MovieChat Forums > An Unmarried Woman (1978) Discussion > Saul + Erica (spoiler)

Saul + Erica (spoiler)

posted 11 years ago by rrb
10 replies | jump to latest

I never took Erica's refusal to spend the summer with Saul at his Vermont place as her breaking off the relationship. I took it to mean only that they'd be separated for or 3-4 months, but the relationship would continue. She also said she expected to spend time with him while he was away; and Saul certainly could've come back to spend time with her during that period.

So I was surprised when both Mazursky and Clayburgh said in the DVD commentary that she broke with him. I never took the ending to mean that; only that she was not going to order her life around her relationship.

[–] ciocio-2 11 years ago

I very strongly agree. I'll have to get a copy and watch w. the commentary. That would be so wrong, if it were clear she'd really broken up with him. To me, the big point is that she has so much possibility now, and she's going to relish really living and growing on her own terms, not just jumping into accommodating a man to the detriment of her own needs and ideas. She'll visit him up there, he'll visit her in NYC, and maybe they'll become a deeply committed couple. And he's not an a**hole, so he understands and supports that, as much as he really wants her to come up there with him now. I love the end of this movie.

Multiplex: 100+ shows a day, NONE worth watching. John Sayles' latest: NO distribution. SAD.

[–] rrb 11 years ago

A comrade - hurrah!

Sounds like you got as much from this film as I did. I love this movie - for itself, and for the woman who played her therapist, Penelope Russianoff, who was a very close friend of mine.

[–] artistathome 10 years ago

It was obvious to me that the relationship had ended when she said no to going to Vermont. It was for such a long time and seriously if you don't see a new boyfriend for 2-4 months, that relationship will be over.

Plus he gave her that painting he'd been working on as a parting gift. I think the chance of her going back with her husband was as possible as anything else in the 70s.
She knew she won her freedom and self respect when he said he wanted to come home. If she thought her relationship with Saul had a chance she'd have gone.

I think she wanted to do her job, live alone and explore her new relationships with other men and maybe even the ex.

[–] rrb 10 years ago

You'd leave a good relationship with a great guy b/c he's away for the summer - and you're planning on visiting him? Wow...okay.

[–] IcySpoon 11 years ago

I adore this movie. I grew up outside the city and for many years enjoyed the film mostly because I love and miss the whole 1970's New York/Soho vibe. As I've grown older I've began to identify more closely with Erica and the film has taken on a deeper meaning. I re-watched the film on cable at 2 a.m. the other morning and hopped on IMDB to see what other women think of the film. (To me this is a film for woman-I don't think many men can really appreciate it.)
I've always wondered if there was some meaning behind Erica's staggering around the street -under the weight of Saul's painting. I assumed that Erica's decision to stay in the city showed her growth as a woman -following her dreams and doing what she needed to vs impulsively following Saul to Vermont to support his dreams. I thought they would stay a couple-most likely taking turns visiting each other.

[–] first-things-first 11 years ago

From memory, I thought they broke up. But watching it now, I feel they remain a couple.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] roreyking (598) 4 years ago

Sorry you see men as so limited that most wouldn't appreciate the story. I loved it and have rewatched it often.

[–] Druff (1796) 8 months ago

To me it seemed unstated yet fairly obvious that her not going to Vermont was essentially a deal breaker. I thought it was clear that he had no intention of simply waiting around to be with her again and being unfulfilled in the mean time. He loved her, he wanted her, he needed her, but being without her for so long wasn't something he was willing to endure. She seemed to understand that and accept it and was already determined to keep looking for the right guy. They hadn't been together long enough to form much of a bond, and they were both well adjusted adults more or less, so there was no need for melodrama or hysterics; neither of them was 'happy' about they outcome, all they could do was get on with their lives. Again, none of this is stated outright in the script, it's just my personal take. But to me it was obvious in their acting performances, which were just top fucking notch. The tones in their voices, the looks in their eyes. They told me everything I needed to know about what was going on between them.

[–] mechajutaro (2788) 8 months ago

Can't fault for being less than hyped to reside in Bernie Sanders land

[–] Druff (1796) 8 months ago

I can smell Trump's cum and shit on your breath from here.