MovieChat Forums > In My Father's Den (2004) Discussion > Confused about Celia's mother

Confused about Celia's mother

posted 9 years ago by henrimaine
2 replies | jump to latest

In a movie full of confusing characters, the most confusing to me was Jackie (Celia's mother and Paul's girlfriend), while she was young. What was the deal with this girl? On the one hand, she was supposed to be this rebel punk girl who wanted to become a new Patti Smith. On the other hand, she was having sex with her boyfriend and his father at the same time. How does that all fit together? Perhaps her character would have been more real if the father had raped her (which it seems, he didn't do). Or if Paul had left and Jackie had only then started sleeping with the father (out of revenge). Anyway, the movie could have done some more explaining as to how such a situation could arise. But that doesn't change the fact that it is one powerful movie.

[–] Jameron 9 years ago

"On the one hand, she was supposed to be this rebel punk girl who wanted to become a new Patti Smith. On the other hand, she was having sex with her boyfriend and his father at the same time" - henrimaine

I really don't see how these two things are mutually exclusive, or maybe there's something about the Patti Smith connection I'm missing. I think she only had sex with Paul's father (Jeff) that one time that they were discovered, or at least it wasn't implied that it was a regular event.

"Or if Paul had left and Jackie had only then started sleeping with the father (out of revenge)." - henrimaine

In a way Paul sort of did leave her, or at least distanced himself from her a little when he told her she couldn't have all of him, some things he wouldn't share with her. So there might have been a little bit of revenge in Jackie's actions although I think she was more enamoured by Jeff's liberal attitude in what seemed a conservative town (socially liberal and conservative, not politically).

"Anyway, the movie could have done some more explaining as to how such a situation could arise." - henrimaine

I don't think that is necessary, it's the backdrop from which the film evolves. Too much hand holding just distracts from the narrative of the film.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] looper007 (1158) 8 months ago

My opinion on Jackie.

I never felt Paul was as in love with Jackie as she was with him, he liked her but she wasn't ever going to the one. The moment he mentioned he couldn't give her all of himself, she knew he was always going to leave her behind. I always felt that she had a crush on Paul's dad so it didn't take much pushing for her to sleep with him, and along with giving Paul the middle finger too. So she got the best of both worlds. She was a dumb teenager.

I have issues with Jackie stuff in the film, mostly it doesn't seem to be any anger or uneasiness from Paul around Jackie for betraying him that badly by sleeping with his bloody father. It doesn't seem like that would be the case in real life. Although it might be true what Andrew said,that he held that memory of his father sleeping with Jackie down so low that he's really just chose to ignore it happened.

I did like the stuff of Jackie trying to relive her youthful romance with Paul. Heartbreaking seen stuff she holds dear to her heart about their relationship and Paul not remembering pretty much anything from that time. The scene when he doesn't remember their fake band name and look of disappointment in her face, it does break your heart. Paul's never rude towards her or dismissive, he's caring towards her in pub scene and at the end. I think he doesn't sexually see anything with her.