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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

"Anne Perry — Interiors" follows one of the women who inspired "Heavenly Creatures"

Heavenly Creatures was the first queer movie I had ever seen that I was absolutely intrigued by. I’m fairly certain I wore out my remote’s rewind and play buttons just to keep watching Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey kiss each other passionately. Director Peter Jackson did such a remarkable job of combining both fantasy and reality it’s hard to believe the 1994 film was based on a true story.

No longer able to hide her past Anne Perry’s life is being brought to the screen again, this time in documentary form. Dana Linkiwicz's Anne Perry — Interiors has started making its festival debut and is described as "the fascinating story about a woman who lived with a horrific secret until it was brought to the big screen through Jackson’s work." (Thanks to AE reader Anna for the tip!)

This secret, if you haven't seen the film, is that she helped kill her best friend's mother.

Director Dana Linkiwicz and Anne Perry

Perry, today, is a successful crime fiction author, and Interiors follows the writer and "offers a uniquely intimate insight into the world of one of the most intriguing figures of the mystery writing genre." It also delves into the story behind Heavenly Creatures, "telling a story about the burden of guilt — not just as part of the past but as part of present day life."

Here's the trailer:

If you haven’t seen Heavenly Creatures yet, you are missing out on a brilliant (albeit horrifying) film. As for this documentary, I am personally really excited to see what happened to Anne Perry and how she has coped living with her dark past this entire time. Will you be seeing Interiors?

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  • Claire's picture

    Damn

    this looks interesting.
    Vaya's picture

    I will absolutely see this

    I will absolutely see this as soon as I get the chance.
    piperbunny's picture

    Interesting...

    Interesting... we just had her speak at my local library but she never said anything about the murder, we heard that we shouldn't ask questions about it.  I'm looking forward to seeing this.
    Kate's picture

    Holy crap... This made me

    Holy crap... This made me "eeeeee!!!!!" out loud!! I have been sooo curious about that whole thing since I first saw Heavenly Creatures when I was maybe 12... I can't wait for this.
    Ames27's picture

    Yes

    This is a fascinating story.  I would love to see this documentary.  Apparently after the girls served their prison time they went their own way and never saw each other again.  When Heavenely Creatures was released the ladies were tracked down and the other women played by Lynskey is a farmers wife and had no comment on the movie. 

    I urge every one to see Heaveanly Creatures.  Kate Winslet is beautiful.

    Shauna Kaye's picture

    she certainly is!

    yes, Kate Winslet is beautiful! and she's not only the greatest actress on the planet right now, but maybe the greatest actress EVER! i know she's only 33, but for me, she's already the greatest ever! : )
    avalaurent's picture

    I saw Heavenly Creatures

    I saw Heavenly Creatures when I was like 16 and it totally rattled me.  I had no idea what I was getting into. 

    I'd like to see this documenary to see how she is coping with her endless guilt.....she seems so normal, so warm even.  It's hard to imagine her killing anyone, and yet, we know she did.  I'd also like to know what became of the other girl.  Heavenly Creatures ended so abruptly (a stroke of genius by Peter Jackson) leaving you stricken and oddly unquestioning about what happened next.  In my mind, it was the end for all the characters--everything ruined. 

    Hornito's picture

    if you want a funny feeling in your tummy & a lump in yer throat

    This is a perfect mash-up (as far as I'm concernced)
    shikurameso's picture

    that was an awesome mash up,

    that was an awesome mash up, thanks.
    pancreas's picture

    Interesting. From a quick

    Interesting. From a quick Wiki search, Perry has said she and Juliet weren't lesbians, and has since become Mormon.

    It was a great movie anyway...

    sleepylobster's picture

    Yes but...

    Yes but... in the end, they murderd someone. Ordered not to see each other again, I'll have to see the documentary, but I don't think that Perry has ever shown much remorse. She has though used the incident as a publicity and sales booster I believe..
    sleepylobster's picture

    Yes but...

    Yes but... in the end, they murderd someone. Ordered not to see each other again, I'll have to see the documentary, but I don't think that Perry has ever shown much remorse. She has though used the incident as a publicity and sales booster I believe..
    sleepylobster's picture

    Perry troubles me...

    And I loved the movie, but Perry herself has always troubled me a bit
    sleepylobster's picture

    Perry troubles me...

    And I loved the movie, but Perry herself has always troubled me a bit
    HotHandle's picture

    First movie role for both...

    I loved "Heavenly Creatures", it's a great movie, I have seen it at least 10 times, and could easily watch it 10 more times.  It was one of Peter Jackson's first films, and it was the first film role for both Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey.  Watching the film for the first time, I remember thinking, "Wow, that Kate Winslet, I can't believe this is her first film role, she is definitely going to win an Oscar someday."

    It was a condition of the girls' release that they never see each other again.  The murder of the mother in the film is horrifying, but necessary to show what they did.  I have often wondered myself if the girls felt any remorse or guilt over the years, or tried to just put it all behind them and forget it ever happened.  If it wasn't for Peter Jackson, the whole thing might have been forgotten.

     

    dutchcloggie's picture

    She still killed...

    I agree with those who say that in the end, this woman killed someone. Now that does not mean she should not get a second chance. And that certainly does not mean she can not do any good with the rest of her life. It is not her 'fault' that a movie was made out of this. She may have remained silent on the whole thing forever otherwise.

    However, just because the movie was a wonderful film with great acting and a haunting storyline, it does not make the reality any less awful: This woman conspired with her 'friend' to kill someone else who got in their way.

    I am mostly interested in how she feels about her actions now. If she is remorseful. Why did they do it? 

    Let's not glorify this whole thing just because two pretty women kissed in a film about this murder.

     

    http://www.bunnyfactor10.com

    sleepylobster's picture

    The other woman has stayed quiet..

    The other woman has stayed pretty much quiet, this is what troubles me about Perry, she has not, and has used the incident to sell her books... pretty much the definition of a psycopath to me.... 
    Doreen's picture

    Really?!?

    I guess in the Mormon book (and I don't mean to offend anyone here) murderess is probably a more forgiveable sin than Lesbianism...

    Well, not too sad about not having her bat for our Team, I guess..O_o

    Sarah's picture

    NZ Film

    I had to watch Heavenly Creatures for my New Zealand film class (I'm studying abroad at the university of auckland at the moment). It totally shook me up. We talked alot about what the girls would be like now in class. Guess this will answer sone of my questions. Can't wait to check this film out!

     

    http://crescentcompositions.blogspot.com