I Shot Andy Warhol 1996

The cinematic journey begins in the aftermath of the brutal shooting at The Factory in 1968, where we find Valerie Solanas (character) being held captive for her brazen attack on Andy Warhol. As the narrative unfolds, we are treated to a series of flashbacks that reveal the tumultuous life of this enigmatic figure. We see Valerie’s early struggles as a sex worker in New York City, followed by her arduous journey through a difficult childhood and her eventual discovery of her passion for psychology at college. It is here that she finds her true calling, embracing her lesbian identity, honing her writing skills, and forging a unique worldview. This newfound sense of purpose leads Valerie to the city’s underground art scene, where she encounters Stevie, who in turn introduces her to the alluring Candy Darling, and eventually, the infamous Andy Warhol himself.

As Valerie navigates this new world, she finds herself at odds with Maurice Girodias, the publisher of Olympia Press. While she is desperate for Warhol’s support in producing her provocative play, Up Your Ass, Girodias proposes a different kind of collaboration: a pornographic novel that would cater to his base desires. The group pilfers her manuscript and fabricates a story about its loss, leaving Valerie feeling manipulated and betrayed. Once she signs the contract with Girodias, she begins to suspect that the offer is not as generous as it seemed, and that she may have sold out to the wrong individual. Her growing disillusionment ultimately leads her down a path of paranoia, where she believes Warhol and Girodias are orchestrating her downfall.

The film concludes with Solanas’ ill-fated attempt on Warhol’s life, an act that would send shockwaves through the art world. In the aftermath, Warhol lives in perpetual fear of Valerie’s wrath, never fully recovering from the trauma of the shooting. Meanwhile, the SCUM Manifesto, a feminist treatise penned by Solanas, gains notoriety as a classic work of its kind, cementing her legacy as a rebellious force to be reckoned with.