The movie that dictated my youth. |
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The first time I heard of the movie GYPSY 83, I was a sophomore in high school. I was a fifteen year old "omg so super goth" girl (complete with black lipstick and a heavy black trench coat in Southern California), and I saw a movie review in a gothic culture magazine. Naturally, I had to see this movie—I had to be an expert on all things gothic and subversive.
Being the "baby-goff" I was at the time, I immediately fell in love with this movie for all the wrong reasons. I started wearing Victorian inspired dresses and horrible platform boots. I listened to nothing but the Cure for a month (which, considering how much I dislike the Cure, was about two songs that I considered tolerable on repeat for thirty days straight).
I idolized Gypsy Vale, played by the wonderfully talented Sara Rue because she was so different. She had awesome style and she epitomized everything I wanted to be at the time; she was dark, brooding, and scorned. She had a flamingly gay best friend and she danced in cemeteries. She called an old woman "granny" and dismissed her.
She also had a really awesome Trans-Am. What's not to love?
Four years later, I've 
Oh, come on. That hair is awesome. |
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moved away from gothic culture for the more active, in-your-face, colorful punk culture, and I still love this movie for all the right reasons.
Here's but a small list of the badassery contained in this film:
-The costume department did a phenomenal job.
-"Night of a Thousand Stevies" (An actual annual Stevie Nicks fan event in NYC).
-A gay frat boy.
-Absinthe.
-An Amish man (that, right there, should be enough to see this film).
Any movie which contains the quote, "So, you running from something?" "Conformity... boredom... the cows," ends up pretty high on my list of awesome scripting.
I still idolize Gypsy, but not for her awesome wardrobe. Not for her gay best friend. Not even for that bitchin' car (well, maybe a little bit for the car...).
I idolize Gypsy because she's loud, opinionated and completely unapologetic about being who she is. She knows what she wants and she goes for it, no matter what. She refuses to sit by and let complacency in a small town direct where she ends up. She's in control of her own life.
You couldn't ask for a better role model than that.
The movie itself contains a great message, too. Not only 
Phsyically and metaphorically leaving the past behind. |
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are the characters relatable and actually worth looking up to, but what they do is worth emulating as well.
GYPSY 83 isn't just a movie about reaching for your dreams, but about the trip getting there and discovering who you are and what you need along the way.
On their road trip from their boring Ohio town to NYC, Gypsy and her best friend Clive (played by Kett Turton) encounter a whole lot of set-backs, but they got through them. They fought over petty, stupid things, but they got over it and were that much closer for it. They felt like giving up, but they pushed on.
And, in the end, it was totally worth it.
The movie is realistic, as far as I'm concerned. It's honest. It says, yes, there are going to be hardships to face. Yes, you will cry. Yes, you will have to be strong even when you feel weak. Yes, you will feel like giving up and retreating back to your safe little hole. No, not everyone is going to make it; not everyone is cut out to be a fighter and to push forward. Some people just aren't brave enough. But, if you're willing to stick it out and work for it, you'll come out on top, eventually.
Rock on, girl, rock on!
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| Acting Queer |
Every other Tuesday
Talking about movies from a queer girl's point of view, possibly with psychological, sociological and political undertones.
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| Aidan Abhorrent |
Aiden is a queer punk rocker feminist with a loud mouth and too much to say. Studying psychology and sociology makes her think she knows everything about everybody, which she very well might.
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| Contact |
If you have a comment, question, or suggestion, you can send a message to Aidan Abhorrent by clicking here.
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