Nonetheless, I think that Jack's line that 'He coulda been a hippie if he had more education.' is profound.
It highlights for me that the very smallest changes in their circumstances - born a little bit later, somewhere a little less conservative, finishing that sophomore year, may have made an enormous difference to them and the way they viewed their options. [ ] For me this simple realization, is poignant - very small changes in circumstance ripple and can make a world of difference.
Oh Lynne, THANK YOU so much for this! This is such a generous and wise take on that one line of Jack's.
I'm embarrassed to say that when first I read that, I cynically and sadly read it as Jack's way of showing disapproval of the Hippies at the same time as disparaging his own childhood dreams. I heard Jack almost echoing his father. "They've got education, probably been to college, got out into the world, and just look where the education got them. It wasn't worth much. I'm much better off without."
Yes, I actually read it as a
"There, but for the grace of God, go I". Needless to say I'm very happy to embrace your interpretation instead, Lynne.
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On a separate note, I see that the script says that the VW bus is so far into water that it has
"water at window-height". But in the picture of Ennis getting the girls to shore, the water is barely lapping at the bus's tires. The girls could therefore easily enough have waded to shore on their own pretty feet. Then again, the image can't be from the scene as it would have appeared if included in the film, since there's another rider visible who isn't Jack. I wonder if that particular part of the filmed scene would have been closer to the script if finalized. I hope so, but if so I don't see why they would not just stick the VW in deeper water from the very first. However it would have seemed really silly for Ennis to "save" the girls from the situation in the image. The only reason for him to do that would be if he really *wanted* them close up, and as quickly as possible.