MovieChat Forums > The Great Santini (1979) Discussion > For A Closer Look at 'Santini'

For A Closer Look at 'Santini'

posted 11 years ago by zolazona
4 replies | jump to latest

After reading some of the comments here about this movie, I felt some of them seem to "forgive" Conroy's father or find him to be just a rough-tough military man with a heart. Try reading:"The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son" which is a memoir written by Pat Conroy. Or Google the book on Amazon(or elsewhere) to read a synopsis

Yes, father and son reconciled somewhat after he wrote "The Great Santini" and they grew closer but...the dysfunctions of the Pat Conroy family in later adult life were a direct result of the father's brutality and cruelty towards his children growing up (which he claimed never happened...ever). I don't think anyone could call it a reconciliation in any true sense of the word because of this denial and/or denials.
His mother didn't help matters either

It is a harrowing tale. The movie and first book glossed over the truth. (There were no flowers sent to the daughter's graduation. In fact, neither parent attended it) Or maybe it was the wedding. I don't remember all the details

[–] eddie_willers 11 years ago

I just finished the book and came away thinking that Don "The Great Santini" Conroy was the sanest of the bunch.

I no longer believe most of what Pat wrote.

[–] zolazona 11 years ago

Did you read the memoir?

[–] eddie_willers 11 years ago

As I said (but wasn't clear enough) I just finished The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son as you did.

The difference is that you are swallowing what Pat wrote, while I am questioning his accounts.

There was a line in Justified this year where Rayland says:

"If you meet an ash-hole in the morning, well you met an ash-hole. If you meet ash-holes all day, you're the ash-hole.

Methinks Pat is an ash-hole.

(On edit I had to spell Rayland's comment a little different to pass the auto-censors on IMDb)

[–] zolazona 11 years ago

I didn't swallow everything he wrote, especially his defense of his mother and her shenanigans in regards to the sisters in the family, but if you read any of the accounts offered by the brothers, there seems to be enough proof that the father was a terrible father and husband.

Who/What/Where, etc. proof do you have that his "accounts" are ash-holy?