MovieChat Forums > To the Wonder (2013) Discussion > Infuriating on way too many levels to en...

Infuriating on way too many levels to enjoy in any way.

posted 11 years ago by MongoLloyd
8 replies | jump to latest

Let see... dream man whisks French lady and her child off to America, BUT child decides it's not for her so dream couple break up and mommy moves back to France with child.

(Really!?!?! Who in their right mind would allow a child to instigate that kind of thing to happen???)

Child decides she wants to live with her father after all, which then leaves French lady free to return to America and resume relationship with dream man.

("Oh, what's that..? Your kid says it's OK for you to come back to me? OK, sure, why not. Seems like a safe bet.")

Oh, but dream man has to break off budding romance with former fragile girl-friend before French lady returns.

(And this is all precipitated by the child's whims.)

French lady returns to dream man in America but then eventually also decides - it's not for her, so she cheats with some low-life.

(After running into the guy ONCE. OK.)

Dream man initiates divorce from French lady which then leaves her free to twirl about in some nebulous countryside unhindered.

(Seems like she made some really great choices, especially in allowing her child to muck everything up for everyone.)

.

[–] kduffy-8 11 years ago

When I watched this with three other people, all of them were infuriated during the run time of this movie.
However, none of them could agree on why.
The child seemed more grounded in reality than her mother- but I will say that my initial take on the film (that it was the slow realization of what's left if you have nothing in common after the fuel of lust and excitement finally burns out) was ripped to shreds by my companions.

Turns out I'm too stupid to fully grasp the deep running themes and undercurrents of this complex cinematic masterpiece..

[–] MongoLloyd 11 years ago

The child seemed more grounded in reality than her mother-

Maybe, maybe not. In between wispy whispers, the kid was heard suggesting that they all run back to America so he could be her step father (from what I remember). What gets me is the mother allowed her child to have WAY too much influence on their lives. You don't like it? Too bad. You'll just have to get used to it.

but I will say that my initial take on the film (that it was the slow realization of what's left if you have nothing in common after the fuel of lust and excitement finally burns out) was ripped to shreds by my companions.

I would buy that, absolutely. What better take could one have on the story? That's ALL it was. Everything was super-awesome when they were playing around, but after the initial rush gave way to routine and habit, it turned into something else. But of course, nobody wants to face the reality of it all, so yeah, you're - "too stupid to fully grasp the deep running themes and undercurrents of this complex cinematic masterpiece.." You and me, both.

.

[–] PsychoDingo 11 years ago

have you considered the possibility that the mother wasn't letting the child run the show, but simply happened to agree with some of the ideas expressed via the child's dialog?

They'll hang you as sure as 10 dimes will buy a dollar

[–] MongoLloyd 11 years ago

I missed the flirting (go figure) but it sure seemed like he was committed to making it work. He seemed to put up with a lot of sh!t after the idiot daughter left and things things went down hill. I mean, SHE was the one who ultimately cheated.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] intotrance 11 years ago

Let see... dream man whisks French lady and her child off to America, BUT child decides it's not for her so dream couple break up and mommy moves back to France with child.

(Really!?!?! Who in their right mind would allow a child to instigate that kind of thing to happen???)

My interpretation of this was that the daughter was the medium for expressing what Marina and Neil both knew, but maybe couldn't admit to themselves or to each other: that the relationship was not working.

It was the daughter's unhappiness that finally jarred the adults into action. She didn't exactly dictate "this sucks, we're leaving," the active decision was ultimately made by Marina - to leave - and the passive decision was made by Neil - not to marry.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Prelude (1443) 8 years ago

"which then leaves her free to twirl about in some nebulous countryside unhindered. "

I had to laugh at this!

On the more serious side, though --- "dream man"? Hardly! Ben's character was too stoic, too reserved at times, even disengaged when the relationship starts falling apart. I found him very cold. That's not a dream man to me.