Several viewpoints
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Damage
blueyedog — 19 years ago(July 04, 2006 08:38 AM)
I own this dvd and have watched it several times over the years.While this is basically a male mid-life crisis film, what makes it different to me is the fact
he is willing to screw over his son like that. I'm betting that's something
only one in a thousand fathers would do.
Unlike others who have posted,i was never depressed by this film at any time.
You pretty much know from the beginning that things are going to end tragically.
While i think Juliette Binoche is an excellent actress and very well cast in this
film, i do not find her to be very sexy at all and the sex scenes appear cold
and mechanical.Certainly it never enters my mind that these two could be in
LOVE.
To me the best LOVE scene involving Jeremy Irons is the one with Julia
in the "orphans in the storm' segment of "Brideshead Revisited". Here again
he was cheating on his wife but this scene was beautiful and made you feel
good inside. They were in love and they were meant for each other.Of course
he leaves his wife for Julia and this validates your good feelings.
I would like to take this opportunity to recommend a film for all the men
on this board. "The Dreamers" starring Eva Green. Sure the plot stinks and
the acting is mediocre at best, but you won't give a damn. Eva Green has the
most incredible body ever and flaunts it throughout this film.It's mesmerizing.
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MadamaButterfly91 — 19 years ago(August 12, 2006 07:02 PM)
all and the sex scenes appear cold
and mechanical.Certainly it never enters my mind that these two could be in
LOVE
.
Totally agree. Between Stephen and Anna it's all about passion, a destuctive, insane, chemical attraction that has nothing to do with love. -
ColinHarvey — 18 years ago(May 08, 2007 03:04 PM)
"Certainly it never enters my mind that these two could be in LOVE."
And there you have it. They aren't in love. It is pure, primal SEX.
It's about sheer, unbridled, wanton LUST, and the "DAMAGE" it can do - in this case, Irons' character lost his son, his marriage, his political career, and, in the end, Anna - the woman that he gave them all up for.
I also think he loses a great deal of himself as well. -
cheldove — 18 years ago(March 20, 2008 01:47 PM)
Well, part of his "screwing over his son" is his anger at being replaced in his wife's affections by Martyn.
So do you think a part of him was doing it for spite? I don't think I agree with that, but I did find what his wife said very strange when she said Martyn was that one person for her. She should of said her children or Stephen, but she said just Martyn. I picked up on that immediately when she said it.
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blanche-2 — 18 years ago(March 20, 2008 03:38 PM)
I do think there was some subconscious resentment there. I don't say he acknowledged it on the surface. But just the fact that she named her son as the one person for her should be an indication that that was indeed the situation.
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cheldove — 18 years ago(March 21, 2008 07:47 AM)
You might be right. I can kinda see that. I just watched this the other day, and had never heard of it until someone referred to it on another board. Don't even know how I ever missed seeing it. I watched it again yesterday, and it's amazing how you pick up new things when you watch it again. I was a little sleepy when I watched it the first time very late at night. But anyway.do you also see some sort of parallel of obsession with the mothers relationship toward the son. Not in any sexual way of course, but to me she just seemed extremely focused on him, and the poor daughter just seemed like she didn't matter. I actually think that is why the daughter got the boyfriend. She was ignored by everyone around her. I was expecting them to go back to the daughter when everything came out, and how she had seen him with Anna in the hallway, but I guess it wasn't necessary. But I do feel even the daughter somehow knew that there was something more going on, but she seemed not to care. When he was giving his explanation to her, I found it quite interesting the way she looked at him, but then she kissed him when she left the room, and told him she was going to bed. That scene was just kinda weird and interesting. Could that possibly be interpreted that she felt resentment to the brother and the mother both because of the mothers favortism?
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blanche-2 — 18 years ago(March 21, 2008 07:56 AM)
It's possible. I found it a very absorbing movie and what I like is the opportunity to have discussions like this and see different things. Truthfully I took very little note of the daughter. But you know, you have to think about it in human terms. I suspect you're younger than I am. Here's this man at the top of his career, possibly the passion has gone out of his marriage, he sees his son, whom his wife adores, with his whole life in front of him and this horny girl besides. It's exciting, it's dangerous, it's getting both his wife and his son back - though I'm pretty sure he doesn't acknowledge that to himself.
The most powerful thing about it was Richardson's performance. The way the part was written and directed, you just knew these people - actress, writer and director understood that horrible kind of pain. She was really able to pull out all the stops. Magnificent. -
cheldove — 18 years ago(March 21, 2008 06:20 PM)
Actually I am 45, so I don't know how old you are, but I agree with everything you said. And I did take note of Richardsons performance, and the powerful scene she had toward the ending. She was amazing. I actually rewind that scene and watched it again, and all i could say was "DAMN". It really told you a lot about her and also their relationship, and how she valued her son more, and his deep rooted reasons for doing what he did.
You see how you took little note of the daughter. Well that is my point. She rarely said much, but believe me she was there for a reason. They could have easily did this without her at all. She wasn't necessary to the central plot, but I see her as a symbol of how she was ignored by her mother, and also her show of affection to her father, even though I think she senses he was lying. I don't think she cared at all. And it goes back to why didn't she react stronger or ask more questions? Because the mother favored the son over her. This film was about human nature and obsession and why people do the things that they do. I think you are right about Stephen not even acknowledging his reasons to himself. But I also think a lot of had to do with obsession alone. I don't believe he stared at that blown up picture to punish himself as was said before, he stared at it because of HER. He was focusing on her and nobody else. And also by his words at the end telling how he had saw her once more in an airport, and his final words of how she was no different than anyone else. He finally realized that, and was trying to understnad his obsession with her. Very powerful movie. -
blanche-2 — 18 years ago(March 21, 2008 08:11 PM)
I agree - it was really something the way he lost everything, just like our ex-governor here in New York. It was a very powerful movie, very character-driven. And we haven't even discussed the woman yet! I originally thought she sought out the father because it was he she was really interested in. Then the resemblance to her brother and the son are mentioned - wow, she was a real mess. Played a game nobody could win there. The most shocking part of her performance for me was the way she just walked out of that apartment building when the boy lay dead and the father was crying over him.
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cheldove — 18 years ago(March 21, 2008 08:57 PM)
I thought the same thing. She had no emotion, no reaction. I think her character is much more complex than I have even figured out yet. Gonna have to watch it more to see what I can pick up. It was almost like she knew it was going to happen, she just didn't know when, and then after it did, it came as no surprise or shock to her. I think she somehow felt that it was something within her that brought about tragedy to others. Hell I don't know. It's hard to figure her out, but like you say she was definitely a mess. She was unusually cold and mysterious with no conscience. I do think she sought the father out, but it was never clear exactly why. The only thing I can come up with is the resemblance, and perhaps somehow through her eyes he was her brother, and she wanted to punish him for killing himself. Kinda warped and twisted, but strange minds do strange things. There is definitely a lot that can be read into her other than the obvious which I describe as crazy.LOL!!