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January 1994

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Sender:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:
From:
"Gloria Monti (GD 1995)" <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 18 Jan 1994 09:55:47 -0400
In-Reply-To:
Reply-To:
"Gloria Monti (GD 1995)" <[log in to unmask]>
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> >        Roberta:
> >        What I am *not* thinking?  The obvious: *Driving Miss Daisy*
> >
> >        Gloria
> I've seen parts of this movie, can't sit all the way through it.  Every time
> I see it, it reminds me of a terrible part of our countries past.  Not only
> is it a bad portrayl of African Americans, I don't particularly like the
> scenes with Jessica Tandy.  Especially at the place of worship, I think it
> was a synagogue.  She has this problem with her car being up front, putting
> on airs I think she calls it.  The stereotypical jewish grandmother, as I've
> seen it growing up Jewish, is someone who backstabs and worries about how
> they look to others instead of doing what they want.  That and the food
> thing.  I have a jewish grandmother and her only fault is being a racist.  I
> don't think, even if it won oscars, that Driving Miss Diasy is a redemmable
> movie for the messages it is sending, aside from the theme of the movie.
 
I think that the point that you are missing is the fact that _Driving
Miss Daisy_ is set in the South.  There is a clash of 'Jewishness' and
being Southern, there is also the relationship between Miss Daisy and
her driver who are _both_ not accepted into Southern 'society', he because
he is black and she because she is Jewish.
 
 
        I hear both John's and Dr. Missy's points.
        John, if you refrain from watching movies in their entirety
because they are racist, well I am fraid you can't watch at least 50% of
what is being distributed.  With that said, I suggested *Miss Daisy* as an
*obvious* choice for a film that has an elderly woman as a protagonist.
It is then up to Roberta to decide if the film fits her project.
        Guess what?  I am watching an elderly Jane Fonda reminiscing in
*Julia*.  But I guess that's pushing it, though.
 
        Gloria Monti
        Yale University

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