinem wrote. The scene where Julianne Moore is giving a reading from the book goes way too far in my opinion. It tips into the realm of hagiography. Don't get me wrong Gloria Steinem is an awesome person and her story should be told, but there's far too much hero worship here. Having said that I loved the real Gloria Steinem showing up at the end.
Ultimately this comes across as a standard, basic biopic with surreal interludes that are too infrequent and don't really fit the tone of the film at large. Well acted and a story worth telling, but only an average feature film.
In practice this film is not the best example of that conceit. The scenes where the 4 Glorias are on the never-ending bus journey together are few and far between and feel like very brief, surreal interludes in an otherwise fairly basic biopic. Either commit to the surrealism and have the fantastical bus journey BE the film as they discuss each important moment in Gloria Steinem's life or dispense with it entirely and just do a by-the-numbers biopic. I think Julie Taymor tried to do both and ended up falling between too many houses.
I also think the film is a little too directly connected to the original memoir that Steinem wrote. The scene where Julianne Moore is giving a reading from the book goes way too far in my opinion. It tips into the realm of hagiography. Don't get me wrong Gloria Steinem is an awesome person and her story should be told, but there's far too much hero worship here. Having said that I loved the real Gloria Steinem showing up at the end.
Ultimately this comes across as a standard, basic biopic with surreal interludes that are too infrequent and don't really fit the tone of the film at large. Well acted and a story worth telling, but only an average feature film.
omg don't just don't rent
susiejohnson-281008 October 2020
This has no focus, it rambles, it is incoherent. If we didn't know about Gloria, we would not have been able to figure out the story. It has scattered pieces as if they needed minutes of filler. My husband laughed in one scene, when there appeared to be a witch or ghost and some red lighting and a man sweating, and asked "am I watching the Wizard of Oz". Super stupid. Sorry, I want my money back. How could Julianne Moore let this garbage go out?
Finally something I want all teens and adults to watch
delaneyruston3 October 2020
What a beautifully and engaging well crafted film--It is EXACTLY what is needed right now. I am so completely impressed with the writing, the casting, the acting and the super creative sequences and montages. Bravo--thank you to the film team and cast for giving us this gift of a film!
The Glorias 😔
rhoechst-9333311 January 2021
The film somehow makes an interesting person and story very boring. It loses sight, is disconnected, and an overall let down . In addition, I couldn't stand Alicia Vikander's "Gloria Voice". Like listening to the crackling and squeakiness of teen age boy going through puberty. It was abrasive and took away from the film. Overall, just an unfortunately disappointing film. Steinem deserved more.
Humbling. Truly moving
joseejenkins4 October 2020
As a woman, I am truly humbled and deeply moved by this film. I enjoyed it even more than I'd hoped. It tells the story of a fierce, bold woman's tireless work to advocate for female rights. Watching this movie, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like for me to live in a time where I did not have (nearly) the same rights as a man. Even as a 23 year old woman living in America, I have experienced sexism and the negative impacts of a patriarchal society throughout my entire life. I have felt the consequences of being a woman in a man's world since I was a young girl; discrepancies in respect, power, rights. It is more than emotional, it is more than intellectual: my phsyical rights. So many times I have been aware of how my situation would be better, if I were simply a man. I am indebted and thankful for the hard work of Gloria Steinem and her peers for shrinking that gap. While our country and world still has progress to make, I cannot imagine the deep pain and inequalities I would face daily, had it not been for Gloria's hard work and the feminist movement. Thank you.
Just boring.
tremblantdata7 December 2020
Mrs america was better directed but some of the ladies were interesting
theotherblonde21 October 2020
Liked learning more about glorias friends flo( farm and immigration reform organizer) delores heurta who went to both rallies in 1977 and the indian chief Wilma mankiller.( she needs her own movie) but the plot was a boring mess until Gloria went undercover as a playboy bunny.it was too preachy and constantly asking her why she didn't want to get married every two seconds is annoying . the dream sequences we were really weird.
Real Gloria Steinem should "Forgive and Forget" this messy film.
rakshita_parihar8 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The Glorias could have been a life-changing, uplifting, and inspiring film about Gloria Steinem, a well-known writer, journalist, and women's rights activist.
However, the film's script appears to want to cover every aspect of Gloria's life, which it did, but it fails to capture the true persona of Gloria's influential life.
It is about Gloria's journey, or "the road of her life," from childhood to adulthood. Four women seated on a Greyhound Lines bus illustrate each stage of her journey as it progresses throughout the movie.
These four females were all excellent choices for the role, and they all performed well throughout the film. These stunning black-and-white, slow-motion scenes portray Gloria's long journey down memory lane through the difficult tunnel of her life.
The background music is fantastic; it fits the film's overall vibrant atmosphere, as well as Gloria's enduring spirit.
Gloria was very close to her father, an antique dealer, when she was a child. And through his love of travelling from place to place from Gloria's childhood until his passing, he motivated Gloria to pursue her fellowship in India, where she frequently appears wearing a white saree while discussing Gandhi's nonviolent movement and learning about the challenging lives of women by listening to their tales from village to village.
"No, travelling is the best education. It's the only education really". - Gloria Steinem's Father
Later, when she was a teenager, she was seen as being close to her mother, who had separated from her father, and now she's ill and bedridden. Her mother, who used to be a writer, has given up writing to raise her two daughters. Gloria is hesitant to question her mother about her decision to stop writing, even though she wants to.
The film revolves around the four Glorias sitting together, questioning and reviewing on the decisions she made years ago, how things were for women at that time and how Gloria dealt with them, And what she had to do, what she did with the hardships of her daily life struggles, "in the odd dance of daily life", and how she kept the promises she had once made.
All the four Gloria's converse, sometimes argue and ask questions to each other about the decisions she made on her journey of life from her childhood, to being a teen and young adult Gloria in her 20s working as a journalist for various publications and the discrimination and inequalities she faced there and finally an older Gloria in her 30s when she started her own Ms. Magazine to voice the women's rights and movements while talking and writing about sexism, racism and starting a whole new revolution throughout the whole world.
The film depicted every aspect of Gloria's life, from the minor to the major, such as how she dealt with her fear of public speaking, her father's death, and the "stunning sex object" notion in a television interview.
The justified rage and anguish displayed in that scene with an artistic creative expression that elevates the entire scene to a new level. In straight forward simple language Gloria answers back "Forgive and Forget".
It paid so much attention to detailing Gloria's life that the film feels so long to watch after the intermission. After all, it's two hours and thirty minutes long, and it gets boring in the middle half.
Although the film's script attempted to cover every aspect of Gloria's life, it fell short of capturing the true essence of her influential lifestyle. Gloria Steinem, the epitome of the feminist movements, is undeniably inspiring for women and will continue to be for future generations.
Regrettably, the messy and completely devoid representation or to say the lack of a true depiction of Gloria's bold and daring, inner strength in the film-a result of poor storytelling-it ruins it.
However, the film's script appears to want to cover every aspect of Gloria's life, which it did, but it fails to capture the true persona of Gloria's influential life.
It is about Gloria's journey, or "the road of her life," from childhood to adulthood. Four women seated on a Greyhound Lines bus illustrate each stage of her journey as it progresses throughout the movie.
These four females were all excellent choices for the role, and they all performed well throughout the film. These stunning black-and-white, slow-motion scenes portray Gloria's long journey down memory lane through the difficult tunnel of her life.
The background music is fantastic; it fits the film's overall vibrant atmosphere, as well as Gloria's enduring spirit.
Gloria was very close to her father, an antique dealer, when she was a child. And through his love of travelling from place to place from Gloria's childhood until his passing, he motivated Gloria to pursue her fellowship in India, where she frequently appears wearing a white saree while discussing Gandhi's nonviolent movement and learning about the challenging lives of women by listening to their tales from village to village.
"No, travelling is the best education. It's the only education really". - Gloria Steinem's Father
Later, when she was a teenager, she was seen as being close to her mother, who had separated from her father, and now she's ill and bedridden. Her mother, who used to be a writer, has given up writing to raise her two daughters. Gloria is hesitant to question her mother about her decision to stop writing, even though she wants to.
The film revolves around the four Glorias sitting together, questioning and reviewing on the decisions she made years ago, how things were for women at that time and how Gloria dealt with them, And what she had to do, what she did with the hardships of her daily life struggles, "in the odd dance of daily life", and how she kept the promises she had once made.
All the four Gloria's converse, sometimes argue and ask questions to each other about the decisions she made on her journey of life from her childhood, to being a teen and young adult Gloria in her 20s working as a journalist for various publications and the discrimination and inequalities she faced there and finally an older Gloria in her 30s when she started her own Ms. Magazine to voice the women's rights and movements while talking and writing about sexism, racism and starting a whole new revolution throughout the whole world.
The film depicted every aspect of Gloria's life, from the minor to the major, such as how she dealt with her fear of public speaking, her father's death, and the "stunning sex object" notion in a television interview.
The justified rage and anguish displayed in that scene with an artistic creative expression that elevates the entire scene to a new level. In straight forward simple language Gloria answers back "Forgive and Forget".
It paid so much attention to detailing Gloria's life that the film feels so long to watch after the intermission. After all, it's two hours and thirty minutes long, and it gets boring in the middle half.
Although the film's script attempted to cover every aspect of Gloria's life, it fell short of capturing the true essence of her influential lifestyle. Gloria Steinem, the epitome of the feminist movements, is undeniably inspiring for women and will continue to be for future generations.
Regrettably, the messy and completely devoid representation or to say the lack of a true depiction of Gloria's bold and daring, inner strength in the film-a result of poor storytelling-it ruins it.
See also
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