By Anne Brodie
How heartbreakingly ironic that just days before the release of Sallywood, the fact-based feature on her career and bond of friendship with a fan that could have relaunched it, Sally Kirkland passed away. She’d entered hospice in Palm Springs yesterday for an unknown condition. She died today (Nov 11) leaving a legacy of 275 film projects, one Best Actress Oscar and a heartbroken young friend. Kirkland plays herself in the true story of a young dreamer/writer and number one fan Zach (Tyler Steelman). He’d hopped in his car and set off from Maine to Hollywood to meet Kirkland and become a screenwriter. Lo and behold, he meets Kirkland! So, who is Kirland? The Oscar winner didn’t have a runaway career but she had a heck of a private life including affairs with artists Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Dennis Hopper, Keir Dullea, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman, Albert Finney, Rip Torn, Keith Carradine and news anchor Ted Koppel. Kirkland talks freely about her life and seems rejuvenated by Zach’s non sexual interest in her – he encourages her to encourage her agent (played by Eric Roberts) to get her the roles she deserves. And Zach wants her approval of a script he’s written for her. However, Hollywood is a tough town and she’s apparently considered a C-List actor. Our hearts go out to her who in her eighties craved another Hollywood chapter, a remote possibility, attending auditions and pondering a space thriller role written by a porn filmmaker. You’ll love her toughness mixed with vulnerability, revel in her new friendship with Zach and he in his. Sallywood is a remarkably affecting film, mostly true, maybe, imbued with her personality as seen through Zach’s lens. Life is full of possibilities and she knew it. Written and directed by the young man himself Xaque Gruber. On TVOD Nov.14. Rest in peace, Sally Kirkland.