Truman Capote, though he saw himself as a chronicler of characters, was, in reality, one of the vivid characters he portrayed.
The speculation arises about how Capote would have perceived the fictionalized versions of himself that emerged in the three decades following his death. Would he have identified the loneliness and sorrow embedded in these depictions?
With a penchant for portraying outsized personalities, prolific TV producer Ryan Murphy inevitably introduces a version of Capote (played by Tom Hollander) in this spectacle of a show. This portrayal reflects a man characterized by fragility, prickliness, and a desperate longing for affection—a man who ultimately became his own worst adversary.
The second installment of his anthology series, Feud: Capote vs The Swans, delves into the lavish realm of the New York socialites and explores the bitter animosity between Capote and the women he referred to as his Swans.
In 1975, Capote unveiled an excerpt from his long-anticipated book Answered Prayers in Esquire. The story, titled "La Cote Basque 1966," thinly disguised the private lives, scandals, and covert betrayals of his close associates.He exposed their secrets using clever pseudonyms, narrating with a venomous disdain that was hard to ignore. The repercussions were immediate—the Swans, the guardians of Manhattan's café society, promptly ostracized him.
Naomi Watts embodies Babe Paley, an icon of New York's upper echelon known for her beauty and elegance. Capote once remarked that her sole flaw was her perfection. However, beneath the polished facade lies a woman grappling with a cheating spouse and the realization that her beauty serves as a protective shield.
Diane Lane takes on the role of Slim Keith, a commanding and graceful figure who spearheads the opposition against Capote. Nursing resentment from her third husband's betrayal, she feels a connection to Capote stemming from their shared modest beginnings.
Calista Flockhart makes a glorious return to television portraying Lee Radziwill, primarily recognized as the younger sister of Jackie Kennedy. In this portrayal, Lee exhibits a tougher, more cynical demeanor than her associates, harboring a distinct skepticism towards Capote's betrayal and the inner circles of Manhattan.
The cast also features Chloe Sevigny as CZ Guest, Molly Ringwald as Joanne Carson, and Demi Moore as Ann Woodward. Ann, in particular, bore the brunt of Capote's flippant and incessant taunts, insinuating her involvement in her husband's murder.
At the core of the narrative lies the theme of control – the struggle for its possession and the desperate attempts to retain it. The backdrop is an era of significant social transformation in America, where the once-dominant realm of glamour and wealth is gradually fading away as new money comes along.
This undercurrent is palpable as the audience knows the world Capote and the Swans are striving to preserve will soon vanish. This inherent fragility is what renders Feud: Capote vs the Swans a compelling tragedy.
The first two episodes are available now on Hulu.
