Identity Theft

Imagine trying to be kind and helpful to someone who to all appearances is just a naïve young adult. As someone who struggles with feeling awkward, the movie Three Women by Robert Altman from 1977 was one of the most disturbing yet weirdly affirming movies I’ve seen in a long time. The first time I saw this movie I was just getting into movies and Robert Altman quickly became my favorite director alongside Shelley Duvall as my favorite actor. This was over five years ago and since then I have grown a lot as a person yet still have some struggles with anxiety and feeling awkward. This movie is so memorable partly because it has Shelley Duvall and Sissy Spacek as co-stars but it goes so much deeper. The dynamic between Shelley’s character named Millie, and Pinky, Sissy Spacek’s character, is something so unique that I have never seen replicated in any other movie. Millie works at a pool/spa for elderly people with physical problems. It is there where Pinky is a new employee and is trained by Millie. A seemingly naïve Pinky instantly adores Millie and is almost obsessive about it. Later it is not an “almost obsessive” it becomes fully obsessive and very creepy. Millie goes to eat lunch at the hospital nearby everyday for her lunch break. It is there where we first see how the rest of the world views and treats Millie. And the way she is viewed or more aptly not viewed by the world drew me in so much the first time I saw this movie. At that time in my life, I felt so unseen in the world and could really relate and empathize with Millie. Now however, I find this to be another disturbing aspect of a movie filled with disturbing moments and themes. Millie and Pinky eventually become roommates, and it is then that we start to see Pinky as not as naïve as previously thought. This is most clearly seen in two actions that Pinky takes. First, she sees and then writes down Millie’s social security number and second starts to read Millie’s diary. After this point, Pinky’s obsession for Millie becomes almost unbearable to watch for me. Robert Altman is one of my favorite directors of all time and it is partly because he is able to capture feelings so well. In 3 Women the feelings of awkward embarrassment for Millie and an uncomfortable and uneasy feeling surrounding Pinky are brilliantly captured. Not only in the story but also through the eerie music, the pool paintings and the way each of them is treated by their community. In addition to all of this, there is a possibility that this story could veer off into Sci-Fi territory. I vividly remember my friend who showed me this movie and after he told me his theory that Pinky isn’t even human. I now believe that this holds more weight than I initially thought. The biggest piece of evidence for this theory is in my opinion the previously mentioned pool paintings. They are being painted by Willie, the third woman, and they depict these horrifying creatures that I suppose are technically humanoids but are far more distorted and alien-like. There is such a focus on these paintings and Pinky is entranced by them almost as if Willie was depicting Pinky’s true form. Anyway, I don’t know if this movie is for everyone, it is very unsettling but also cringey and awkward, it can be hard to watch at times. However, for me personally, so is real life.