MovieChat Forums > In My Father's Den (2004) Discussion > I always seem to be asking questions abo...

I always seem to be asking questions about sex but . . .

posted 20 years ago by GeorgieGirl-1
9 replies | jump to latest

. . . what was the relevance of the autoeroticism within the movie? It was a little difficult to see what was going on but it appeared that she wanted him to kiss her and instead he reached for a belt and tightened it around his neck. Now, I know that one of the themes within the movie was his inability to get close to anyone, but it seemed an excessive manner in which to portray this to an audience.

Was there any link to something else within the film that could help to explain why he practiced this? To me it stood on it's own as awkward and unconnected to the rest of the movie. Was it in the book?

[–] zoereynolds 20 years ago

I read an interview with brad McGann that said this was researched and Paul feared intimacy with others and the most intimate thing you can do is have sex, so he had to go into auto eroticism as a way of avoiding that intimacy! Thats what he said I didn't say it made sense!!!

[–] GeorgieGirl-1 20 years ago

Really? It was my thought that this is what the act intended but it just seemed so extreme. I don't know what McGann's research was but I would have thought this particular form of sex required absolute privacy or someone with whom you felt very comfortable. Hell, he could have just said told the girl he didn't like kissing and this would have indicated his struggle with intimacy in a less shocking manner.

[–] valens-1 20 years ago

'sigh' the point is he doesn't care about any one else, sure he's a war photographer, but that means he can leave, he doesn't care about the women at all as they are rooting, which is why he doesn't care about doing something so personal in front of her, meet the director, a real nice guy, what a good film
'bush in babylon'

[–] magicqenny 20 years ago

I first saw a preview screening of this movie a few months before it opened in NZ. I said to Brad afterwards that I thought the autoerotic scene was unnecessary, almost to the point of being out of place. However, I know it's a scene that he has had to defend a lot, and does so with some passion.

[–] jesstherese 20 years ago

I thought it showed that Paul had some dark habits, like everyone does, but that doesn't mean he was a sinister person. While he gained my sympathy early on, when he comes under so much suspicion I couldn't help but wonder.

[–] sjwhiteaker 20 years ago

While this scene shocked me a little too, once everything adds up with his repressed memory of finding his father and Jax together and his mother's suicide, it becomes more understandable. He is trying everything to numb this unaddressed pain. He has also been exposed to the horrors of war, which can squew your mind! As someone else said, kissing is an incredibly intimate act, much more so than sex (prostitues never kiss a client). he obviously had no interest in this woman other than sex, his distaste was evident when she first approaches him in the bar.

As for his relationship with Celia, he showed no interest in her either, until he started to suspect she was his daughter, then he was amazed at how similar they were.

[–] beadier 20 years ago

Was she his daughter? I thought his father was her father too.
Sorry but the way those people speak english is not at all easy to understand for a foreigner.

[–] MMacKK 20 years ago

They're half-siblings, brother & sister.

Mark- "I'm okay with being unimpressive. I sleep better."- Garden State

[–] beadier 20 years ago

Glad that I understood it correctly then. Well, in that case (now that I'm sure that they are siblings), the relationship that developed between them was great to watch. And that last scene was just neat... bitter sweet... the perfect ending.