Did anyone notice the analogy with the mobsters? (spoilers)
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Manderlay
skb77 — 14 years ago(April 20, 2011 09:30 PM)
When Grace decides to stay and help the slaves in Manderlay, her dad must split up his men, like money, and give Grace an equal share. The employees have no say as to whether they stay with Grace or go with her dad. They are under contract..a contract Geoffrey wrote that was almost fool proof in allowing anyone out. Grace even negotiates two of her men for Geoffrey, the lawyer. This part completely resembles exactly what Grace is going to fight against. Her naivet blinds her from the fact that she is just like the slave owners. And although they may pay their employees, at this point in history as it is mentioned so may times, the slaves are paid now too however contracts and loans lead them back to a slave like place in debt. I'm sure many of those mobsters were in the same predicament or they'd have left Manderlay way before their time.
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skb77 — 14 years ago(July 07, 2011 07:54 AM)
In theory that's true but as you watch closely the mobsters are treated exactly the same. The narration even points out how they don't have a choice. As well, when the lawyer leaves, she says he was the only one who could find the loophole in their "contracts" (just like the slaves had) in which he could leave. That's why only the lawyer left. The other guys would have left if they thought they could when they first got hungry.
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PoppyTransfusion — 14 years ago(August 20, 2011 02:48 PM)
It is an interesting idea. I'd have to consider it some more, but given attention is paid to the lot of the gangsters then their presence is significance to the film's themes. I did momentarily see a parallel when the gangsters took to card playing for something to do.
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