"My husband and I saw the Melania documentary, at 10:45 am on the Upper West Side, which I admit was not a fair test of its audience appeal-there were only six people there besides us. They had all left by the time the movie was over-maybe journalists on deadline, like me-so I missed my chance to interview them about their responses."
"I did catch a middle-aged woman who showed up early for the next screening, well-armed with an enormous bucket of popcorn. Why was she there, I asked? To see Melania of course! What did she like about Melania? "She's so confident and she does so much to help people." Confident, I give you. I used to feel sorry for the wives of rich and powerful men."
"Melania, this documentary makes perfectly clear, likes her gilded cage just fine. After all, it lets her produce this movie starring her clothes, her hair, her shoes, and her complexion, and how many women can say the same? Could you, middle-aged women of America, spend all day every day wearing six-inch spike heels with never a wince or moan? The rewards for aching feet and wrinkle-free face are on full display: Melania is attended every minute by people paid to be deferential and plea"
A small Upper West Side screening drew very few viewers; one early attendee praised Melania’s confidence and charitable work. Observers often assumed wives of powerful men are trapped in gilded cages and presumed unhappiness or inability to leave. High-profile divorces by wealthy women complicate that assumption. Melania appears content with the privileges of her position, using clothes, hair, shoes, and curated appearances to construct a public persona. Physical sacrifices and constant deference from staff are part of the role, and the rewards of attention and image management are prominently displayed.
Read at The Nation
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