MovieChat Forums > Sling Blade (1997) Discussion > What year was this?

What year was this?

posted 9 years ago by Psilio
3 replies | jump to latest

I understand that this a movie set back in time some? I'm from Norway and persons behaving like this would never be 'released' if that's what it's called.

No new shoes, no clothes? He would be taken to a very good home in Norway. Or so I'd like to believe, but I just don't know anymore after watching this. "Taken to a home" makes no sense... He was at home. He wanted to go back to that horrible home immediately. 3 meals a day, a soft bed. More than most people in the world gets...

Now I just felt too sad for him when he was released and had no where to go. Does that really happen in the US? Do they release prisoners or especially others out into the 'wild' with no back-up system?

It kind of makes the USA look like a 3rd world country, to be frank.

I understand it's just a movie, it's 20 years old, and the answer is probably not, but I just had to ask.

[–] PenTheater 9 years ago

Yes it happens.

Well, I don't have any experience with anyone in the jail system in the U.S.
But I do suspect this, This county has locked up more people than any time in history before and they, most of them have to get out sooner or later, and it certainly can't be pretty over all, sure there will be a percentage of rehabs, but my guess, very small percent. Hell for people NOT in jail, even high school completion figures are tragic. It might not be a 3rd world, but it's going ot need some kind of name.
And as far as metal hospitals, they cleared most of them in the 70's, they just send folks into the world on meds.

Ephemeron.

[–] Psilio 9 years ago

Thank you for replying.

And yes I understand that 'prisoners' are released into the 'open'.

This guy however had been in confinement since he was a child, and he was mentally challenged (sorry i don't know the correct English term). When he was released he should have gone to a center for such people where he would be taken care of, but was still free.

It just seemed so harsh to give him a few bucks and let him out with no where to go.

But again, this was probably intentioned by the writer. It would be a boring story if he was sent from one institution to another I guess :)

There is a similar book series/movies in Norway (called Elling) where he is released from a home and sent out into the world with his own apartment, but he's being very well followed up by professionals. Very funny movies, btw... :) I think one of the movies is being picked up by Hollywood producers.

Cheers!

What we do in life echoes in eternity Russell Crowe as General Maximus in Gladiator (2000)

[–] uglyitab 9 years ago

Yes, that's exactly how we do it here, and yes, it's very third-world and almost a guarantee of failure.

By the way, your English is outstanding! Nobody would guess yoy weren't born and raised here.
And mentally challenged is the correct term at this time, but we have a strange way of even completely neutral (not stereotyping or insulting) terms that we were hammered to use, evolving into being considered offensive.

So never worry or feel bad if your intent is good!