MovieChat Forums > Light in the Piazza (1962) Discussion > What abou the wedding night?

What abou the wedding night?

posted 13 years ago by deliaw1946
11 replies | jump to latest

I think we on IMDB think about things in movies beyond what we should, but that's what makes this site interesting, the discussions. Clearly, Clara wanted a baby, and she liked it when Fabrizio kissed her behind the sign (all we saw was the position of their feet)but what about later? Does she understand the concept of sex? Will she be frightened when he wants to make love to her? I had my first kiss at 12 from an older neighborhood boy and really liked it, but if had tried anything else, I would have screamed as I had only a vague notion of sex and I was of normal intelligence and wouldn't have "wanted it." I can't help but think it might ruin Clara's innocent and pure love for Fabrizio.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] EllisFowler 13 years ago

The plot pivots around the problem of Clara's sexual maturity. Her hormones, unlike her intellect, are not those of a child and that doesn't take into account the fact that she somehow seems to have become more intelligent in her new environment. And I seriously doubt that her mother would, in effect, throw her to the wolves by not explaining the facts of life to her.

[–] deliaw1946 13 years ago

Ellis, I didn't think of that. I remember I was about 12 when my mother had "the talk" with me. Another thing I wonder about when I see that movie: what was the father's reaction when the mother returned home to North Carolina? She defied him as I recall.

[–] EllisFowler 13 years ago

LOL I wondered about that myself. Fortunately, there wouldn't have been a lot he could do so one could only hope that when he went to visit he'd observe Clara's (really miraculous, when you think about it) transformation and realize Meg had made the right decision. And besides, he'd have his wife back.

Meg surely had to offer Clara some explanation when she hit puberty although under the circumstances, she might very well have waited until Clara became engaged to give her the details of the conjugal act. If you recall, Clara seemed naive when she asked Meg why she couldn't give her a baby brother.

[–] TANSD76 12 years ago

Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I don't think that just because you're not well-informed about sex you'll automatically be terrified. Fabrizio was depicted as a very caring person who understood how to adapt to Clara's behavior. I like to think that he would have been able to guide her through the experience and that she wouldn't have panicked. It isn't like she's repulsed by him or freaks out when he kisses her.

[–] EllisFowler 12 years ago

That's an excellent point. And we know she's sexually mature, it's a major source of anxiety for her parents. There's really no reason to believe that it she wouldn't have a wonderful conjugal relationship with Fabrizio.

[–] bron-tay 11 years ago

Clara supposedly has the intelligence of a 10-year-old. I think I was 10 when I found out about sex, and not only did it horrify me, it seemed alien and incomprehensible. This movie is just telling a flat-out lie with that happy ending.

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[–] EllisFowler 11 years ago

My guess is you found it horrifying, alien and incomprehensible because you also had the hormones of a 10 year-old. That's not the case here. She's sexually mature WOMAN (remember those scenes where she looks sadly and longingly at couples on the street?) who has made her parents frantic by having physically come on to a young man (hence the trip abroad), and has subsequently fallen in love with and married someone who adores her and will initiate her gently. In addition, part of her mother's hoped-for "miracle," made more explicit in the novella, is that during the process of absorbing a second language and different culture in her new environment, Clara seems to become more normal, more intelligent, and more adult, e.g. her poignant observation that Fabrizio won't be interested in Alcott.

[–] millephoenix 10 years ago

I thought there were two instances in the film that suggested how well suited the two were snd, carrying this forward they would be ok in terms of the, ahem,marital relstionship.

First, at the very beginning when George Hamilton's character chases Yvette's hat he kicks it along to keep it just beyond his reach. She and he both laugh in a child-like manner.

Second, at the emd when she eats the confection after the wedding and he follows suit. It is very gentle and tender. Fabrizio will be considerate, tender and gentle with Clara.

[–] shanehaynes 10 years ago

I think the scene at the beginning of the film when they were swimming and Clara is so happy she starts laughing uncontrollably and her mom panics saying "she's too excited, she'll be crying in a second" and gets up to go calms her down but before she can move, Fabrizio does an execellent job calming Clara by simply stroking her face and hair could be used as a substitute for sex. I imagine that is how any nervousness on their wedding night will be handled.