The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
the good girl
opinionista:
SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!!! SPOILERS!!!
--- Quote from: delalluvia on February 21, 2008, 08:39:28 pm ---Well, she did have one more choice - not take either scenario - leave by herself.
--- End quote ---
Well, yes but keeping her husband would made things a lot easier for her. At least economically speaking. Leaving on her own would still be tragic for a woman like her. Starting a life all over again, on your own, with a baby on the way is not something many women would like to do. Her husband was an pothead and an idiot, but he loved her and she knew he would be there for her and the baby. At least she hoped so. Plus, she already had a job, and a home for the baby so there was no real point in leaving, even if that meant being a doormat. She could always divorce Phil and at least keep her job. I thought the ending was realistic.
I think Justine's problem was that she was bored with her life. Her daily routine bored her to death. That was the reason for her unhappiness. I think the whole movie speaks about boredom. Everyone there seemed bored and sought different ways of entertaiment. Phil and his friend smoked pot; Justine slept with Holden, the girl played by Zooey Deschanel insulted and made fun of the customers, and the guard went to bible study. Perhaps after learning she was pregnant, Justine saw a way out of her boredom, and didn't see the need to leave or change her life entirely by running away (with Holden or on her own).
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: opinionista on February 21, 2008, 08:50:28 pm ---
SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!!! SPOILERS!!!
Well, yes but keeping her husband would made things a lot easier for her. At least economically speaking. Leaving on her own would still be tragic for a woman like her. Starting a life all over again, on your own, with a baby on the way is not something many women would like to do. Her husband was an pothead and an idiot, but he loved her and she knew he would be there for her and the baby. At least she hoped so. Plus, she already had a job, and a home for the baby so there was no real point in leaving, even if that meant being a doormat. She could always divorce Phil and at least keep her job. I thought the ending was realistic.
I think Justine's problem was that she was bored with her life. Her daily routine bored her to death. That was the reason for her unhappiness. I think the whole movie speaks about boredom. Everyone there seemed bored and sought different ways of entertaiment. Phil and his friend smoked pot; Justine slept with Holden, the girl played by Zooey Deschanel insulted and made fun of the customers, and the guard went to bible study. Perhaps after learning she was pregnant, Justine saw a way out of her boredom, and didn't see the need to leave or change her life entirely by running away (with Holden or on her own).
--- End quote ---
Perhaps, but in troubled marriages - Justine doesn't love her husband (HE loves her and probably only until he realizes the kid doesn't look like him) and a baby isn't going to make her love him or make their marriage any stronger. Her job was a dead-end one, with no future that was easily replaceable in any town she chose to go to. She can't divorce her husband now, she has a baby to take care of and no money for a lawyer. So she's trapped even more than she was before. Justine was not a very bright woman and had a complete lack of imagination. She couldn't see herself doing anything or being anything other than she was and preferred in the end to tread water where she was. What happens once the baby's demands become the typical drudge and the child starts to bore her too? Her name I thought was apt - "Just" ine. She's "just" existing.
[shrug]
I thought it was a tragedy. It started out that way and it ended that way.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[*] Previous page
Go to full version