Great posts Katie.
I have to agree with Del; I don't think Jr had the background to just see right through her dad's facade.
It would be normal for someone her age at that time and place to "see the trees, but be confused by the forest."
Exactly. All the abstract clues are there, but it still requires a huge leap for her to see past some big facts: Daddy is macho, he's been married, and he's
her father — her model for what manhood and the male role in a heterosexual relationship is.
Some of the clues involve Ennis' excitement around fishing-trip time — and comparative indifference to Alma and Cassie. But then again, that's textbook behavior for many straight men of the time: emotionally buttoned-down at home, but stoked to escape all the estrogen and down a few beers with the buds.
Another point is that the film seems pretty tone-deaf on child development. Ennis talks of "taking the girls into town for an ice cream" when — at age 1 1/2 and 6 months — they couldn't possibly appreciate it. Ditto on the Fireworks Scene ("got 2 little girls here" — they're going to understand the bikers and be corrupted?) And why would Bobby need a tutor at the age of 2 or 3?
Ang's direction (in the post-divorce and Cassie scenes) implies that she may be on to her dad. But at age 12 and 15, she just wouldn't be.
I think Junior watching Ennis & Cassie dance echoes Lureen at the Childress dance: she
knows something's not right, but has yet to put it all together.