MovieChat Forums > Brooklyn (2015) Discussion > Rose - For those who read the book

Rose - For those who read the book

posted 8 years ago by momtosophie
8 replies | jump to latest

I remember reading the novel two years ago and thinking Rose was gay, I don't remember the exact reasons for my coming to that conclusion, but to me, the author hinted at it pretty pointedly. And no, it wasn't just the golf thing. So her death to me was more like a suicide too, she being gay would NEVER be accepted in a small Irish Catholic town in the 1950's and on top of that she was ill so it made sense she took her own life after arranging for her sister to have a better life.

The other thing they never mentioned in the movie which bothered me is that the lady in Bartocci's was also written to be gay, she was very handsy with Eilis in the novel, even more so than the movie portrayed.

They also never mentioned how Eilis actually met the rich Irish guy (Jim/George?) before she took off for the U.S. This is an important thing they left out because Eilis was kind of into him and she was turned off that he wasn't into her at all at first because she thought she's not rich or pretty enough, so after she came bac from Brooklyn and was now sophisticated with her new bathing suit and all she was very flattered that the guy who dissed her in the beginning was now really into her.

In the book Eilis has all but decided to stay in Ireland and marry the rich guy, she was into him before she left Ireland, she resentfully decided to leave only because she is threatened by the nasty shop owner. She goes back only because she has to. But in the movie, they make it seem like she really wants to and chooses to go back.

Anyway, the book was far far better than the movie. The movie was very rushed and they didn't even mentioned her brothers.

[–] TxMike 8 years ago

Yet another pointless "the book is better than the movie" comment.

It is a fact that when making a movie of a book the filmmakers normally have to present an abridged version, otherwise the movie would be too long. So they could not include everything even if they wanted to.

But more important the filmmakers have ideas of their own and make certain changes in the story and the characters to fit their vision of what they want the completed movie to be. There is no reason to think the book's author somehow made all the best and most interesting choices in story and characters.

I am better able to appreciate the movie for what it is because I didn't read the book. You apparently wanted the movie to be exactly like the book so naturally would come away disappointed.

Tony

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] 8 years ago

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[–] momtosophie 8 years ago

Actually, I made a lot of specific points in my post which clearly went over your head because you didn't even read I. (Shocking!)

So before you call someone else's post "pointless" take a look at your own post, which said absolutely nothing noteworthy.

[–] purple_lemon 8 years ago

Thanks for the information on the book. That was interesting and helpful. It seems pretty clear that not only did they abridge the book for the film they also left out just about anything that might have been controversial so as to leave a nice bland and inoffensive story that would appeal to an unsophisticated audience.

It's a pity they didn't make a television mini-series instead so they could have included a lot more from the book and given the viewer something to get their teeth into. I for one would have loved to see what Saoirse Ronan would have made of a complex good and bad Eilish character. Alas another missed opportunity.

Edit: Was there anything in the book about Eilish having married an Italian man and there being a prejudice against that? Because I can tell you in Australia in the 1950's if a white Australian girl had married an Italian (not regarded as being properly white) it would have been, if not exactly scandalous, very definitely not approved of.

The Players of The Game are the scum of the earth.

[–] momtosophie 8 years ago

I completely agree on this would have made a great mini-series, it would have been great! Because one thing that really affected the story is that Eilish already knew him in Ireland, so that affected a lot of what happened later when she returned from Brooklyn. Bu they totally left that out in the movie.

It just felt too rushed. And as to your questions about there being an uproar about her marrying an Italian, yes, in the book she did mention how it would be definitely be more than frowned upon that she was with an Italian man.

It's definitely a good read. Especially, Mrs. Bartocci's character is very interesting in the book, not much attention was paid to her in the movie.

[–] detataandrea 8 years ago

I recently finished reading the book and I remember Eilis was first turned off by Jim because she thought he was a snob and he didn't give her the time of day. Also, the book mentioned that Rose had a heart condition which most likely contributed to her death and she tried to hide it because she did not want to upset her mother who was vulnerable and grieving the loss of her husband. I never got the impression that Rose was gay but your theory is interesting as you brought up some good points. I enjoyed the book and I enjoyed the movie too... :)

[–] kimberlycshields 8 years ago

Haha I finished the book yesterday, and the changing room scene with the lady from Bartocci's was interesting. I couldn't decide if the lady fancied Eilas, or if it was meant to show the difference in modesty between an American and an Irish person.

I didn't pick up any references to Rose's sexuality, but you have made some interesting observations.

I did get a feeling that Rose knew for a long time that she was dying (more so than what Eilas suspects in the book...) and that she wanted to save Eilas from an unhappy life of caring for a mother that was very much loved, but not easy to spend time with, without Rose present and acting as a buffer.