MovieChat Forums > Cake (2015) Discussion > In reality she would be living in povert...

In reality she would be living in poverty

posted 9 years ago by Lolawoo
10 replies | jump to latest

Because it's not like the government looks after the disabled when they should. She would definitely not be able to afford a housekeeper, large house and expensive presents on benefits either.

[–] BuzzSF 9 years ago

I doubt she was on federal disability. The way I saw it, she probably had a nice high-paying private disability insurance policy through her job as an attorney along with perhaps some kind of settlement from the car accident that caused her disabiling injuries and killed her son.

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[–] Lolawoo 9 years ago

I'm not American so I don't know how health insurance policies work. Do you get it for life? If so why would her work keep paying for it when she doesn't actively work for them? Also insurance pay outs from accidents can only last so long.

I think it would have been more effective if they showed how people with chronic pain and disabilities struggle to live on such little money if they can't work. It was kin f disappointing because it's not like they can all afford taxis and having housekeepers.

[–] philosoraptor1 9 years ago

I thought the same thing, but also realised that a lot of films focus around middle class/wealthy people because when they are poor the whole film becomes about the struggle with poverty. It did annoy me slightly that the film was not representative of majority of people with disabilities. I suppose it was more about grief and struggle with pain, which is relevant to people of all backgrounds and I found myself feeling sympathetic to the main character despite her otherwise 'comfortable' life.

[–] tajhab 9 years ago

She was a divorced attorney. In CA. you get 50% after a divorce, insurance payoff, lawsuits etc. She could have inherited from someone. Her money means nothing. Having unprotected sex with the gardener seemed more unbelievable for a person of her apparent background. It did not improve or contribute to the story in any way.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] MdmBadenov 9 years ago

There's nothing in the movie that states definitively Claire and Justin are divorced; all we know for sure is they are estranged.

Clearly, these are very wealthy people. Husband and wife are attorneys, no doubt with lucrative jobs. If they're not divorced, Justin may be helping Claire. She would go on disability, which doesn't pay that well, but it could be a benefit of her former job to pay her a partial salary if she becomes disabled. I heard of someone who went on half pay to age 65, as long as she was unable to work.

It's made clear that Sylvina is not new to working for Claire. Sylvina knew the child who died (she was breaking up at the end when they were by the boy's grave. She had a very cordial relationship with Justin. No doubt she worked for them for years. This indicates they were well-to-do. As someone else suggested, it's likely they got a large payout from the insurer of the other driver. An award like that could go into the multi-millions. It's not unrealistic in the slightest to believe Claire could be living like this. I think the reason for depicting them in such advantaged circumstances is to underscore how useless wealth is in insulating people from tragedy and happiness.

Re Claire's recklessness in indiscriminate sex is not at all hard to believe. She is morbidly depressed and has lost all appetite for life. She cares nothing for what happens to her. The reckless sex gives her some fleeting release. She doesn't care if she contracts deadly STDs. It's all the same to her.

[–] riverwalk 9 years ago

''I think the reason for depicting them in such advantaged circumstances is to underscore how useless wealth is in insulating people from tragedy and happiness.''

very good point, also we know nothing really of clare's finances in the movie so the op's point is kind of moot-like for all we know her parents could have being wealthy and left her everything in their will...could be 1000 reasons for her middle class lifestyle.

[–] artistathome 8 years ago

they may not have been divorced. when she called his office, they put her right thru with no questions asked. so she has him for financial support.

Plus, all corporations and the govt offer disability, long term care insurance and life and medical insurance at a greatly reduced price if u work for them. My company offered all these things.

She certainly would have taken advantage of everything. so she has plenty of coverage no doubt. but the real money was from the settlement from the wreck.
A child was killed and there is no amt of money that can pay for that.

[–] TearofLys (2641) 5 years ago

You seem to be suggesting that girls from privileged backgrounds don't have risky sex. I guess you have never seen how so sorority girls (privileged white girls) behave at a frat party.

[–] smidget28 (800) 4 years ago

She was a very rich lawyer, husband still has money. They are not divorced.