A fun and unexpectedly poignant look at life and work in TV
"Grief" is Richard Glatzer's ode to working for several years on the "Divorce Court" TV show. In this humorous and cock-eyed vision of tabloid television, the show is called "The Love Judge". Most of the action take place in the production office, showing the inter-relations between the staff and the underlying tensions of lust, sex and death which surrounds them. Craig Chester, Lucy Gutteridge, Illeana Douglas, the incredible Jackie Beat, Carlton Wilborn and Alexis Arquette form the nucleus of the story line.Cleverly juxtaposing the action are clips from "The Love Judge" with character actor Mickey Cottrell sitting behind the gavel. These vignettes are not only camp classics in themselves (based on actual "Divorce Court" story lines) but they serve as counterpoint to the actions within the production office. I know this because I appear in the first "Love Judge" vignette. I play schizophrenic opera diva Beverly Frattelli, who is being sued for gross infidelity by her gorgeous husband (unfortunately, cut from the final print.) However, Beverly has a slutty alter-ego named Ginger (who inexplicably has an Italian accent!) who emerges in court to defend herself! Made on a shoestring budget, "Grief" is a low-impact look with sadness and wit at life, love, death and AIDS in the 1990's.
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