79-482: Desperately Seeking Susan is a 1985 American comedy-drama film directed by Susan Seidelman and starring Rosanna Arquette , Aidan Quinn and Madonna . Set in New York City, the plot involves the interaction between two women – a bored housewife and a bohemian drifter – linked by various messages in the personals section of a newspaper. The film was Madonna's first major screen role and also provided early roles for
158-456: A monolatry (the depiction of a single god as an object for worship) or henotheism (one god, who is not the only god). The boundary stelae of years 4 and 5 mark the boundaries of the new city and suggest that the move to the new city of Akhetaten occurred around that time. The new city contained several large open-air temples dedicated to the Aten . Nefertiti and her family would have resided in
237-453: A Pharaoh, based on ushabti and other feminine evidence of a female pharaoh found in Tutankhamun's tomb , as well as evidence of Nefertiti smiting Egypt's enemies which was a duty reserved to kings. Pre-2012 Egyptological theories thought that Nefertiti vanished from the historical record around Year 12 of Akhenaten's reign, with no word of her thereafter. Conjectured causes included injury,
316-407: A character "loosely based on herself". In her review for The New Yorker , critic Pauline Kael referred to Madonna as "an indolent, trampy goddess." Some critics labeled Desperately Seeking Susan one of the best US films of the year, and eventually, the decade. The New York Times film critic Vincent Canby from The New York Times include the movie among the 10 best films of 1985, while
395-557: A coffinette bearing an inscription naming Queen Tiye proved a near perfect match to the hair of the 'Elder Lady'. DNA analysis confirmed that she was the daughter of Tiye's parents Yuya and Thuya . On 9 June 2003 archaeologist Joann Fletcher , a specialist in ancient hair from the University of York in England, announced that Nefertiti's mummy may have been the Younger Lady. This theory
474-460: A definitive identification but confirmed she was a member of the Eighteenth Dynasty royal line . CT-scanning revealed she was about 45 at the time of her death; her left arm had been bent over her chest in the 'queenly' pose. The possible identification is based on her association with the mummy tentatively identified as Ankhesenamun. It is suggested that just as a mother and daughter (Tiye and
553-465: A husband... I am afraid. This proposal is considered extraordinary as New Kingdom royal women never married foreign royalty. Suppiluliuma I was understandably surprised and exclaimed to his courtiers: Nothing like this has happened to me in my entire life! Understandably, he was wary, and had an envoy investigate the situation, but by so doing, he missed his chance to bring Egypt into his empire. He eventually did send one of his sons, Zannanza , but
632-461: A large foreign tribute. The people of Kharu (the north) and Kush (the south) are shown bringing gifts of gold and precious items to Akhenaten and Nefertiti. In the tomb of Meryre II, Nefertiti's steward, the royal couple is shown seated in a kiosk with their six daughters in attendance. This is one of the last times princess Meketaten is shown alive. Two representations of Nefertiti that were excavated by Flinders Petrie appear to show Nefertiti in
711-449: A larger composition. Meketaten may have died in year 13 or 14. Nefertiti, Akhenaten, and three princesses are shown mourning her. The last dated inscription naming her and Akhenaten comes from a building inscription in the limestone quarry at Dayr Abū Ḥinnis. It dates to year 16 of the king's reign and is also the last dated inscription naming the king. Many scholars believe Nefertiti had a role elevated from that of great royal wife, and
790-411: A new song written especially for the show. The production was directed by Angus Jackson, with book and concept by Peter Michael Marino and sets and costumes by Tim Hatley. Produced by Susan Gallin, Ron Kastner, Mark Rubinstein and Old Vic productions, the musical starred Emma Williams as Susan, Kelly Price as Roberta, and Steven Houghton as Alex. Marino presented his solo comedy Desperately Seeking
869-601: A number of other well-known performers, such as John Turturro , Giancarlo Esposito , Laurie Metcalf and Steven Wright . The screenplay was written by Leora Barish, and is said to have been given an uncredited rewrite by Craig Bolotin . Desperately Seeking Susan was a commercial success and ended as the 31st highest grossing film of the year grossing $ 55.3 million in the United States. The film received predominantly positive reviews, and both Arquette's and Madonna's acting were critically acclaimed. Desperately Seeking Susan
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#1733085684919948-403: A park bum, and Michael Badalucco as a guy from Brooklyn. Triplets Eddy, David and Robert make an uncredited cameo as themselves. Orion chairman Mike Medavoy initially campaigned for Barbra Streisand to play the title role. The filmmakers initially wanted Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn to play Roberta and Susan, but the director decided to cast newcomers Arquette and Madonna instead and
1027-585: A plague that was sweeping through the city, and a natural cause. This theory was based on the discovery of several ushabti fragments inscribed for Nefertiti (now located in the Louvre and the Brooklyn Museum). A previous theory that she fell into disgrace was discredited when deliberate erasures of monuments belonging to a queen of Akhenaten were shown to refer to Kiya instead. During Akhenaten's reign (and perhaps after), Nefertiti enjoyed unprecedented power. By
1106-451: A proposed marriage to Akhenaten, nor any hard evidence of a foreign non-Egyptian background for Nefertiti. The exact dates when Nefertiti married Akhenaten and became the king's great royal wife are uncertain. They are known to have had at least six daughters together, including Meritaten , Meketaten , Ankhesenpaaten (later called Ankhesenamun when she married Tutankhamun), Neferneferuaten Tasherit , Neferneferure , and Setepenre . She
1185-676: A prostitute and arrested. Meanwhile, Roberta's husband Gary who is revealed to be in the midst of a casual affair, searches for her. He finds his way to the vintage store and is given Susan's number. She believes that Roberta and Dez are connected to Meeker's death and want to frame her. Susan arranges to meet Gary at a dance club and accompanies him home, where they get high. Roberta calls from jail, but hangs up when Susan and Gary answer. After calling Dez to bail her out, they discover his apartment has been ransacked by Nolan. Roberta and Dez end up sleeping together, with Dez believing he's sleeping with his best friend's girl. At Gary's house, Susan sees
1264-491: A relative of a pharaoh. Another theory about her parentage that gained some support identified Nefertiti with the Mitanni princess Tadukhipa , partially based on Nefertiti's name ("The Beautiful Woman has Come") which has been interpreted by some scholars as signifying a foreign origin. However, Tadukhipa was already married to Akhenaten's father and there is no evidence for any reason why this woman would need to alter her name in
1343-428: A similar fashion to the previous female Pharaoh Hatshepsut , assumed the kingship under the name Pharaoh Neferneferuaten after her husband's death. She was then succeeded by Tutankhamun. It seems less possible that Nefertiti disguised herself as a male and assumed the male alter ego of Smenkhkare . According to Van Der Perre, Smenkhkare is thought to be a co-regent of Akhenaten who died before Neferneferuaten assumed
1422-617: A television report about Meeker and Nolan stealing the earrings, which once belonged to Nefertiti . She realizes the truth about Roberta from her diary and posts a column to meet her at the Magic Club. Dez attacks an intruder in his apartment who turns out to be Jim. He confesses to his relationship with "Susan" as Roberta slips away. She reads the column, as do Jim and Dez. They arrive at the Magic Club along with Gary, his sister Leslie, and Nolan. During her act, Roberta recognizes Nolan, who escapes backstage. Dez leaves as Roberta tries to explain
1501-689: Is a movie or program that balances the elements of a drama and a comedy. Also known as a comedy drama, this hybrid genre often deals with real life situations, grounded characters, and believable situations. The ratio between the drama and comedy can vary, but most of the time there is an equal measure of both, with neither side dominating. Abreu also adds that dramedies often deal with relatable and serious topics such as divorce, illness, hardship, and heartache. Examples of comedy dramas in film include: Examples of television comedy dramas include: Nefertiti Nefertiti ( / ˌ n ɛ f ər ˈ t iː t i / ) ( c. 1370 – c. 1330 BC )
1580-459: Is evidence of his return to the official worship of Amun , and abandonment of Amarna to return the capital to Thebes. In 2012, the discovery of an inscription dated to Year 16, month 3 of Akhet , day 15 of the reign of Akhenaten was announced. It was discovered within Quarry 320 in the largest wadi of the limestone quarry at Dayr Abū Ḥinnis. The five-line inscription, written in red ochre, mentions
1659-520: Is known about Nefertiti's life prior to her marriage to Akhenaten . Scenes from the tombs of the nobles in Amarna mention that Nefertiti had a sister, named Mutbenret . Further, a woman named Tey carried the title of "Nurse of the Great Royal Wife." In addition, Tey's husband Ay carried the title "God's Father." Some Egyptologists believe that this title was used for a man whose daughter married
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#17330856849191738-421: Is noted for its impact on 1980s fashion , especially among the young female audience at that time. The movie's costumery was influenced in part by Madonna's own early style . The film was also noted as a representation of yuppie culture and feminism . Some critics labeled Desperately Seeking Susan as one of the best US films of the year, including Vincent Canby from The New York Times , and eventually, of
1817-581: Is one of the most copied works of the art of ancient Egypt . It is attributed to the Egyptian sculptor Thutmose , and was excavated from his buried studio complex in the early 20th century. Nefertiti had many titles, including: While modern Egyptological pronunciation renders her name as N e fertiti , her name was the sentence nfr.t jj.tj (or Nfr.t-jy.tj ), meaning "the beautiful one has come", and probably contemporarily pronounced Naftita from older Nafrat-ita or perhaps Nafert-yiti . Almost nothing
1896-521: Is the most likely candidate for a tomb begun for Nefertiti's exclusive use. Given that it lacks a burial chamber, she was not interred there either. In 2015, English archaeologist Nicholas Reeves announced that high resolution scans revealed voids behind the walls of Tutankhamun's tomb which he proposed to be the burial chamber of Nefertiti, but subsequent radar scans showed that there are no hidden chambers. In 1898, French archeologist Victor Loret found two female mummies among those cached inside
1975-526: The New York Post called "the most entertaining new movie of the year". In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the film among their 100 Greatest Movies of the 1980s, calling it "a classic of its particular era". In 2011, NME also ranked the film as one of the 25 Greatest '80s Movies. Time Out ranked it as one of the 100 Best Feminist Films of All Time in 2022. Susan was selected in the Directors' Fortnight at
2054-500: The 1980s fashion . Movie's costume designer, Santo Loquasto reportedly sought inspiration for Susan's wardrobe in Madonna's own closet. In 2019, Laird Borrelli-Persson from Vogue stated, "fashion's so corporate these days, Desperately Seeking Susan reminds us that clothing is a personal signifier of identity connected to place and time." The style influenced other figures at some stage, like South African performer PJ Powers . In 2014,
2133-641: The Aten . In the tomb of the vizier Ramose , Nefertiti is shown standing behind Amenhotep IV in the Window of Appearance during the reward ceremony for the vizier. During the early years in Thebes, Akhenaten (still known as Amenhotep IV) had several temples erected at Karnak . One of the structures, the Mansion of the Benben (hwt-ben-ben), was dedicated to Nefertiti. She is depicted with her daughter Meritaten and in some scenes
2212-522: The Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights. Some scenes were filmed at Danceteria , a club that Madonna frequented and which gave her a start in the music business. Separated-at-birth triplets Robert Shafran, Eddy Galland and David Kellman have a cameo role, reportedly at Madonna's personal invitation. The soundtrack, composed by Thomas Newman , was released on both vinyl and CD together with
2291-534: The Cannes Film Festival of 1985. Less than five months after its theatrical release, in July 1985 media outlets started to announce the home video release by Thorn EMI/HBO Video to be scheduled in late August of that year. It was released on VHS , HiFi , and Beta at a retail price for $ 79.95. Commercially, the film debuted at number 9 on Billboard ' s Top Videocassettes sales and peaked at number 5 on
2370-693: The Primetime Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards segregate several award categories into these two classifications. The 20th century saw a rise in film and television works that could be described as comedy-dramas. The term is a translation from the French "comédie dramatique". The portmanteau "dramedy" came to be in the 1980s. In January 2022, Rafael Abreu, writing for the StudioBinder filmmaking blog, defined this genre as follows: A dramedy
2449-577: The Royal Tomb as laid out in the Boundary Stelae . It is possible that the unfinished annex of the Royal Tomb was intended for her use. However, given that Akhenaten appears to have predeceased her it is highly unlikely she was ever buried there. One shabti is known to have been made for her. The unfinished Tomb 29, which would have been of very similar dimensions to the Royal Tomb had it been finished,
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2528-431: The pharaoh . Based on these titles, it has been proposed that Ay was in fact Nefertiti's father. However, neither Ay nor Tey are explicitly referred to as Nefertiti's parents in the existing sources. At the same time, no sources exist that directly contradict Ay's fatherhood which is considered likely due to the great influence he wielded during Nefertiti's life and after her death. According to another theory, Nefertiti
2607-456: The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 86% of 35 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The website's consensus reads: " Desperately Seeking Susan works with its fairy tale depiction of New York and the fun, frothy chemistry generated by its two leads." On Metacritic it has a score of 71% based on reviews from 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun Times gave
2686-460: The 16th year of his [Akhenaten's] reign and, more importantly, that they were still holding the same positions as at the start of their reign. This makes it necessary to rethink the final years of the Amarna Period. This means that Nefertiti was alive in the second to last year of Akhenaten's reign, and demonstrates that Akhenaten still ruled alone, with his wife by his side. Therefore, the rule of
2765-518: The Exit , which is based on his experiences, at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Comedy-drama Comedy drama , also known by the portmanteau dramedy , is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and drama . In films, serious dramatic themes (such as death, illness, etc.) are dealt with realism and subtlety, while preserving a humorous tenor. In television, modern scripted comedy dramas tend to have more humour integrated into
2844-571: The Great Royal Palace in the centre of the city and possibly at the Northern Palace as well. Nefertiti and the rest of the royal family feature prominently in the scenes at the palaces and in the tombs of the nobles . Nefertiti's steward during this time was an official named Meryre II . He would have been in charge of running her household. Inscriptions in the tombs of Huya and Meryre II dated to Year 12, 2nd month of Peret, Day 8 show
2923-762: The Younger Lady) were found lying together in KV35, the same was true of these mummies. A document was found in the ancient Hittite capital of Hattusa which dates to the Amarna period. The document is part of the so-called Deeds of Suppiluliuma I . While laying siege to Karkemish , the Hittite ruler receives a letter from the Egyptian queen. The letter reads: My husband has died and I have no son. They say about you that you have many sons. You might give me one of your sons to become my husband. I would not wish to take one of my subjects as
3002-465: The closing frames, Roberta and Susan are celebrated as heroes in the newspaper, credited with returning the stolen earrings. Seidelman employed a wide range of artists in small appearances, including comedian Rockets Redglare as a taxi driver; former member of the Shirts Annie Golden as a band singer; performance artist Ann Magnuson as a cigarette girl; musician and painter John Lurie as
3081-449: The couch at his apartment for one night. When they arrive they interrupt Dez's old girlfriend, Victoria, and her new partner taking most of the apartment items, leaving him with practically nothing, including no couch. Believing she is Susan, Roberta retraces Susan's steps with Nolan following. She and Dez attempt to have breakfast at a diner where the jacket she is wearing gets her recognized as Susan. She and Dez are physically ejected from
3160-530: The decade by publications such as NME and Rolling Stone . Many others have labeled it a cult classic of the 1980s. In 2023, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Roberta Glass, an unfulfilled housewife from Fort Lee, New Jersey , is fascinated by
3239-474: The diner, but Nolan picks up a postcard for the Magic Club she drops. Roberta eventually arrives at the Magic Club, narrowly missing Susan who has been released from jail and discovered her suitcase is gone. Roberta is then hired as Crystal's replacement. After her disastrous first performance, Nolan attacks her, demanding the earrings. He manages to escape as the police arrive. Roberta hits her head again, so she regains her memory. Unfortunately, she's mistaken for
Desperately Seeking Susan - Misplaced Pages Continue
3318-459: The distinctive jacket. Susan spots Roberta, but can't reach her as police detain her for not paying her taxi fare. Dez arrives on a moped and rescues Roberta, who falls and hits her head, causing her to lose her memory and her bag. He believes she is Susan and finds the locker key, taking her to the Port Authority to collect Susan's suitcase. There, Roberta finds the other earring, and Dez offers
3397-469: The earrings and stashes the other in her suitcase in a Port Authority locker. She asks to stay with her friend Crystal, a magician's assistant at the Magic Club, and learns that Meeker was killed at the hotel. Hoping to spot the lovers, Roberta goes to Battery Park and sees Jim reunite with Susan before leaving with his band for Buffalo . Later, she follows Susan to a vintage store and watches her trade in her jacket before losing sight of her. Roberta buys
3476-411: The events of her disappearance to Gary, finally voicing her unhappiness and ending their marriage. Nolan threatens Susan at gunpoint, but is knocked out by Roberta. Then, Roberta and Susan finally meet each other for the first time. Later, Roberta finds Dez in his projection booth at the movie theater where he works. She introduces herself properly, and they kiss as Jim and Susan watch the movie below. In
3555-514: The female pharaoh known by the throne name, Neferneferuaten and before the ascension of Tutankhamun , although this identification is a matter of ongoing debate . If Nefertiti did rule as pharaoh, her reign was marked by the fall of Amarna and relocation of the capital back to the traditional city of Thebes . In the 20th century, Nefertiti was made famous by the discovery and display of her ancient bust , now in Berlin's Neues Museum . The bust
3634-410: The female Amarna pharaoh known as Neferneferuaten must be placed between the death of Akhenaten and the accession of Tutankhamun. Neferneferuaten, this female pharaoh, specifically used the epithet 'Effective for her husband' in one of her cartouches, which means she was either Nefertiti or her daughter Meritaten (who was married to king Smenkhkare ). Nefertiti's burial was intended to be made within
3713-402: The film "still packs a powerful feminist punch". He also said, at the time, and even somewhat by today's standards Desperately Seeking Susan "was revolutionary in that it featured two female leads and was written, produced, and directed by women". Madonna's popularity caused the film to be perceived as a "Madonna movie" by critics, a label that even Rosanna Arquette followed. Although Madonna
3792-637: The film produced a new idiomatic phrase considering the newspapers headlines with the phrase Desperately Seeking [...] . In 2023, the Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. The film was developed into a stage musical that premiered at London's Novello Theatre on November 15, 2007, following previews from October 16, 2007. It features music and lyrics by Blondie and Deborah Harry , including
3871-544: The film three stars out of a possible four, saying it was essentially a screwball comedy , which "bopped around New York, introducing us to unforgettable characters". Both Rosanna Arquette and Madonna received generally critical acclaim for their portrayal of Roberta and Susan respectively. In Costume and Cinema (2001), professor of film studies , Sarah Street considered Madonna's role as Susan as arguably her "best film performance". In similar remarks, film critics like James Monaco deemed it as "Madonna's best role", playing
3950-692: The film was certified Gold by the International Tape/Disc Association, denoting 75,000 copies or sales totaling $ 3 million at retail. It also earned a Platinum certification in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of 1992, Desperately Seeking Susan sold 150,000 home videos in the US according to The Hollywood Reporter . Upon release, the film developed cult status in some audiences, with Hadley Freeman from The Guardian referring to
4029-505: The film, and a demo she had just finished, " Into the Groove ", was used instead. Only the demo version can be heard in the movie. The song was a huge commercial success. In some territories, it was included on a 1985 reissue of Like a Virgin , but in the United States it was only released as a double A-side 12″ single with " Angel ". The song's music video consists of clips from the film, edited by Doug Dowdle of Parallax Productions. The film
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#17330856849194108-442: The fourth year of his reign, Amenhotep IV decided to move the capital to Akhetaten (modern Amarna). In his fifth year, Amenhotep IV officially changed his name to Akhenaten, and Nefertiti was henceforth known as Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti. The name change was a sign of the ever-increasing importance of the cult of the Aten . It changed Egypt's religion from a polytheistic religion to a religion which may have been better described as
4187-608: The issue dated November 2, 1985. In the video rental charts, the film debuted at number 7 and climbed to the first-position on the issued dated September 28, 1985. It also debuted and peaked at number 10 in the Billboard ' s videodisc charts on March 8, 1986. The release ended at the 35-position in the Top Videocassettes Sales and the 29-position in the Top Videocassettes Rentals of 1985. In January 1986,
4266-428: The jacket and finds Susan's locker key in its pocket. She posts another "Desperately Seeking Susan" column to meet with Susan and return the key. Meanwhile, Jim becomes concerned about the column and Susan's connection to Meeker's death. He asks his best friend Dez to check on her. Waiting for Susan at Battery Park and wearing her jacket, Roberta is accosted by Nolan, who mistakes her for Susan as she's blonde and wearing
4345-408: The jacket worn by Madonna with a pyramid at its center, fetched $ 252,000 in an auction. Writing for Washington Post in 1985, Paul Attanasio considered the film as "the first big yuppie movie of the '80s", and further explains that yuppies are "the first generation to grow up exclusively on mass-marketed culture". In 2017, Ben Reardon from Vice commented: " Desperately Seeking Susan defined
4424-449: The kingship. If Nefertiti did rule Egypt as a Pharaoh, it has been theorized that she would have attempted damage control and may have re-instated the ancient Egyptian religion and the Amun priests. She would have raised Tutankhamun in the worship of the traditional gods. Archaeologist and Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass theorized that Nefertiti returned to Thebes from Amarna to rule as
4503-666: The messages between lovers Susan Thomas and Jim Dandy in the personals section of a NYC tabloid. Jim's ad for Susan, with the headline "Desperately Seeking Susan" particularly draws her attention, which proposes a rendezvous in Battery Park . Meanwhile, in an Atlantic City hotel, the itinerant Susan reads the section after a tryst with mobster Bruce Meeker. She steals a pair of ornate Egyptian earrings from his coat before departing. The sinister Wayne Nolan notices Susan's embellished tuxedo jacket as she leaves. Arriving in NYC, Susan dons one of
4582-430: The middle to later part of Akhenaten's reign 'after the exaggerated style of the early years had relaxed somewhat'. One is a small piece on limestone and is a preliminary sketch of Nefertiti wearing her distinctive tall crown with carving began around the mouth, chin, ear and tab of the crown. Another is a small inlay head (Petrie Museum Number UC103) modeled from reddish-brown quartzite that was clearly intended to fit into
4661-414: The movie as an "80s cult classic". It also impacted the fashion of teenage girls, and scholars in film studies , including Sarah Street had used the film as an example of connections between fashion and cinema industries. Tracey Lomrantz Lester from Glamour slightly referred to the movie as one of the best fashion films of the era, while Derek Blasberg picked it as his favorite film that best embodied
4740-456: The neighbor saxophonist; La Mama and Living Theatre member Shirley Stoler as a jail matron; Ambitious Lovers member Arto Lindsay as the newspaper clerk who places the "seeking" ads; Ensemble Studio Theater founder Curt Dempster as coffee shop manager, Nick; and future Seinfeld -writer Carol Leifer as a party guest. Other notable appearances include actors Richard Edson as a man with newspapers, Victor Argo as Sgt. Taskal, Kim Chan as
4819-459: The plot of mistaken identity. The movie was inspired in part by the movie Céline et Julie vont en bateau ( Céline and Julie Go Boating ) (1974). It also has an alternate ending included on the DVD, in which Susan and Roberta are invited to Egypt after helping return the earrings. They are depicted next to the pyramids on camels. Seidelman cut this scene, saying that it was unnecessary and audiences at
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#17330856849194898-528: The presence of the "Great Royal Wife, His Beloved, Mistress of the Two Lands, Neferneferuaten Nefertiti". The final line of the inscription refers to ongoing building work being carried out under the authority of the king's scribe Penthu on the Small Aten Temple in Amarna. Van der Perre stresses that: This inscription offers incontrovertible evidence that both Akhenaten and Nefertiti were still alive in
4977-501: The prince died, perhaps murdered, en route. The identity of the queen who wrote the letter is uncertain. She is called Dakhamunzu in the Hittite annals, a translation of the Egyptian title Ta hemet nesu (The King's Wife). The possible candidates are Nefertiti, Meritaten , and Ankhesenamun . Ankhesenamun once seemed the likeliest, since there were no candidates for the throne on the death of her husband, Tutankhamun, whereas Akhenaten had at least two legitimate successors. But this
5056-431: The princess Meketaten participates as well. In scenes found on the talatat , Nefertiti appears almost twice as often as her husband. She is shown appearing behind her husband the pharaoh in offering scenes in the role of the queen supporting her husband, but she is also depicted in scenes that would have normally been the prerogative of the king. She is shown smiting the enemy, and captive enemies decorate her throne. In
5135-420: The soundtrack to another Seidelman film, Making Mr. Right . The soundtrack does not feature any of the other songs in the film. The film captures the feel of the underground Bohemian/ new wave scene of the early to mid-1980s New York City, a scene that helped Madonna get her big break in the music business. Madonna recorded a song for the movie, titled "Desperately Seeking Susan". It ended up not being used in
5214-611: The story than the comic relief common in drama series but usually contain a lower joke rate than sitcoms . In the very influential Greek theatre , plays were considered comedies or tragedies. This concept even influenced Roman theatre and theatre of the Hellenistic period . Theatre of that era is thought to have long-lasting influence, even in modern narrative works. Even today, works are often classified into two broad buckets, dramas and comedies. For instance, many awards that recognize achievements in film and television today, such as
5293-549: The studio wanted the movie to have younger actors in order to appeal to younger filmgoers. Bruce Willis was up for the role of Dez and Melanie Griffith was up for the role of Susan. Madonna obtained the role over Ellen Barkin and Jennifer Jason Leigh . Suzanne Vega also auditioned for the role. The Statue of Liberty can be seen in the movie when it was still covered in scaffolding during its two-year renovation. Costume designer Santo Loquasto designed Susan's distinctive jacket (supposedly first worn by Jimi Hendrix ), basis of
5372-539: The test screenings thought the film should have already ended much earlier (as explained on the DVD). The science fiction film The Time Travelers (1964) is playing in scenes 6 and 23 (melts at the movie's ending). All the scenes featuring Dez working as a projectionist were filmed at Bleecker Street Cinema . The scene with Roberta and Gary in their kitchen shows Roberta watching Alfred Hitchcock 's Rebecca (1940). The interior and exterior shots of The Magic Club were filmed at
5451-452: The times and withstands performance after performance, and has been referenced, riffed on and re-rubbed by every designer and wannabe star till Doomsday." Kirk Ellis, from The Hollywood Reporter , said the movie "could well usher in a whole new subgenre: New Wave screwball comedy". The movie also has been noted as a "cult feminist classic". In 2022, Garin Pirnia from Mental Floss considered
5530-644: The tomb of Amenhotep II in KV35 in the Valley of the Kings . These two mummies, known as ' The Elder Lady ' and ' The Younger Lady ', were identified as likely candidates of her remains. An article in KMT magazine in 2001 suggested that the Elder Lady might be Nefertiti. However, it was subsequently shown that the 'Elder Lady' is in fact Tiye , mother of Akhenaten. A lock of hair found in
5609-599: The twelfth year of his reign, there is evidence she may have been elevated to the status of co-regent: equal in status to the pharaoh, as may be depicted on the Coregency Stela . It is possible that Nefertiti is the ruler named Neferneferuaten. Some theorists believe that Nefertiti was still alive and held influence on the younger royals. If this is the case, that influence and presumably Nefertiti's own life would have ended by year 3 of Tutankhaten's reign (1331 BC). In that year, Tutankhaten changed his name to Tutankhamun. This
5688-527: Was a queen of the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt , the great royal wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten . Nefertiti and her husband were known for their radical overhaul of state religious policy, in which they promoted the earliest known form of monotheism , Atenism , centered on the sun disc and its direct connection to the royal household. With her husband, she reigned at what was arguably the wealthiest period of ancient Egyptian history. After her husband's death, some scholars believe that Nefertiti ruled briefly as
5767-474: Was based on the assumption of a 27-year reign for the last 18th Dynasty pharaoh, Horemheb , who is now accepted to have had a shorter reign of only 14 years. This makes the deceased Egyptian king appear to be Akhenaten instead, rather than Tutankhamun. Furthermore, the phrase regarding marriage to 'one of my subjects' (translated by some as 'servants') is possibly either a reference to the Grand Vizier Ay or
5846-496: Was criticised by Zahi Hawass and several other Egyptologists. In a subsequent research project led by Hawass, the mummy was put through CT scan analysis and DNA analysis. Researchers concluded that she is Tutankhamun's biological mother, an unnamed daughter of Amenhotep III and Tiye, not Nefertiti. One of the two female mummies found in KV21 has been suggested as the body of Nefertiti. DNA analysis did not yield enough data to make
5925-536: Was not billed as the lead actress , her character became a "film's pivotal plot point", contributing "significantly to its film success". Author Alicia Malone and The Guardian ' s Arwa Mahdawi, also said film director Susan Seidelman is probably best known for this film. With Mahdawi saying "You couldn't have a film season about New York in the 70s and 80s without including Seidelman's work". Associate professor Diane Pecknold in American Icons (2006) believes
6004-475: Was once considered as a candidate for the mother of Tutankhamun, however a genetic study conducted on discovered mummies suggests that she was not. Nefertiti first appears in scenes in Thebes . In the damaged tomb ( TT188 ) of the royal butler Parennefer , the new king Amenhotep IV is accompanied by a royal woman, and this lady is thought to be an early depiction of Nefertiti. The king and queen are shown worshiping
6083-444: Was promoted to co-regent by her husband Pharaoh Akhenaten before his death. She is depicted in many archaeological sites as equal in stature to a King, smiting Egypt's enemies, riding a chariot , and worshipping the Aten in the manner of a pharaoh. When Nefertiti's name disappears from historical records, it is replaced by that of a co-regent named Neferneferuaten , who became a female Pharaoh. It seems likely that Nefertiti, in
6162-615: Was released on March 29, 1985 in the United States, and grossed $ 1,526,098 in its first weekend. It was a commercial success of its time, making $ 27,398,584 in the United States. The film was released on September 6, 1985 in the United Kingdom, and grossed £1,175,133 in its first weekend. Its total gross in the United Kingdom was £2,331,907. It also became the most successful Orion Pictures film in Europe at that point. Desperately Seeking Susan garnered mostly critical acclaim from film critics. On
6241-470: Was the daughter of Ay and a woman besides Tey, but Ay's first wife died before Nefertiti's rise to the position of queen, whereupon Ay married Tey, making her Nefertiti's stepmother. Nevertheless, this entire proposal is based on speculation and conjecture. It has also been proposed that Nefertiti was Akhenaten's full sister, though this is contradicted by her titles which do not include the title of "King's Daughter" or "King's Sister," usually used to indicate
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