Movies Worthy of Mom’s With CFS (or anyone else for that matter)

I have been thinking about checking out a movie tonight.  It’s been ages and ages since I have gone out, and now that I am feeling better, it’s a perfect opportunity.  So I started checking out the listings, but there wasn’t a whole lot playing that interested me.  So I went to check what is showing at my favorite theatre.  I have a love of cinema (but not really the mainstream hollywood stuff).  I love foreign films, and crazy documentaries, and anything that’s a bit unusual.

Tonight, Pacific Cinematheque is doing a special screening for mothers day.  So all you Vancouver moms’ out there can get in free. They are showing The Beales of Grey Gardens.  I think it’s a cult movie from the 70’s, revolving around the lives of Edith and Little Edie Beale (the aunt and first cousin of Jackie Onassis), at least Grey Gardens was.

Now many of you are wondering, “Laura, come on now, how does this relate to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?”  And quite frankly, it doesn’t really.  Except for the fact that I can sometimes relate it to my own life.  When CFS is starting to get the best of me, and my life is spinning out of control.  It closely resembles a train wreck.  A very very slow one.  One where a regular person, would be able to change the variables slightly to avoid a hit.  But with me, I just can’t seem to do anything about it.  And so a collision happens.  And while its happening, I also feel like I am a spectator, who is watching it, but can’t seem to look away.

The exact same thing happens in Grey Gardens.  You feel like you are watching a train wreck, and you want to look away, but you just can’t do it.  That said, these ladies are very entertaining (not just touched).   I swear watching this movie is better for your self esteem than watching a Jerry Springer marathon.  While the Beales’ women have issues – they are very classy ladies, who happen to live in squalor.  They are essentially “american royalty”, who were neglected.

If you rent this gem, make sure you pay close attention to Little Edie’s outfits.  She was a trend-setter in her day!

Definitely a movie to watch with your mom.