I Shot Andy Warhol

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I Shot Andy Warhol
Directed by	Mary Harron
Produced by	Tom Kalin Christine Vachon
Language	English
IMDb profile

I Shot Andy Warhol is a 1996 independent film about the life of Valerie Solanas and her relationship with Andy Warhol. The movie marked the debut of Canadian director Mary Harron.

The film stars Lili Taylor as Valerie, Jared Harris as Andy Warhol and Martha Plimpton as Valerie's friend Stevie. Stephen Dorff plays Warhol superstar Candy Darling.

Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground, whose anger with Solanas was well known, stated publicly that he did not want any film about her to be made, and would not allow the filmmakers to use his music; instead, Yo La Tengo plays an anonymous band that is somewhat reminiscent of Velvet Underground.

1 Plot
2 Background
3 Awards and nomination
4 DVD release
5 Bibliography
6 External link

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The film opens with Solanas in custody for the shooting of Andy Warhol. The film then takes us back to a time when Solanas is living in New York and prostituting herself for a living. A series of further flashbacks point to her difficult childhood, and success in studying psychology at university. At university, Solanas discovers that she is a lesbian, that she can write and that she has a distinctive view of the world. This leads her to New York City and its downtown underworld. Through her friend Stevie, she meets Candy Darling, who in turn introduces her to Andy Warhol. Meanwhile she also meets Maurice Girodias, the publisher of Olympia Press. While Solanas wants Warhol to produce her play, 'Up Your Ass', Girodias wants her to write a pornographic novel for him. Once Solanas signs a contract with Girodias, she comes to suspect his offer is not a generous one and may not be in her interests. She comes to regret signing this contract. At this point, she starts to become seriously disturbed. She thinks Warhol, and or Girodias are controlling her. The film concludes, where it began, with Solanas' attempted murder of Warhol.

[edit] Background

This film is based on a true story and was thoroughly researched by the filmmaker, Mary Harron, who intitially intended to make a documentary.

Valerie Solanas was the founder and the only member of SCUM, the Society for Cutting Up Men. She believed man's objective was to oppress woman only and that men should be exterminated.

Many people who knew Solanas and Warhol tried to rationalize the shooting. Stephen Koch, who in 1973 wrote a study of Warhol's film, stated: "Valerie lives in terror of dependence: That is what the SCUM Manifesto is about, an absolute terror before the experience of need. Like Warhol, Solanas is obsessed with an image of autonomy, except that... she has played the obsession desperately, rather than with Warhol's famous cool." (Harron, I Shot Andy Warhol,Grove Press NY, 1995)

[edit] Awards and nomination

Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress - Lili Taylor (nominated)
Gijón International Film Festival Best Art Direction - Thérèse DePrez (winner)
Independent Spirit Awards Best First Feature Mary Harron, Tom Kalin and Christine Vachon (nominated)
Seattle International Film Festival Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actress - Lili Taylor (winner)
Stockholm Film Festival Award for Best Actress - Lili Taylor (winner)
Stockholm Film Festival Bronze Horse (nominated)
Sundance Film Festival Special Recognition for Outstanding Performance - Lili Taylor
Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic (nominated)