Car salesman... gay?


Does anyone know the reason for this charater being in this film. I am not a homophobe, but I think there seemed to be a little gay theme going on there between him and segundo. Any comments?

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One doesn't have to be a homophobe or a repressed homosexual to perceive some homoeroticism in the interaction between Secondo and the car salesman.

The salesman begins his pitch by saying to Secondo, "A good-looking guy like you should have a good-looking car." This could equally either be a salesman's flattery or a come-on -- both at the same time. Maybe the salesman is bisexual (has two kids, leaves with two girls at the end), and he suspects/wishes Secondo is gay.

The salesman is shown several times reaching out as if to put his hand around Secondo. When it comes down to it salesmanship and flirting are about seduction, and everyone is entitled to their own perception.

Pascal at the end asks Secondo what he is (since he can't seem to decide whether to be a chef or a businessman). Secondo doesn't seem to want to choose between the Rosselini and Driver characters. Ambivalence is his middle name. The homoeroticism of his interaction with the car salesman may just be adding another layer of ambivalence to his character.

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I didn't get anything askew. He's a salesman. That's how they work.

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I guess Secundo was probably a latent homosexual. He only had a girlfriend and a lover in the movie to throw the "straight" viewers off ...

JAYSUS!

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Not so much gay, as professionally seductive. It's what he does to keep the fish on the hook long enough to make a sale. (Same as Ricky Roma in "Glengarry Glen Ross".) If you watch the character carefully in this movie, he's constantly selling. Even during the party and feast, he's taking Pascal out for a test drive, and passing out cards and brochures about financing to anyone who will listen. Scott must have had a lot of fun writing this part for himself.

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OP, just come out of the closet, you're the only one who's gay and doesn't know it. There wasn't anything going on between the salesman and Secondo.

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Oh my goodness, this is truly too funny for words!

C'mon people, do your HOMEWORK! The guy who played Bob, the car salesman, was none other than CAMPBELL SCOTT! Who also co-produced the movie with Stanley.

While both actors, are straightly happily married to women, have quite a repertoire of playing gay. Campbell in Longtime Companion, and Tucci in Devil Wears Prada (at least).

Yes, I thought there was something sparking between Bob and Segundo, but and this is a big but, I can't imagine them both being near each other without something sparking between Campbell and Stanley.

Sometimes, art also mirrors life.

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[deleted]

I didn't get that at all. He was certainly pushy; no doubt about that...but I don't think he was coming on to Secondo or anything. Thankfully. That would have been a pointless, unwelcome addition to the film in my opinion. Totally irrelevant to the plot.

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He was a salesman, trying to make a sale, period. Maybe he was being a little too pushy, but that's how salesmen are sometimes, especially if they haven't made a sale in awhile I suppose.

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[deleted]

If he was gay what was he doing driving away with not one, but two women in his car?

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.

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