The Glorias

1. All of these films feature historic figures. What is unique about the filmmaker’s approach to bending concepts of the ‘biopic’?

I think the idea of having four Glorias bended the concept of the biopic. As well as the film meeting Gloria’s work present day. It allowed us to connect with Gloria at different stages of her life as well as understand how she got to where she is today. I think most times in bio pics, the director puts the icon on a pedestal and makes them appear as this untouchable being. Julie Taymor was able to paint Steinem as more than this icon she is, she humanized Steinem, which I think made the film unique.

2. What is ground-breaking about this film? Why is it receiving so much attention at this time?

I think the fact that they had four actresses portraying Gloria Steinem was groundbreaking. I thought it gave the film a new depth. A woman does not automatically wake up at 30 years old and realize everything wrong with the patriarchy. It is something females experience every day over time. I think portraying Gloria at different ages allowed us to see her everyday struggle as a woman in a man’s world.

I think this film received so much attention because we are no longer in a period of time where women will stay silent. If this film was released 50 years ago, women may enjoy this film in private and secretly become inspired. However, now women are able to publicly love and resonate with this movie without fear.

3. What did you learn about these historic personages? What was revealed?

Honestly, everything. Gloria Steinem has always been a name I’ve heard and I knew very vaguely about. However, I never took the time to look her up or listen. I learned a lot. I feel like when you’re living your day to day life (especially during COVID), it is very easy for your fire to dim. I’m very passionate about women’s rights, and I felt like this film has reignited the flame.

I learned that sometimes you need to take personal “hits”, when you’re working for something bigger than yourself. I also learned that those “personal hits” don’t really matter. For example, if a man was making fun of me for caring about women’s rights…isn’t that more of a reflection of him rather than me?

4. What was the highpoint of the film for you? Was it the performances? Style? Cinematography? Or one key scene?

The high point of the film was the end of the movie. Throughout the course of the movie she was fighting for herself and women everywhere. She has been through so much, but seeing her speech at the 2017 Women’s March gave me hope. We are still fighting and we will not back down. I love films where it shows where the person is now or the impact they had on society that travels to the present day. I always find it so inspiring.

I also love that the title “The Glorias” was shown panning out of all the women at the 2017 Women’s March. It made me feel like we all had some Gloria in us, we are the Glorias.

5. How does celebrityhood play out in the script? How does it play out in the promotional stories surrounding the film?

I think celebrityhood played out throughout the movie. Since it was a bio-pioc, we got to see Gloria’s real accomplishments as well as feedback from the media. For example, the scene where Gloria is giving a book reading showed the audience where she stood as a celebrity. more at the end of the movie. Like discussed earlier, the movie ends with Steinem’s speech which I think was a genius way to end the movie. “We will not be quiet”