What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael a film by Rob Garver

 

I wasn't much taken with this safe documentary on the late film critic which makes no mention at all of her homophobic laced reviews. Granted they were early in her career when gays were treated with hatred and ridicule in most areas of life including film criticism. She wasn't the only one who tossed off anti gay slurs in their writings, but she was a disaster for me growing up and reading her nasty takes of gays and lesbians. Also barely  mentioned is her relationship with the gay writer and filmmaker James Broughton who she had a daughter with. Its all smooth sailing with the usual suspects and Paulettes bowing down to her. Fine but there is nothing in the documentary about the anti-Paulettes especially Vito Russo who hounded her for her homophobia and homophobic reviews  and no mention of her near death bed apology to the gay community for her treatment of us. So watch it for sure. I did. But I came away feeling the same way I’ve always felt about her. Disgust.