“Spinster” is not a subtle film — again, its title is “Spinster.” The pic, from director Andrea Dorfman and writer Jennifer Deyell, features a few clunky conversations about what life is like for single women. In an especially memorable scene, a male character berates the protagonist for the “selfishness” of choosing 1) to be single and 2) to not have children. It’s a little ridiculous, but so is the fact that we live in a world where single women are stigmatized within an inch of their lives and women’s personal choices are constantly put up for public debate. Sometimes, you gotta be obvious in order to make your argument. “Spinster” definitely is, so it’s a good thing the movie’s argument is sound.
It’s also a good thing it stars the wonderfully deadpan Chelsea Peretti. Her character, Gaby, is dumped on her 39th birthday by a boyfriend she doesn’t seem to like. With her 40th on the horizon and a fear of being alone, she goes on a bunch of dates and scopes out every available dude she can find. And the whole process is a nightmare. At a certain point, Gaby realizes that being on her own is actually okay — it’s undoubtedly preferable to being with a shitty guy just for the sake of being in a relationship.
That’s not exactly an earth-shattering notion, but so many of us still find it hard to grasp. Independence can be great, and living your life on your own terms — not anyone else’s — is empowering. And yet we still seem to view single women with pity, suspicion, even hostility.
Peretti captures the complexity and absurdity of this reality with her sardonic leading performance. At the outset, Gaby both mocks the follies of modern dating and gender politics, and protects herself from them, via self-aware sarcasm. Eventually it dawns on her that her defense mechanism is actually her worldview: she doesn’t need to be part of a couple. She can be happy on her own.
Once Gaby accepts this, she discovers her life is pretty good — and it’s getting better. She adopts a dog, pursues a professional dream, makes new friends, and becomes closer with her family. She hasn’t completely abandoned the thought of finding romantic love, but it’s not the end-all be-all anymore. In “Spinster,” the main character’s journey is neither radical, nor conventional; it’s not exultant, or sad. It just sees a regular woman coming to terms with her life, and learning it’s not as abnormal as she’s been conditioned to believe.
That’s not revolutionary, but it’s still pretty cool. “Spinster” is too.
“Spinster” is now available on VOD.
