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 the Velvet Underground. The film's music score was written by
John Cale, a former member of the Velvet Underground. The film was screened in the
Un Certain Regard section at the
1996 Cannes Film Festival.
Plot
The film opens with a
foreshadow to moments after the shooting. This is quickly followed by a scene 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.
Background
This film is based on a true story and was thoroughly researched by the filmmaker, Mary Harron, who initially intended to make a documentary.
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."
Cast
Awards and nomination
Soundtrack
DVD release
I Shot Andy Warhol was released on Region 1
DVD on
January 23,
2001.
