MovieChat Forums > Nell (1994) Discussion > Why is May's body unravaged by animals?

Why is May's body unravaged by animals?

posted 12 years ago by Oakface
4 replies | jump to latest

Her body was lain in a rocky cove, and I cannot tell, but perhaps behind or next to a waterfall. But any animal would've smelled her dead body for miles and come to feast.

I can only think Violet build some stone wall or something until the skeleton was bare, and it was later removed??

although it's also possible that part of the forest/country had no scavenger animals. as May and Nell did run free in the forest for their early years, unafraid. Still...

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

Yes it's pretty odd, but there are a number of undiscussed topics in the movie.

How did Nell's family get by out there in the woods any way?

If they ordered in groceries over the years, as the opening scenes suggest, surely someone would have known something about the twins.

If they didn't the movie conveniently ignores how Nell wold be expected to survive and what sort of hunting/food gathering skills she possesses.

Surely things like this need to be discussed when the authorities are deciding whether to institutionalize her for her own "safety", and not just language acquisition.

[–] Oakface 11 years ago

I think Violet has just been LUCKY that someone is willing to truck out to her cabin at least once a month all of these years. If anyone in that town suddenly decided it was too tiresome, she'd be *beep* out of luck, with kids! Before there were dirt bikes, who was delivering supply to her for 30 years? We know the cabin is too far away for a walk to town.

Yeah, the movie waves a lot of questions by asking you to just believe in Nell and Violet's wisdom and ability as mountain women. It shows or implies a lot of survival skills, like the loom and hanging herbs, but also a reliance on other people, like buying candles and matches. And speaking of these, the whole cabin is a dry, fire hazard. One can imagine Nell lighting a candle one day and then skipping off to the lake for some splash and giggles and the whole thing burning to the ground.

[–] Molly-31 11 years ago

Violet came into town once or twice a year herself according to Jerry and Todd at the beginning. Someone must have given her a lift. It could even have been someone from her old church. She wasn't as isolated from people as she appeared.

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