A documentary that’s gained a huge cult following over the years, Grey Gardens peers into the lives of mother and daughter, “Big Edie” and “Little Edie Beale”. Aunt and cousin of Jackie Onassis, the Beales grew up in high society, and then at some point, retreated to the decaying, dilapidated mansion in East Hampton that they call home – the Grey Gardens estate. The two Edies share the house with a bunch of cats, and a raccoon or two, and have very little contact with the outside world other than their gardener and a grocery boy. They spend their time singing, dancing, fashioning creative outfits (Little Edie constantly wears a head scarf to hide her alopecia) and reading horoscopes through a magnifying glass.

These two women are true eccentrics and non-conformists. It’s fascinating to watch them in this garbage-ridden environment, constantly talking over one another, telling stories and bickering about everything. Director brothers David and Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter, Salesman) allowed their subjects to guide the film with very little interference, using the Direct Cinema method. In this way, they managed to capture the completely bizarre yet loving and totally codependent relationship between Big and Little Edie.