What’s She Doing Now?
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Claire of the Moon is the butt of many a lesbian joke. Why? Well it’s crap for a start – awful clothes, stilted dialogue and dodgy acting by people who seem to think they’re in the lesbian equivalent of Citizen Kane. Also, it reminds those of us of a certain age, just how desperate we were for lesbian characters; so desperate that we paid out enough money for Claire of the Moon to be seen as a hit.
For those of you who haven’t seen it, it’s a rite of passage. You get an extra lesbian star just for sitting through it. Honestly, it’ll be posted out to you with your next edition of the gay agenda. The only value Claire of the Moon has now is comedic.
What about the poor women who had to make the thing? Those ‘ actors’ who had to choke out lines drenched in academic nonsense about sexuality and why we love who we love and something about a “vampire theory” or something. Lord it’s all coming back to me.
Trisha Todd
Trisha originally tried out for the part of Dr Noel Benedict, as you can see in the DVD The Making of Claire of the Moon, which is only marginally worse than the actual film. However, she was given the task of playing the titular Claire a sexy, straight lady on a “journey into her sexual identity”. She’s awful, but no worse than anyone else so maybe she decided to keep her talent at the same level as everyone else’s, so as not to show anyone up. Very nice of her.
We made the film far too personal. I lost control of my performance. I was not shaping it, I was living it. I lost a piece of myself, and my performance clearly reflected this.
You lost a piece of us too Trisha, minutes of our lives we’ll never get back. Trisha never acted again after Claire of the Moon. No, there was no court order, she decided to teach (those who can’t do…) and has been teaching in Portland for a few years. She also wrote a book, The Drive, which is an autobiographical road novel about looking to find the love that she lost. Reviews say that it’s a bit wordy and takes itself a smidge too seriously. Sound familiar?
Karen Trumbo
Karen Trumbo is probably the best thing in Claire of the Moon, at least she looks comfortable in front of the camera and seems to know what she’s doing. We’re not asking for much are we? Karen plays Dr Noel Benedict who we know is a lesbian because she has a man’s name, wears a pinkie ring and has an awful haircut. She’s also spent her complete academic life studying female sexuality; to the detriment of her own. She meets Claire and fireworks ensure; ok maybe damp matches.
Trumbo has acted in many a film in such important roles as Opticians Assistant and Nurse Number 1. She also acted opposite the delectable Katie Sackoff in Fiftteen and Pregnant. Things are pretty bad when that’s a highlight. She hasn’t been on any sized screen since 1998, instead working as an actress in local theatre in Oregon.
Nicole Conn
If we’re throwing around blame here, Nicole Conn should be head of the queue. As writer, director and general boss of Claire of the Moon, the buck stops here. Now, I know you’re going to say “well she made a film, what have you done?” but have you seen the film? She’d have done us a favour by not making it.
The whole things smacks of narcissism too; Karen Trumbo as Noel Benedict is the spitting image if Conn and she is completely poe-faced about the film. She honestly believes it’s good! Well why wouldn’t she when she is the one responsible for the risible film, Cynara: Poetry in Motion? If you thought Claire of the Moon had too many long, lingering shots of scenery and broody women expressing their desire through Joey Tribbiani’s ‘fart acting’, all I can say is avoid this one like the plague.
The real tragedy here though is that Nicole Conn is still making films. In 2005, she made little man, a documentary about the birth of her son who was born very prematurely. She is releasing another film this year, Elena Undone, which, according to imdb:
Peyton and Elena are, on the surface, diametrically opposed – one, a well-known lesbian writer, the other a mother and wife of a pastor – but when their paths cross, several times over, they feel compelled to connect. What begins as friendship quickly blossoms into something deeper. Peyton tries to extricate herself before her heart wants what it can’t have. Elena can’t imagine not having Peyton in her life. And despite the fact that she has never even considered kissing a woman, Elena is overwhelmed with a desire to do just that. Despite Peyton’s reservations, Elena pushes the relationship into a full-blown affair. The two women fall deeply in love, both keenly aware a future together might be little more than a dream
Hmmmm…….sounds like Claire of the Moon. Here’s hoping she’s learnt a thing or two about how not to make a film.
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That is one of the funniest things I have ever read
Couldn’t agree more lol
I feel so “perverse” after reading your review that I’m gonna try watching it, haha!
Well, I had the courage to find the movie and watch it… where’s my star?
Gee, I wonder about the “making of” now… how could I manage to live without this movie, its deep lines, characters… Life won’t be the same from now on!
[...] so desperate that we paid out enough money for Claire of the Moon to be seen as a hit.gaelick.com, What’s She Doing Now? | gaelick, Feb [...]
Imaluce! I am so proud of you. I feel a tear in my eye…..
Your star is in the post and you should get it with the next edition of The Homosexual Agenda.
Isn’t it fab? The ponderous, pseudo-intellectual jammering, the tight-jawed acting, the arctic chemistry…..it’s all there.
Wow… so much time spent on a film almost 2o years old — I must say I’m flattered that you’d take all the time to write such heartfelt commentary — The reality is, Claire has many flaws, and as terrible as it all might seem for you, many women found it to resonate for them at that time in history — we’ve all gone on…but apparently you have not.
In “little man” (which won 12 best documentary awards) I told the story of my premature son who spent his first four years of life in a the hospital and only now after 8 years can finally speak — Perhaps you’d like to spend what appears to be a great deal of effort on my work and make a lot of very sarcastic and wittingly biting comments about his fight for survival and how melodramatic it all is… and then you can go on from there to blast this last effort — how overwrought and meaningless it is as well. But for someone who so deplores my work, the more provocative question would be, why waste your time at all.
No hard feelings girls… COTM is just a movie — try making one some day with no resources and let me know how it comes out for you… I’ll even return the favor and review it for you… but I promise you this — I will be ever so much compassionate and supportive of your efforts.
With Respcct ( and a great deal of humility)
Nicole
Wow!! Nicole, I am so amazed/touched that you commented on my little article.
I suppose a life lesson for both of us is Be Loved, Be Hated But Don’t Be Ignored
I’m just sat with a cup of tea having just read Nicole Conn’s response and I have to say I am glad she made her feelings known. Claire of the Moon is one of my favourite books as too is the film.
True, I suppose we all like to think we have a right to an opinion. I guess what I want to say is that the film conveys a story that people can relate to and as one of the characters upheld, there isn’t anything wrong with losing oneself in a book or a film; Claire of the Moon is one of mine. Neither is there anything wrong with having a little respect for someones work that clearly meant so very much at the time.
Just thought I’d say something positive with regards to Nicole Conn’s work. For anyone who hasn’t read the novel; well, give it a go and maybe you’ll have a better understanding of the film.
I look forward to watching Little Man and Elena Undone.
Regards, Nicole Conn’s English Fan
I love the movies, I can say I am a movie-goer off all kinds of movies, masterpieces, eastern, classical… and of course the whole lesbian content material that comes to my hands.
I am 30 years, living with absolute freedom in my country (Spain), and yet I am anxious to see movies where protagonists are loved.
The other day I first saw Claire of the Moon, and of course it has faults, it shows the lack of budget, but it seems to me that it´s a very close film.
The secondary characters are a little exaggerated, but the main characters make an extraordinary role. The best thing is the palpable sexual tension between them, which together with the beautiful music, captures the viewer and keeps viewers for nearly two hours until the final outcome.
I know it’s very difficult to get the proper timing of a film because during the assembly is likely to be lost objectivity. But this movie does not lose the rhythm, is appropriate.
The script I think I might even daring for its time.
The clothes of the 90s gives a retro touch to the film that is adorable.
In short, I disagree with the criticism too offensive.
Besides all this, and very very personal note, I have to say it was a total discovery actress Karen Trumbo, and I’m not just talking about the role she played (which is very good), I’m talking about its wonderful beauty. It’s been a real pleasure for my senses and a revelation the androgynous beauty to behold, she is so exquisite.
And so, I can only be thankful to the director for making this movie and actress Karen Trumbo simply for existing.
Escuchar
Leer fonéticamente
During the last 2 days I have seen this film twice – just couldn’t stop myself from it! It has tension, passion and it looks very realistic. Then I read this review – and couldn’t beleive my eyes! How could this film seem such a crap?! I think that Nicole Conn did a very good job: an interesting film, which gets into the heart and feels just right.
Also I think that Trisha and Karen both were very natural in front of the camera. Both are very good actresses to me, though I have seen only this one movie with them acting.
And I’d like to say to the author of this review: your cynical criticism is groundless. People are all different, and it’s a pity that you couldn’t understand the beauty of this movie.
It seems that there are way too many touchy lesbians clicking on this topic and fuming over a keyboard about a simple opinion.
So the writer of the review didn’t like the film and gave a sarcastic, bitingly witty review of how awful she thought it was – why is that a problem? She never once said “This movie is utter shite, I hate it, therefore this movie is actually shite, and this is a fact so the rest of you should believe it too.”
What she did do, however, is provide her opinion on something that clearly appeared as dire in her eyes, and felt it appropriate to issue a warning to any budding, curious lesbians/female bisexuals: you may not like it.
For those of you who did enjoy it, fair enough, that’s your opinion and your taste and that too is fine. But why come on and make almost snappy, angry remarks? All that does is make your argument rather moot; you’re getting annoyed about an opinion.
And lastly, the fact that the director came along and commented is amusing too. Not just because it garnered a respone from her, but the fact that halfway through it she felt the need to try and degrade the writer of this review by offering her to mock her documentary about her ill son. Not sure if I missed something, but did HAL even mention one remark that was in any way mocking about this? To me, that just seems childish and comes across as the woman textually stomping her feet and sticking her face out at HAL, daring a provocation of some sort. In short, and to be blunt, it seemed so ridiculously childish. If you don’t like what’s being written about you, don’t go looking it up.
Opinions are opinions people, if you don’t like them, I’m afraid you’ll just have to struggle on through and live with it.
Personally, I agree with HAL, and found that the movie was harrowing in so many ways, all of which caused me to want to claw the memory section of my brain out.
Great review!
I didn’t see Claire of the Moon when it came out, I saw it for the 1st time a week ago..about 19yrs after it being made. Like many of the movies of that era, it’s dated. But so is Aliens, and that’s one of my fav’s..I think Nicole did quite well for the budget she had and the time constraints. Karen Trumbo is a standout, tho Trisha put in a good effort. It is a lot harder to do the same lines over and over without showing familiarity, than it looks. And keeping the ‘flow’ whilst shooting the last seen then another half way through the movie etc is daunting in itself. I will watch Little Man just to see the progress Nicole made to arrive at ‘Elene Undone’ because that…is a wonderfull movie! As Nicole said, COTM was there for people that didn’t want to see the usual Hetero movies, good, bad or otherwise. It was just nice to see a couple of Lesbo’s on the screen! Hey, ‘Personal Best’ was pretty bad…but I saw that too, ‘cos there wasn’t a lot to chose from then. So yes, hal, it wasn’t the greatest movie, critically, but it isn’t always how you say it that matters, sometimes it just matters that its said….
I love this film I have the dvd and often watch it. No I am not uneducated – as an older lesbian it is easy to relate to Claire.I admit some of the scenes are a bit comical but all in all it makes my heart sing especially the love scene at the end. We are all dreamers and I can think of no better way to do so.