MovieChat Forums > Abre los ojos (1997) Discussion > So message is ''only appearance matters'...

So message is ''only appearance matters''?

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

As soon as he loses his handsome face, Sofia runs away and his best friend almost looks down at him while he admired him at first.
Cesar kills himself because he can't live with his damaged face. His only salvation comes from a possible cure in the future. He never accepts his damaged face. It makes it look as though people who are disfigured or physically damaged have no other choice but to watch their failure of commit suicide.

I'm not criticizing because people's reactions are very authentic and credible.
Still, this is a very sad view.

[–] Stratego 9 years ago

I'm pretty sure that's not the message. The movie rather seems to be saying that reality is better tha fantasy. Perhaps his face was a turn-off for Sofia, but she and his best friend were more turned off by his attitude and his unwillingness to accept reality. Even before his accident he was living in a fantasy, that's why he feels like he has no choice but to end his life.

[–] Jolimie 9 years ago

You have a point as to reality vs fantasy.
But I can't think of many people who'd be able to accept what happened to Ceasar. Sofia looked ill at ease and schoked from the very beginning. Pelayo, who once was so admiring takes distance, fair enough somehow because when he was the admirer Ceasar wasn't paying much attention to him.

Accepting reality would be rather for Ceasar to accept that all he had came from his good looks. When he jumps from the building, he decides in a metaphorical way to go beyond appearances and illusions.

[–] Stratego 9 years ago

But I can't think of many people who'd be able to accept what happened to Ceasar.

I disagree, I think most people would accept what happened to their friend and try to stand by them.

Sofia looked ill at ease and schoked from the very beginning. Pelayo, who once was so admiring takes distance, fair enough somehow because when he was the admirer Ceasar wasn't paying much attention to him.

I don't think they were as shallow as Cesar was. It may be true that Sofia was not romantically interested in him anymore, but what turned them off was his behavior, especially that night at the club.

Accepting reality would be rather for Ceasar to accept that all he had came from his good looks. When he jumps from the building, he decides in a metaphorical way to go beyond appearances and illusions.

Well yeah, that's what I was saying.