Review of Mildred Pierce (1945) by Vanessa P — 31 Aug 2008

I first heard of Mildred Pierce in a sonic youth song. The first time I saw it, it smacked me down...there is something so fierce in Joan Crawford. She's awe-inspiring. Of course to me the dynamic between Mildred and her daughters is the keystone of the film.

In the beginning her character is a sweet, self-sacrificing mother who holds it all together to give her children the best she can. Of course the squeaky wheel eldest daughter (Vera?) is a bottomless pit, and after years of giving to her Mildred gets nothing back but heartache.

I guess even more than the mother daughter dynamic is the theme of giving everything within you for the benefit of the person you love most. Joan Crawford is not the most realistic actress, but she is more fierce than anyone I've ever seen, with the exception of Keira Knightly.

She deserved an Oscar for this. Plus I read a biography of her and then watched this movie, and did you know in public and high school Joan worked as a scullery maid, janitor in both schools, just for the priviledge of getting an education? So seeing Mildred do whatever it takes to climb to the top (rags to riches) has this powerful catharsis, like Joan is showing the world that her fabulousness is self constructed and took years of hard labour to achieve.

If you haven't seen it, I recommend it highly.