Depressing but good movie
Just watched this movie and it was real depressing. Not having read the book I was thinking they would work it all out in the end.
shareThis isn't a film for everyone, it's a pretty bleak film on love and regret. I felt bad for Florence and Edward, Florence for her childhood abuse by her father, the fact she loves Edward but right at time and place Edward isn't mentally or mature to deal with Florence. You can tell in the scene in the 70's, with a bit more experience under his belt that Edward would probably have dealt with it better and been more understanding of Florence.
What makes it worse, Florence got over her problem and married and had kids, probably not wanting to be alone and not wanting to make the same mistake she did with Edward. While even though Edward seemed to have his fun in the 70's scene with two women but still regrets that day on the beach, by the 00's he seemed like a lonely old man. We can only go by the scene with Florence's daughter buying the Chuck Berry record and her crying in the end after seen Edward in the audience that she probably still not over Edward. But i think it's more regret on her side just like Edward.
Anyway that's the second adaption of Ian McEwan that's gut punch me (Atonement is the other). Don't watch if you are down in the dumps.
We don't know that the girl who came into the record shop was Florence's daughter, only that she described Chuck Berry's music as happy and bouncy. Many people probably described it that way. And of course, the girl said that her mother preferred classical. But the issue is left purposely vague.
In my opinion, Florence's other love was her music, and it is likely that it was her music to which her life and energies were devoted.
Considering her disgust at the mechanics of sex, I can't imagine she would endure childbirth.