Unfortunately, I am not that pithy.
However, 26 year old multi-talented Lena Dunham is that pithy and won a much deserved Golden Globe award last night for her role in HBO’s series, “Girls.”
She was interviewed by Charlie Rose on his PBS show today and her insight knocked me out.
She spoke about the need for the media to stop portraying women drinking chardonnay in their incredibly expensive, fantasy kitchens, while they are going through their sassy, little divorces.
Are you listening Nancy Meyers?
It is not an accurate portrayl of the female experience, as we know it, and it is in much need of speedy repair.
I left my marriage, seventeen years ago, and I have absolutely no regrets.
What I do regret is buying into this Hollywood myth that the rest of my life would be lived, “happily ever after.”
Divorce does not come with any guarantees, the truth is, if you have failed at one relationship, there is a good chance that you will fail at others.
My role model, was Jill Clayburgh’s character Erica, in Paul Mazursky’s 1978 film, “An Unmarried Woman.”
In the film, Erica has a torrid affair with a downtown New York artist, played by Alan Bates.
I remember, waltzing around my business, saying to my clients, I just need to meet an artist and my whole life will change.
I did.
And it did, an incredible life lesson but there was no “happily ever after.”
Movies such as “The First Wives Club” and “Something’s Gotta Give”, perpetuate that myth, all too well.
The female protagonists always come out on top in the divorce, as in “The First Wives Club” or are already unbelievably successful in their own right, as Diane Keaton is in “Something’s Gotta Give.” In fact, her character not only gets Jack Nicholson, she also winds up being the toast of Broadway by writing a play about her relationships with Nicholson and the younger Keanu Reeves.
No messy child custody battles, no nervous breakdowns, and no restraining orders.
The characters always get to keep the matrimonial residence while wearing their designer duds. Their children still get to go off to ivy league schools and these women are courted by handsome men who are either architects or lawyers. And these men, always come with no baggage and a Malibu beach house.
These films are designed to keep hope alive for women over 40 who have a better chance of being hit by lightning than having Steve Martin or Alec Baldwin come knocking at their door.
I would like to see a female character deal with trying to keep the electricity on,while she arranges an abortion for her teen daughter while wearing a wardrobe from Walmart.
Or how about losing the house and her job?
After all, this is, 2013.
So I ask you, Ms. Keaton, Ms. Hawn, Ms. Midler, Ms. Meyers and the rest of you women with power, are you that out of touch in Hollywood, that it takes a young woman, who is a virtual outsider to point out your frailties as artists?
I applaud you, Ms. Dunham.
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