Sunday Night is WOMEN’S NIGHT With Cheryl Dunye’s “The Owls”

by Sekiya Dorsett

Cheryl Dunye’s The Owls is a fusion of documentary and narrative but more importantly a celebration of freedom in filmmaking. Since Dunye’s Watermelon Woman arrived on the scene in 1996, there has been praise for Dunye’s brave methods. She is a filmmaker who breaks the rules and defies all the odds to create unique experiences for the audience. This freshness visits us again in this new work.

The Owls celebrates experimental filmmaking. Dunye fuses strong character and story into nuggets of suspenseful moments. The Owls takes us into the lives of four aging lesbians with a secret that binds them. MJ (V.S. Brodie) and Iris (Guinevere Turner) are a washed-up producer and musician couple trapped in an alcoholic stupor which pulls them together and a soberness that forces them to face their truth. They disdain each other. Carol (Cheryl Dunye) and Lily(Lisa Gornick) are a bi-racial couple fighting for a dying relationship while trying to have a baby.

Above: Lily and Carol battle to save their relationship.

Linking the couples is the former fame, fortune and success of Lily and Iris who are former band mates and lovers. Today, the one thing that binds them all is a murder. A few years ago, during a wild party, MJ accidently kills Cricket a young lesbian who attacks her. In fear, the women hide Cricket’s body under MJ’s pool but the guilt continues to float to the surface and into their lives.

Above: MJ and Lily struggle.

As the four search for themselves, truth and peace of mind, Skye, a drifter, comes to shake up their world driving a wedge between Carol and Lily. She knows their secret and has come back for revenge. The weaving stories mixed with intensity of a mature drama makes The Owls a must see.

Guinevere Turner (Iris) is a blast from the past. You may remember her from her role in Rose Troche’s iconic lesbian film, Go Fish. This time, she plays a tormented narcissistic soul with ease. Skyler Cooper (Skye) brings intensity as the revengeful lover. Skyler is most noted for her appearance as herself in Debra A Wilson’s documentary Butch Mystique and in last year’s NewFest hit, Amber Sharp’s “Don’t Go”, the television pilot. Her muscles make a few appearances. V.S. Brodie (M.J.) plays the worn confused woman with sully awkwardness. As she pleasures herself while watching internet porn, we feel sorry for her. She is lonely. Cheryl Dunye( Carol ) is a nerdy aloof woman who is more concerned about her garden than the obvious interest of her awkward partner, “the awkward Brit”, Lisa Gornick (Lily).

Weaved throughout the narrative arc is two mini internal documentaries. During these moments, documentary/narrative clash.  Like a reality show, the actors appear after key moments within the movie to share their feelings and provide a little commentary. Skye at one point jokes, “This is what I have been fighting for [in Iraq]. A chance for these women to live in the desert.” The five women provide insightful commentary as they discuss their experiences as community of aging lesbians, their feelings of “butch” and “femme” and more.

While the actors talk in the voice of their character, there are moments where they talk about themselves playing the characters and the way that the women joined together to create The Parliament Collective. With so much to absorb, this film is a true discussion piece about a sector of the lesbian community that is forgotten as we celebrate the glossed lesbians of the commercial “lesbian” media. This is definitely going to be one of the most talked about film of this year’s festival.  It is the truth that has been missing and will be another Dunye classic.