Since McQueen has told us so little about Brandon’s or his sister’s past, we have no insight into how the siblings turned out the way they did. It’s empty sex for us, too. — David Edelstein
The rest here
I don’t agree that it’s essential to walk into the theater with a case history of the two characters to know that they’re really screwed up people. Maybe the reviewer, who I like, needs his food cut for him before he eats, too. I didn’t feel that Brandon’s descent rang true, especially the fact that it was a bit homophobic to say that he’s bottoming out if he needs to go to a gay bar to have anonymous sex.
If the film were actually about how Brandon and his sister arrived to their situations, then that would essentially be true. But it’s not.
Yeah, but where are your assertions coming from Pierre? not from the film, right?
That statement from Edelstein perfectly encapsulates why he shouldn’t be a film critic.
^YES
I saw Shame as more of a by the numbers addiction film, which happened to have scenes of explicit sex.
The scene toward the end where he’s falling down crying I found particularly cliche.
“Since McQueen has told us so little about Brandon’s or his sister’s past, we have no insight into how the siblings turned out the way they did. It’s empty sex for us, too.”
Such backstories would have merely been easy explanations for a complex psychological disorder, and it would have made it far easier for the viewers to distance themselves from what is to a large part a societal problem, I’m thus glad that McQueen only alluded to it. As far as I’m concerned the actual weakness of “Shame” is that the film gets over the top in the second half and tries to force its message upon the viewer which wasn’t really necessary anymore at that point. The scene mentioned by Jirin above was one of the reasons it ultimately lost some of its impact and relevance.
No one sees the film less as an ‘addiction’ film and more of a deconstruction of a greed, sex obsessed culture in the guise of the new ‘upwardly mobile youth’ genre?
Maybe it’s that I’m of the post-2000’s generation and spent essentially every one of my years in school around guys that believe the only true goals in life are attaining exorbitant wealth and notches on one’s bedpost…
The answer for contrivance is found there. That the only manner in which the stereotype of the “ultimate male” can breakdown is in homophobia and contrivance. As if the only true statement ending McQueen could make was to show a man so empty, useless and infantile in his disposition to the world that the only manner in which he can react to it is in total cliche. You may have been rolling your eyes, I was laughing.
The biggest problem that I have with this movie is that he’s so uninteresting that the movie seems to take a backseat too in an effort to keep him like so. The character was well-acted by the always-reliable Fassbender, but other than that, I didn’t find anything there is to dig.
Shame isn’t that bad, but everyone here is right: it’s a brave move making a movie about sex addiction but it doesn’t mean you have to be boring too…
Whoa. I wish I could be bored by a movie like this. I was both riveted and emotionally devastated by this story and by this character in particular. Of course the flawlessness of the technical aspects of the film left me in awe too but after Hunger, we expected that from McQueen. But the story itself, that’s what really hit close to home; not the specifics of sexual addiction but just the obsession this character is trapped in and his dysfunction towards intimacy. I guess this is why I don’t think of the film as simply about a sex addict – to me the behavior and emotion is about so much more; about a broken character. I’ve certainly known my fair share of people like Brandon and Sissy.
@Sabrina
Why did you think it was bad?
@Apu
_As far as I’m concerned the actual weakness of “Shame” is that the film gets over the top in the second half and tries to force its message upon the viewer which wasn’t really necessary anymore at that point. _
I’m curious to hear what you thought the message was.
@Jirin
I saw Shame as more of a by the numbers addiction film, which happened to have scenes of explicit sex.
I didn’t really see think this was about addiction (let alone sex addiction), but a film about sin and guilt and the isolating effect of both. (I know Santino thinks I’m crazy but I see this almost as secular Bad Lieutenant. Instead of God, Sissy’s love is what offers redemption for Brandon.)
@Wu
No one sees the film less as an ‘addiction’ film and more of a deconstruction of a greed, sex obsessed culture in the guise of the new ‘upwardly mobile youth’ genre?
Do you mean the film critiques the materialism/greed of upwardly mobile youth? I didn’t read the film that way, but I’d be interested in hearing a case for this.
He has the addiction in the beginning of the film. He has it in the end.
He gets rid of the paraphernalia associated with it in the middle (which is done by addicts ALL the time).
He deftly avoids responsibility at work for his addiction.
His “truest”/cliched moment of pain is not related to the addiction, but to his sister.
And his most revealing emotional moment happens in the instance of sexual failure, which points to an issue outside of addiction (it would be comparable to an alcoholic being unable to get drunk after a trauma).
Thus, his descent, at least sexually isn’t a descent at all, as he doesn’t resolve the addiction or even face it. Any addict recovery group will tell you your bottom isn’t going to be doing the exact same thing at the end as you were in the beginning (i.e. checking out married women on the subway).
So the film is not about addiction.
So, what it is about? Outside of a sexual addiction, what is this character?
A young, rich, greedy, superficial wall street kid with deep-seeded familial issues. So, the film is either about family issues or his socioeconomic status.
What does his sister threaten?
She fucks his boss. Worse, she gets attached. She threatens his job.
Where does the film derive emotion?
The only true moments of dread in the film are the confrontation in the office with the woman he failed to perform for and his boss’ confrontation about his computer’s harddrive. It’s already been established that his relationship with his sister is stock cliche, as is his relationship to his addiction (and we’d all be surprised how many addicts fit incredibly well into stock cliches).
So, the film does not derive emotion from human relationships, but from Fassbender’s character’s fears about work.
Thus, the contrivance. He feels, really, really feels, when his position is threatened. But reacts with utter bullshit around “true” emotions of “real” people.
He’s an archetype, playing an archetype. He is Gordon Gecko. He thinks he’s Hamlet.
Thus, the deconstruction isn’t of addiction, or family, but of the need to attain wealth.
His true descent is about fear of losing one’s status; the ability to be a functioning sexual addict with horrendous familial issues and have it not matter because society sees the pure, unadulterated accumulation of money as the only measurement of health; not being confronted with real human problems and needing to solve them.
@Wu
A young, rich, greedy, superficial wall street kid with deep-seeded familial issues. So, the film is either about family issues or his socioeconomic status.
Well, I think there’s a third option—namely, the film is about guilt and sin and being trapped by both. We all have demons within, skeletons in our closet that we’re really scared to reveal (well, most of us are really scared to reveal these things). I suspect we try to ignore or hide from these dark parts of ourselves, but we can’t escape them. I think the film is about this and offers a possible salvation for this.
Let me go into why I don’t find the “Gordon Gecko” reading so compelling.
The only true moments of dread in the film are the confrontation in the office with the woman he failed to perform for and his boss’ confrontation about his computer’s harddrive.
What I took away from the failed sexual encounter with his co-worker was that Brandon could only have anonymous sex. He couldn’t have sex with anyone he liked and knew. I don’t think this had anything to do with his status seeking or greed.
Similarly, with his hardrive, I don’t think he’s worried about losing his job so much as his addiction being revealed. His fear lies in other people finding out about this dark part of him. (Hence the title, Shame.)
As for his sister’s fling with his boss, Brandon could be worried that this would jeopardize his job. But it could also be two other, equally significant, factors. First, the affair brings Sissy closer to Brandon and his world—clearly something he’s very uncomfortable about. Second, maybe Brandon feels hostility and resentment for the way Sissy can have these more “normal” relationships—both sexual and emotional.
Finally, I don’t get the sense at all that Brandon really cares much about his job, status or his wealth. His apartment is pretty simple and spare. It doesn’t look like a status seeking individual. His clothes or the way he talks doesn’t indicate that he’s greedy or superficial, either, imo. There’s two things that stand out with Brandon: he has this insatiable libido and he’s filled with fear. He’s trapped and this feeling, along with his sex drive, is what dominates his life.
@ Jazz -
“What I took away from the failed sexual encounter with his co-worker was that Brandon could only have anonymous sex. He couldn’t have sex with anyone he liked and knew. I don’t think this had anything to do with his status seeking or greed.”
Yes.
“Similarly, with his hardrive, I don’t think he’s worried about losing his job so much as his addiction being revealed. "
Yes.
“(Hence the title, Shame.)”
Yes, although I think it’s really Sissy that forces him to confront this shame. Her abrupt entrance into his life really throws him for a loop. Yes, his boss finding the porn on his computer and his inability to have sex with the woman from work add to this confrontation but it’s really Sissy that interrupts his routine of self-destruction.
“As for his sister’s fling with his boss, Brandon could be worried that this would jeopardize his job. But it could also be two other, equally significant, factors. First, the affair brings Sissy closer to Brandon and his world—clearly something he’s very uncomfortable about. Second, maybe Brandon feels hostility and resentment for the way Sissy can have these more “normal” relationships—both sexual and emotional.”
I don’t think Brandon was that concerned about losing his job. I think he was freaked out about Sissy having sex with his boss because it does bring her closer to his world. I think probably in the past it was easy for him to control these two worlds and to keep them separate. Clearly Sissy comes from that part of Brandon that is eating himself up. Clearly she has her own issues. She mentions they had a messed up childhood; I think they both come from a dark place and it’s just manifesting itself differently in Brandon than in Sissy. However I don’t think Brandon is jealous or envious of her being able to have a “normal” relationship. I think she is just as messed up (she’s just dealing with it in a different way). No, I think it’s much more of a control thing with Brandon – it’s like now that she’s here, staying with him, he’s in less control of his obsession. He can’t masturbate freely, he can’t watch his porn whenever he wants, he can’t have people over. Also, and this is more subtle, but there might be some sort of dysfunctional, incestous thing happening here where he’s jealous that his boss is having sex with his sister (a friend of mine thought Brandon was in love with Sissy, although I don’t quite buy that reading).
“Well, I think there’s a third option—namely, the film is about guilt and sin and being trapped by both.”
His only sin, at least as he sees, is his loss of control.
“What I took away from the failed sexual encounter with his co-worker was that Brandon could only have anonymous sex. He couldn’t have sex with anyone he liked and knew. I don’t think this had anything to do with his status seeking or greed.”
In the next scene she’s seen giggling with a co-worker.
His power is taken away by his inability to control her.
He takes her aside and tells her not to hurt his position. To keep her mouth shut (literally), as it were.
The reaction, almost immediately, of anger and not shame; as in, “she took this from me,” not “why can’t I do this? what is wrong with me”; is the giveaway that it’s not about anonymity or emotion (he knows and likes the webcam performers on his computer, for whatever that is worth). It’s about power, particularly about the power afforded him in his work being taken from him.
With his sister and his job, the same thing.
How does he react when they have sex in his apartment?
He leaves. Avoids it. It’s an aggravation, to be ignored.
How does he react when she calls his boss? When she gets attached (by the way, sleeping with a married man with kids… is that a more “normal” relationship?), what does he do?
He confronts her. He destroys her. He pushes her over the edge. And after doing so then he leaves.
He ignores the relationship (he knows the relationship is just a one-night thing), but lashes out when she interferes with his status. When she potentially hurts his connection with his boss.
And watch the manner in which the scene with the computer is shot. We’re completely aware of what the confrontation is about, he isn’t. But his boss eschews the sexual aspect of it, entirely (one of the first things he does is blame it on an intern). But that doesn’t change Brandon’s expression. He’s still filled with dread. Each moment more agonizing for him than the last.
It’s not the fear of being found out. It’s the fear of losing what one has acquired if they’re found out. Status.
P.S. – His apartment doesn’t scream minimalism to you? It’s one of the most pretentious apartments I’ve ever seen (and I’m using the word correctly, here).
@Santino
Yes, although I think it’s really Sissy that forces him to confront this shame. Her abrupt entrance into his life really throws him for a loop. Yes, his boss finding the porn on his computer and his inability to have sex with the woman from work add to this confrontation but it’s really Sissy that interrupts his routine of self-destruction.
I don’t disagree with this—but from the very beginning of the film, Brandon seems very fearful, almost mousy; a man who is holding a lot in and hiding something. (I got this sense when he’s at the bar and with his co-workers.)
Clearly Sissy comes from that part of Brandon that is eating himself up. Clearly she has her own issues.
What do you think her issues are? She seems capable of intimate relationships—or at least she can deal with her emotions and darker aspects of herself and past. Yet, she’s broken and messed up, which translates to not being able to do responsible things like get and hold a job. (I’m thinking out loud here.) On the other hand, Brandon’a inability to deal with his emotions—his ability to bury them—seems to allow him to not only take care of his responsibilities, but do so rather successfully.
_However I don’t think Brandon is jealous or envious of her being able to have a “normal” relationship. I think she is just as messed up (she’s just dealing with it in a different way). _
Right. I’m not saying Brandon is jealous, per se. She has her problems, and I think he does care for her (but he can’t get too close); at the same time, you can resent or envy someone, just a little, for something they can do, but you can’t. That’s only natural.
No, I think it’s much more of a control thing with Brandon – it’s like now that she’s here, staying with him, he’s in less control of his obsession.
I think there could be some of that, but don’t you think Sissy’s presence scares Brandon because she seems more open to her past and the dark parts of herself. If Brandon isn’t willing or unable to confront these aspects of himself, Sissy can be really threatening and dangerous presence, I think—she could either openly talk about these things, which would push him in that direction or her presence might remind of his inability to deal with these dark parts of himself.
Also, and this is more subtle, but there might be some sort of dysfunctional, incestous thing happening here where he’s jealous that his boss is having sex with his sister (a friend of mine thought Brandon was in love with Sissy, although I don’t quite buy that reading).
I wondered if they had an incestuous relationship in the past, but I never considered if he had those feelings in the present (not that I considered seriously), but you could be right. I also don’t find that reading really compelling, though. I don’t think the details of the past are so important. What’s closer to the heart of the film is his fear and inability to confront this fear, as well as his isolation and inabilty to deal with emotions and develop intimate relationships.
I think it is the opposite of bad. I also don’t think it’s important to find out how or why Brand and Sissy are the way they are. It’s about the present and the future.
“What does his sister threaten?
She fucks his boss. Worse, she gets attached. She threatens his job.
Where does the film derive emotion?
The only true moments of dread in the film are the confrontation in the office with the woman he failed to perform for and his boss’ confrontation about his computer’s harddrive. It’s already been established that his relationship with his sister is stock cliche, as is his relationship to his addiction (and we’d all be surprised how many addicts fit incredibly well into stock cliches).
So, the film does not derive emotion from human relationships, but from Fassbender’s character’s fears about work."
True, but aside that I think his sisters also threatens him with intimacy (think of the scene in which she joins him in bed), I got the feel that he also used her affair with the boss as a pretext in order to create emotional distance. His obsession with sex allows him to not get emotionally involved in any way, and his sister attempts to crack this shell which also makes it easier for him to get hurt.
@Jazz: When talking about a “message” I basically refer to what McQueen wanted to convey about (any kind of) addiction and its social context as he stated in this interview.
@Wu
His only sin, at least as he sees, is his loss of control.
When I say the film is about sin and guilt, I mean that Brandon’s sex addition represents the demons/skeletons we all have. What his specific “sin” is isn’t so important, imo. Basically, it’s something dark and distasteful and something he’s ashamed of and that’s what’s important—at least to the reading I’m offering.
In the next scene she’s seen giggling with a co-worker. His power is taken away by his inability to control her. He takes her aside and tells her not to hurt his position. To keep her mouth shut (literally), as it were.The reaction, almost immediately, of anger and not shame; as in, “she took this from me,” not “why can’t I do this? what is wrong with me”; is the giveaway that it’s not about anonymity or emotion…
This^ scene happens right after the failed sex scene with the black co-worker? Man, I don’t remember this scene at all. But how does this prove that he’s greedy and materialistic? In his interactions, he doesn’t seem to be power hungry or status-oriented at all.
How does he react when they have sex in his apartment? He leaves. Avoids it. It’s an aggravation, to be ignored.
But how does this prove he’s power hungry or greedy? I think he’s aggravated because she’s invaded his space, and she’s able to enjoy sex. (If I recall correctly, Brandon never seems to enjoy sex in any of the scenes. In fact, he seems desperate and in pain.)
How does he react when she calls his boss? When she gets attached (by the way, sleeping with a married man with kids… is that a more “normal” relationship?), what does he do? He confronts her. He destroys her. He pushes her over the edge. And after doing so then he leaves.
He ignores the relationship (he knows the relationship is just a one-night thing), but lashes out when she interferes with his status. When she potentially hurts his connection with his boss.
This is the strongest evidence that he’s worried about his job—but not necessarily concerned with status. But, imo, he really doesn’t seem to care about status or money. What other parts in the film indicate that Brandon is greedy and status-oriented?
As for “destroying her,” I explain this by his feeling of resentment towards her ability to enjoy sex and the fact that she’s bringing this into his bed, no less. Moreover, if he does feel threatened by her (for the reasons I mentioned earlier), then this could also explain his hostility.
As for the “normal relationship,” I just mean that she can enjoy sex with someone she likes—something that Brandon doesn’t seem able to do.
But his boss eschews the sexual aspect of it, entirely (one of the first things he does is blame it on an intern). But that doesn’t change Brandon’s expression. He’s still filled with dread. Each moment more agonizing for him than the last.
See, I don’t think the boss blaming the intern would neccessarily would immediately allay all of Brandon’s fear of being discovered. The fact is, he had been caught, but he was lucky that the boss blames someone else (and does the boss really think this? He might wonder about this and maybe only later feel assured that this was the case.)
P.S. – His apartment doesn’t scream minimalism to you? It’s one of the most pretentious apartments I’ve ever seen (and I’m using the word correctly, here).
I’m not a hip on interior design, but the apartment seemed pretty plain and non-descript—not minimal in a modern, hip way. It seemed like the person living there really didn’t care much about how his place looked except for cleanliness.
“But how does this prove that he’s greedy and materialistic?”
It challenges his status. He has no control over her.
“But how does this prove he’s power hungry or greedy?”
It challenges his status. He has no control over either of them.
“This is the strongest evidence that he’s worried about his job—but not necessarily concerned with status.”
Now it’s your job to show how they’re unrelated.
“See, I don’t think the boss blaming the intern would neccessarily would immediately allay all of Brandon’s fear of being discovered.”
No, it wouldn’t (hence, why I stated that the blaming of the intern didn’t allay his fear in the least). Because even if he’s not blamed for the act, he’s responsible for it, nonetheless. Hence, his status is challenged. Or…
“It’s not the fear of being found out. It’s the fear of losing what one has acquired if they’re found out. Status.”
“I’m not a hip on interior design…”
Hence, the included links.
Here, and example of the architectural principle.
Here, a still from the film.
Apu said, True, but aside that I think his sisters also threatens him with intimacy (think of the scene in which she joins him in bed), I got the feel that he also used her affair with the boss as a pretext in order to create emotional distance. His obsession with sex allows him to not get emotionally involved in any way, and his sister attempts to crack this shell which also makes it easier for him to get hurt.
That’s a good point about using the affair as a pretext to push Sissy away—both physically (out of the apartment) and emotionally.
The other thing I wanted to add was that Sissy was suicidal—and that seemed related to her/their dark past. She also seems to really need and want her brother—to be near and close to him, partly as a way to deal with all of the pain. If that’s true, and Brandon can’t deal with emotions, intimacy and his demons, then Sissy would be really threatening to him. I also get the sense that the only way he can protect himself from Sissy is to keep her physically out of his life—that if she’s in his life, he will crack—i.e., become intimate, have to confront his demons, etc.
Me from a different thread:
“I don’t know how people could be blown away by Shame. It’s such a vague, thinly-drawn film that I’d hesitate to even call it a character study. It has almost no meat on it’s bones. It’s a half-baked idea made into a feature length film. It hardly explored sex addiction or it’s characters or their relationships in a deep or insightful way. In addition to this, it relentlessly insists on it’s own importance, but has nothing to back it up or justify the heavy-handed approach. Fassbender’s and Mulligan’s performances belonged in a much better film and honestly, they are the only two reasons to give this film a look in my opinion.”
@Wu
It challenges his status. He has no control over her.
So when you say “status,” you mean power status, not social status; likewise, “greedy” refers to power, not wealth?
Now it’s your job to show how they’re unrelated.
I assume you agree that one can be concerned about losing a job without being power hungry or status oriented, right? Moreover, I’ve offered other possible reasons for his reaction to Sissy sleeping with his boss (and Apu offered another). Finally, I see very little in the film that shows Brandon as power hungry or materialistic. He doesn’t treat people badly or condescendingly. He doesn’t dress in a flashy way, as if to impress or show-off. He’s pretty quiet and mousy—and his clothes is nice, but not flashy.
Hence, the included links.
So what made you so sure I wouldn’t be hip? :) lol
OK, I know what you’re talking about. I’m not sure if the lobby was really modern, but the apartment complex he lives in is nice, but I was mainly thinking about his actual apartment. It’s very plain—and not in the hip, modern way, if I recall correctly.
@Jazz -
“What do you think her issues are? She seems capable of intimate relationships—or at least she can deal with her emotions and darker aspects of herself and past. "
I don’t know that I would say she is capable of intimate relationships. Just because she deals with her issues in a different way from Brandon doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the same issues. You know what I mean? Let me put it another way – let’s say you have two siblings who were both molested as children. When they grow up, one of them acts out and have lots of meaningless sex and is very promiscuous. The other one is very withdrawn and is incapable of being physically close to anyone. Both of them have deep-seeded self esteem issues and can’t connect to people on an emotional level. Yet these issues manifest themselves differently – one sibling has lots of sex and the other has none. This is a completely over-simplified example but my point here is that Sissy says “We had a fucked up childhood” (or something to that effect) and that partly hints at why they are both are exhibiting destructive behavior as adults. Sissy obviously has issues and on the surface, it actually looks like Brandon is the one that has it together (he’s got a stable job, a place to live, etc.). But of course we as an audience know that everything isn’t as it appears.
“She has her problems, and I think he does care for her (but he can’t get too close); at the same time, you can resent or envy someone, just a little, for something they can do, but you can’t. That’s only natural.”
I don’t think he sees her as being able to do something that he can’t (or have something that he can’t). If anything, I got the sense that he feels bad for her and whatever issues he’s dealing with, Sissy’s are much worse and he needs to put his issues aside to help his sister. If he was resentful towards her, he wouldn’t have let her stay there. Why would he allow her to rub it in his face?
“I think there could be some of that, but don’t you think Sissy’s presence scares Brandon because she seems more open to her past and the dark parts of herself.”
I agree with this. I think this dovetails into what I was saying about how they manifest their issues. Sissy is much more upfront about her issues whereas Brandon is much more introverted, trying to hide his “shame”. Sissy doesn’t seem to give a shit that she appears to be a mess. I wonder if some of this stems from Brandon being the older sibling and feeling like he has to be a “father figure” and not show weakness. I don’t know but certainly his inability to deal with his emotions and her being pretty open to her emotions are stereotypical of men and women in general. On the surface, she seems more fucked up but the reality is that she might be able to survive her issues (assuming she can survive the suicide attempts) whereas Brandon’s repression and denial of his issues might ultimately destroy him.
“I don’t think the details of the past are so important. What’s closer to the heart of the film is his fear and inability to confront this fear, as well as his isolation and inabilty to deal with emotions and develop intimate relationships.”
I think you are right. I don’t think it matters the specifics of their backstory and I don’t think it’s about incest. I think the film is about fear and his inability to deal with his emotions and specifically develop intimate relationships with people.
“I assume you agree that one can be concerned about losing a job without being power hungry or status oriented, right?”
Not if you’re rich.
[Hence, the desire to be rich and the even more fervent desire to keep what one has when they have more than enough of it.]
“So when you say ‘status,’ you mean power status, not social status; likewise, ‘greedy’ refers to power, not wealth?”
When I say status I mean, “status.” And in the film status isn’t found in relationships, or joy. It’s found in the amount of control one exerts over someone else. Which is expressed sexually, and emotionally, through how one challenges Brandon’s position at his job.
“I’m not sure if the lobby was really modern, but the apartment complex he lives in is nice, but I was mainly thinking about his actual apartment. It’s very plain—and not in the hip, modern way, if I recall correctly.”
I’d recommend rewatching the opening of the film.
@Wu
Not if you’re rich.
Rich people may not be as concerned with losing their job as non-rich people, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care about losing their job—i.e., getting fire. There are non-economic reasons for not wanting to be fired—e.g., liking the job, not wanting to be embarrassed, etc.
When I say status I mean, “status.” And in the film status isn’t found in relationships, or joy. It’s found in the amount of control one exerts over someone else. Which is expressed sexually, and emotionally, through how one challenges Brandon’s position at his job.
So you don’t mean social status, but self-worth? a sense of importance? I don’t think Brandon’s finds that in his wealth, his job or sex. I don’t think Brandon has much status—or he doesn’t value himself very much—he seems pretty unhappy and sex or power doesn’t seem to be helping much.
I’d recommend rewatching the opening of the film.
OK, I’ll keep this mind, if I ever rewatch the film.
@Wu
I don’t see the film about being rich at all. Are you sure your perception isn’t being influenced by a personal axe you have to grind?
Rich people have a lot to worry about from losing their job too. Sure, they have more savings and can last longer before finding another, but higher end jobs are harder to get, especially if you’re fired in a disgraceful way. Yeah, he is scared of losing his status, but not in an ‘alpha male’ sort of way, and so does anybody, rich or poor.
I do see the film as being about sex addiction, as his addiction is what keeps him from forming a true emotional bond with anyone. The reason he couldn’t have sex with his coworker is that he only likes sex when it’s dirty and sinful, he can’t get into it when it’s dignified and personal. He loves his sister, but as long as she’s around and parading around casually naked in front of him he’s tempted to make advances on her, and that makes her unable to form a real bond with the only person in the world who depends on him.
He tries very hard to keep his impulses compartmentalized from what he considers the real, important part of his life, and keeps finding them bleed in, and hates his inability to control himself.
@ Jazz -
“I also get the sense that the only way he can protect himself from Sissy is to keep her physically out of his life”_
Yes. She is vocalizing, externalizing their problems. She is bringing it to the surface. He is trying to squelch it; suppress it.
“It’s very plain—and not in the hip, modern way, if I recall correctly.”
It’s also a pretty small apartment, even for NYC.
sabrina
COMMENCE