Stephen Romano’s RETRO 13 – Ms. 45
Stephen Romano
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Much has been said about Zoe Tamerlis. Much has been written about Ms.45. So I’ll try to be brief. At the end of this article, you will find my tribute to both—an all-new original movie poster inspired by the classic 1981 shocker and its amazing star.
Still only a teenager in 1981, Zoe was never more transcendently beautiful than she was in what I believe to be Abel Ferrara’s finest—a motion picture that is, in equal parts, stunning, shocking, hauntingly lowbrow and high-art brilliant. It is one of the rarest of birds. A film of frank, deeply disturbing catharsis and polarizing violence which is also in love with the very idea of the movies. Though it pulls no punches, Ms.45 never makes you you feel unwelcome in its scum-infected ghettos. Rather, it invites you to come see what horrific treasures may be found here, through the eccentric marvels of its low-budget wizardry and clever script. This is the woman-gets-revenge film with a true difference. The difference is cinema, folks. It is one of my favorite films of all time.
Zoe Tamerlis is also my favorite movie actress of all time. Because of just this one film. Her performance is also truly rare. A one-time-only lighting strike that was never to be captured again. And in the glorious moment of Ms.45, she was literally one of the most beautiful women who ever lived.
But Zoe was more than a pretty face. Much more.
Many know that Zoe Tamerlis went from Ms.45 to become a heroin-addicted activist-artist, traveling the world with her crusades, and that she ultimately scripted Abel Ferrara’s other great masterpiece, the original Bad Lieutenant, starring Harvey Keitel. Her script for that film shows a brilliant emerging writer, crafting something bold and meaningful, in a ghetto not unsimilar to Ms.45’s dark and fascinating streets. But there is a ray of hope in both films—a glimmer of humanity that intrigues and inspires us. This great passion can be found in much of Zoe’s unpublished writings, which were left behind posthumously when she left us far too soon. I’ll spare you the details of her death. We’re here to celebrate her life and the art she gave us.
If you click on zoelund.com, you will find a rich celebration of the lady, including many of her unpublished articles, essays, and stories. This is the true and lasting soul of Zoe Tamerlis that many people are unaware of. I will not prejudice any opinions of what she left us, except to say that when I was first exposed to many of these writings, I was amazed—but hardly surprised, after experiencing the raw heart of her work in Bad Lieutenant. What you will find when you look behind the veil of Ms.45 is a complex, haunted visionary, speaking in many voices. Listen to her.
And enjoy this week’s Retro 13. It’s dedicated to the Great Lady, of course.
Click here for the full-size image.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This poster is intended as FAN ART only and is designed to be shared, for free, for anyone who wants to own it for themselves. Download it, share it, spread the horror! And come see me at my website for more fun.
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