'The Glorias' Review: Julianne Moore shines in beautiful tribute to Gloria Steinem that could be shorter
Spoilers for 'The Glorias'
There is enough written about and by Gloria Steinem, the writer, journalist and feminist socio-political activist. So what new has Julie Taymor's new movie 'The Glorias' got to add to that?
Frankly, not much. But her direction and screenplay — partnering Sarah Ruhl — is the highlight. Based on Steinem's 2015 memoir 'My Life on the Road', 'The Glorias' is a multi-starrer movie that explores Steinem and her contribution to the feminist movement through actors at different stages. Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander play the role of the older Glorias, with the former presenting her in an impeccably accurate performance. Lulu Wilson and Ryan Kiera Armstrong portray her in her childhood and adolescence.
Staying true to the original material, 'The Glorias' begins with the source of Steinem's love for travel. Her father (Timothy Hutton) says, "travel is the best education." This opens to her chapter as a young woman listening to stories about the condition of poor and tribal women in rural areas. This is followed by a portrayal of her contribution to the women's rights movement of the 1960s and '70s.
Over the course of her massive career spanning more than six decades, Steinem makes many friends in Dorthy Pitman Hughes (Janelle Monáe), Flo Kennedy (Lorraine Toussaint), Wilma Mankiller (Kimberly Guerrero) and Bella Abzug (Bette Midler). Each woman teaches her a lesson that makes her into the woman that she is today. And each of these performances a delight to watch. As they write endless copies for Ms. Magazine, upsetting not only a majority of the population but also driving away potential advertisers, they create a space for women by taking the conversation in their own hands. From intersectional feminism, sexism, racism, abortion, rights of single and/or divorced women and the homemaker, 'The Glorias' sheds light on each of these issues
There is also a chapter deployed to portray Steinem's time working as a bunny at the Playboy Club. Playing by Vikander, the character also battles workplace sexism, stereotyping and is at the receiving end of weird compliments like 'You write like a man'. Taymor's movie, which could also very well be deemed a tribute, focuses beyond hard facts, into the life of Steinem and the women she works with. Scattered through the movie are real-life footage of critics of the feminist movement including that of conservative Phyllis Schlafly, which was more recently portrayed in the Hulu series 'Mrs America'.
The movie is beautifully shot by Rodrigo Prieto. As a younger Gloria fuses with an older one, the story feels seamless and fluid. The movie comes a full circle back to India where Steinem had begun her journey. After which little time is dedicated to some personal incidents. This looks a bit sudden since her youth and adult life was little explored.
'The Glorias' intends to be an inspirational story and it very well meets its purpose. Although the length of the movie could be shortened, the two-and-a-half-hour long story tells diverse stories of struggle and resilience. The conversation around intersectional feminism is depicted with emphasis on Steinem's fellow activists. In the end, 'The Glorias' is a story about not just the writer, journalist and feminist Steinem but also every woman before her, and alongside her.
Gloria Steinem pissed off a lot of people back in the day. Even today, decades after the women's rights movement took over America and the world, 'The Glorias' is going to piss off naysayers.
'The Glorias' is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video and available on VoD.