Does this movie insult anyone else? - Nell (1994) Discussion

[–] soumise 19 years ago

While I can understand your feeling, the movie is obviously portraying a unique situation and therefore can't really be said to "represent" (or misrepresent) any general population. I can't see how anyone would extrapolate from "Nell" to "all of [the people] living in Western North Carolina."

***Begin rant***

As far as the question of "insult" goes, I really think this whole thing of someone or other constantly feeling insulted by some characterization in a film or book or on TV or whatever has gotten so out of hand in this country that it's become ridiculous. It's this sort of thing that's turned "being PC" into a joke, as it's becoming more and more difficult to say anything without running the risk of offending someone.

Life is what it is, and film, written fiction, and television shows present one way of looking at some small portion of the whole parade. Can't we all just stop taking things so personally?

***End rant***

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[–] kilgore2345 19 years ago

As far as the question of "insult" goes, I really think this whole thing of someone or other constantly feeling insulted by some characterization in a film or book or on TV or whatever has gotten so out of hand in this country that it's become ridiculous. It's this sort of thing that's turned "being PC" into a joke, as it's becoming more and more difficult to say anything without running the risk of offending someone.

I am in complete agreement with you.

I never had an opinion nor a stereotype for people in Western North Carolina...Does this area have a lot significance that would cause people to form stereotypes?

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[–] Sharon_G 19 years ago

The characters from Nell's town (as well as the characters from Charlotte, where I've spent my entire life) had a mix of the good, the bad, and the in-between. I think they're a reasonable representation of the general population in the US... a Southern accent and a pick-up truck are not prerequisites to be a redneck-- those are just accessories. ;)

The irony of your complaint is that Nell, the most ignorant (not to be confused with "stupid") of all of the characters is also the most inspiring with her simple, childlike views of life and love.

I've spent a lot of time in the mountains of NC-- there ARE some very isolated places, but the views are breathtaking and the lifestyles are relatively relaxed. You're awfully fortunate to be insulted by a movie that powerfully demonstrates such innocence and beauty in its main "backwoods" character.

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[–] trekkinchick 18 years ago

Haha. I like the accessories comment. I just came back from a tour in AR, OK, TX, KS, and MO. And I'd say that are larger percentage there have trucks and an accent.

I was not offended by the movie, but people do stereotype, I understand. I lived in Raleigh NC for the summer and we did travel to the west part of NC and I really liked it and don't have that steretype for NC. It was so beautiful there. If someone wants to stereotype, well then, they are in the wrong state.

Anyway, sorry you are offended.

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[–] jporter-6 17 years ago

"The irony of your complaint is that Nell, the most ignorant (not to be confused with "stupid") of all of the characters is also the most inspiring with her simple, childlike views of life and love."

I don't want to start a fight here, but I do want to disagree that
Nell is ignorant. If you will listen to her address the court--including
Liam Neeson's translation--you will hear amazing wisdom and observation.
Else, how would she know she lives a small life and others live a large
life? I don't believe that is simple or childlike. And the fact that
Nell somehow understands the sheriff's wife is likely not mystical.

Nell picks up on something that she sees, knows and understands. No one
else in the movie quite understood the wife like that. There is something
inside of Nell that causes her to reach out when others, except the sheriff,
turned and fled both physically and emotionally. Nell went to her despite
the fear of others.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Ten-Inch-Toni 11 years ago

The word "ignorant" gets a bad rap, just as "retarded" does. When used correctly, the word "ignorant" simply means, lacks formal education.

That's why the poster wrote specifically not to confuse "ignorant" with "stupid".

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[–] raskdog 15 years ago

Get over it. Don't take things so seriously. I'm an Aussie. Do you think people really think that all Aussies are like Crocodile Dundee?

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[–] SpiltPersonality 15 years ago

Mate, I gotta tell you, after living away from Australia for quite some time, when I heard my first Aussie accent it sounded so 'strine' that I thought they were from one of the one million acre properties in the NT. It wasn't them thought, it was ALL Aussies until I adjusted back to hearing the tongue. I think everyone in Australia must seem like Crocodile Dundee

SpiltPersonality

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[–] AlexanderSupertramp 14 years ago

I hope you're all like crocodile dundee.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Ten-Inch-Toni 11 years ago

I've only had the good fortune to meet two Aussie's in my life time.
And, yes, they did sound quite a bit like Crocodile Dundee to me; although they did lack alot of his more colorful words and phrases.

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[–] osopestoso 13 years ago

Being PC was ALWAYS a pitiful joke.

"They sucked his brains out!"

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] lolatheguin 11 years ago

*Applause*

Great "rant". I couldn't have said it better myself. It seems that the OP missed the point of the movie. Nell was the ONLY backwoods, undiscovered person in the film. Paula and Jerry both lived in N. Carolina and were trying to help Nell. The sheriff and his wife were sweet people. Everyone was good and cared for Nell except the doctor at the hospital (who seemed/sounded like a New Yorker) and the nasty guys at the pool hall. If art were to cater to EVERYONE'S sensibilities we would be heavily restricted and suppressed. We'd miss out on a lot of great things, like "Nell". The point of the whole thing was that we in the modern world, no matter where we're from, have a lot to learn from Nell's simplicity.

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[–] zjac55 19 years ago

First off, how do you know that someone doesnt live alone in the woods and act like Nell? Surely you haven't met everyone. And if they are living alone that might just be because they want to be alone.

No one is insulting you. Stop being insulted. People getting so insulted all the time is why there are so many lawsuits and why censorship laws are the way they are. People are using their freedom of speach. This movie is not about you. It's about Nell.

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[–] emjoled07 19 years ago

Okay I guess because I didn't just pick this movie up at Blockbuster or ran into it on HBO it's a little bit different for me. I have Sociology and we studied feral children and then watched Nell. Nell is one of the least sad cases of feral children I've heard because she still had her mothers nurture. But since this did take place in the 70's (i believe i may be wrong) and Nells mother was a Christian woman, when she had a child out of wedlock (she was raped) she became a hermit and kept her children in isolation. The mother had a stroke that paralyzed her left side causing her to only be able to speak with ones side of her mouth. That explains the way Nell talked and then it was mixed in with the "twin speech." It is not meant to offend people from North Carolina & Nell realy did live there. They didn't portray it in a way that they made everyone look like a bunch of ignorant hicks. They were telling the story of a feral child and thats it.

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[–] ProwlinPouncer4 19 years ago

. But since this did take place in the 70's (i believe i may be wrong) and Nells mother was a Christian woman, when she had a child out of wedlock (she was raped) she became a hermit and kept her children in isolation.

Pardon me if I am mistaken but I have looked for countless countless hours and can find nothing showing that this is taken from a true accounts of a farrel child/woman named Nell Please direct me if you know of such a site.

and if you dont then i can only assume that you made up this whole post and have wasted everyones time.....

to the one who started this crap.... ITS A MOVIE MOVIE MOVIE noone forces you to watch it.... I am offended by my tax dollars providing free education to idiots like you that take everything to the extreme whoops does my opinion offend you well to friggin bad you get it anyway.... I am also offended by Rap music but you dont see me going to virgin mega stores buying rap cd's so i can go on a site and post about how much it offends me... and if its on tv THATS WHAT A REMOTE IS MADE FOR change the channel and your no longer being offended.....

as was once said.... You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can NEVER please ALL of the people ALL of the time... today is not your day to be pleased.... tomorrow doesnt look good either.....

HAVE A NICE DAY :) I HAVE SAID MY PIECE :)

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[–] sandra_potgieter 19 years ago

That being said - what are the odds that such a feral child has such a profound insight into the normal 'human condition' that she can sway a whole courtroom? Thats the part I found insulting, it may be just a movie, but really, give the moviegoers some credit!

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[–] Molly-31 18 years ago

"what are the odds that such a feral child has such a profound insight into the normal 'human condition' that she can sway a whole courtroom?"

Nell was not feral. This was a mistake that Dr. Lovell made in the beginning, but looking up articles on "wild children", he found that Nell simply didn't fit. He ended up by saying "She is not a wild child". Nell was raised by a loving mother and had a sister with whom she constantly interacted. Then she had Jerry and Paula for further examples of how people were or could be, the sheriff's wife, and then the examples in the town. That's what she was observing.

Anyway, it wasn't the whole courtroom that needed swaying; it was the judge, and probably all he was observing was the fact that Nell could think and speak for herself (translated, but it was pretty clear what she was saying given her expressions, body language, and the colloquialisms such as "achin' after" for craving, which the judge had likely heard from older people).

In the original script, Nell was specifically asked if she wanted to return to Dr. Paley's lab to be educated in modern ways ("you have many things to learn") and she said "Nay." I think they should have left this in.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] SickBoy76 19 years ago

I live in the piedmont of North Carolina & I know we have a plethora of "Nell's" walkin' around these parts...

"I want everyone to be as miserable as me; that is what makes me happy." - Howard Stern

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[–] joeestlinbm 19 years ago

I live in the Ozarks of Arkansas, and am pretty much of a hillbilly.
I enjoyed the movie, but I don't believe there are any folks like Nell wandering around in the woods here or anywhere else. It would be ridiculous to think so.

Flowers is purdy....I've always thought that

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[–] 2mch2do 19 years ago

Well, I'm from So Cal, so I guess Bay Watch, 90210, Laguna Beach, Earthquake and countless other Hollywood interpretations of life here should insult me, but they don't. It's called entertainment because it's not real. In my humble opinion, iff you're insulted, you're too sensitive and you're choosing to be insulted.

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[–] AdventurePatch 19 years ago

it wasnt intended to offend people. it was another movie in hollywood. in my opinion, its one of the best. i think it may have been a true story, and if not, there probably have been some cases like that one. and the north carolina thing, it really doesnt matter where the movie was set. i live in NC, and there are some "redneck" people, like the wierd guys in the town, but there are sooo many smart people, like the scientist guy (cant remember his name). people shouldnt read too far into it. ha

WAR A LAR (word of the lord)

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] ipokebadgerswithsticks 19 years ago

And nobody has called Social Services?

Peace, Love, and Chocolate Monkeys,
~*Voldy*~

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[–] ballerinasl 18 years ago

That comment completely defies the morals of this movie, you have watched it haven't you?

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[–] Molly-31 17 years ago

Why should they? If she's like Nell, she is a mature person and can take care of herself.

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[–] Devans00 19 years ago

I have never lived in North Carolina and I took the portrayal of the small town people, like the delivery boy and his idiot friends, as 100% accurate.

<<just kidding>>

Seriously, I thought Nell's land by the lake was absolutely gorgeous. If I could have a modern house with modern conveniences, including satellite TV & Internet, I'd live there in a hot second.

The biggest negative was the fact that any creep could slip in and out without detection. That part is too close to I Spit on Your Grave (1978) for me.

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[–] basebklyn1 19 years ago

If you don't understand art (film art, film artistry, etc.), then you are truly
a "hick" as you would put it. Jodie Foster's "portrayal" of Nell is simply
awe inspiring! It portrays love at its highest and most noble form. If backwoods folk are this noble they are far from being "hicks". No, don't be insulted, be inspired.

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[–] basebklyn1 19 years ago

If you don't understand art (film art, film artistry) then you may truly be a "hick". Jodie Foster's "portrayal" of Nell is awe inspiring. This film portrays love at its highest and noblest state. Insulted, no. Inspired, definitely!

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[–] AdventurePatch 19 years ago

I absolutely agree. it was so different than most foster roles. i found it truely inspiring for someone to do something like that.

GI-INJA SPE WAR A LAR (guardian angel speak the word of the lord)

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[–] 19 years ago

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