Posted by Jan den Breejen on December 14, 1998 at 07:10:11:
This touching story of a brief romantic encounter (4 days) between a free-spirited photographer for National Geographic magazine and an emotionally neglected (in her own E4 ish perception at least) wife of an E9-ish Iowa farmer. Clint Eastwood and Meryls streep are the right casting for this hot summer romance in 1965. Perhaps the movie was such a box office succes because the excitement wears of any relation after some time and we can feel trapped in existing commitments?
The characters analyzed:
- Francesca's son Michael Johnson (played by Victor Slezak): E6CF
Panicks and gets rebellious when his mothers will reveals her relation with the photographer Robert. Immediately hypothises that she was mentally ill. Rigidly loyal to his fathers existing burial plan (one grave for him and Francesca). About Francesca's unusual cremation wish: 'I am not even sure it's Christian' (xenofobic attitude) 'I don't wanna hear it, BURN the letter!' 'I'll kill him!'(this must be the reactionay 'red neck' mental attitude of the Klu Klux Klan too, I suppose)
- Francesca's daughter Carolyn Johnson (played by Annie Corley): E9
Emphatic: she merges with her mothers thoughts; reads the letters and observes the photographs in a passive, calm way. Just lets the information come to her without judgement (makes a nice contrast with her brothers extremely opionionated reaction; it's E9 tolernance vs E6 in-tolerance). 'He's such a nice guy, this doesn't make him a bad person...'
- the woman accompanying Carolyn & Michael when they are read the legacy letter: E6 fobic
excitable, childish, vigilant 'she doesn't wear a bra' (on the photo')
- Francesca 'You have to help me' Johnson (played by Meryl Streep): push/pulling E4 tragic romantic
She's feeling different: 'I was acting like another woman; and I was more myself than before...' Everything she says or thinks has a weepy quality; Francesca's endless sighing, listening to sad Italian songs from her mother country, expressing self pity. Her adultery brings herself into a difficult situation; and her letters and photo's ensure she gets the (negative) emotional attention she craved for in her dull mariage. She's hypersensitive (see her reaction when her son slammed the door), she's soo dissatified with the sleepy routine Iowa farmers life, she has a tendency to crave for what she has NOT; when the dog comes to her and gives her love she say's 'Why do you love me? I don't like you!' When Robert asks her 'How long have you been married?' she answers 'a long time...(sighs)'. She has self defeating traits: when Robert has picked flowers for her she says: 'these flowers are poisonous' (he answers: 'are you sadistic by nature'?), She has a way of seeing things in a 'different way'; when Robert reamarks 'the dog is white' she says 'no he's blonde'. E4's often have a subtle way to indicate their emotional misery; about her husband: 'He's very clean...and of course he has other positive qualities', 'There are a lot of nice things about the people here, they always help you...(sighs)'...well...it's not what I dreamed of as a girl'. Dramatic: 'Now the whole evening is spoiled!', (Robert: Do you love teaching?) 'Yeah...sometimes...when there is a particular student can makes a difference...I know they are all supposed to...but they don't...', 'I am a housewife in the middle of nowhere' (poor me!); she 'uses' Roberts exiting history unconsiously to enhance her own tragic fate in a dull context. Her love of authenticity: 'You'r a hypocrite and a phony', feeling misunderstood 'don't you see?', 'In Iowa you meet the same people again and again...' (repulsed by commonness)
- Robert Kincaid (played by Clint Eastwood): E5(and E9-ish too)
He looks like the absorbed professor/professional; philosophizes (it's hare to explain), lone wolf traveller 'I am a loner, but not a munk' (E5's don't want to be alone, just have space and time for themselves), Francesca 'Don't you need anyone?', He has left his family; 'I have a problem with the American family ethic' (independent), absorbed with the technical details of making pictures; he doesn't read the letter Francesca attached to the bridge because of his professional absorbtion, he's clumsy with emotional things; no smooth talker indeed, 'I've been picking flowers for you, men still do that, don't they?...I am not out of date picking flowers for you?', also doesn't know to choose the words with the right emotional load (certainly not for an emotionally sensitive E4); 'Do you want to leave your husband?'. When Francesca suggests he should write his peculiar travelling experiences down; 'I am afraid my writing is too TECHNICAL...I am obsessed by photography (expert)...(Francesca from her E4 point of view: 'You are an artis')...'no,the National Geographic (E5ish scientific magazine!) wants its photos' in focus and not with much personal comment, I don't mind really...' When Robert talks about Afica: 'its an voyeurs paradise' (observer). He analyses, is objectively insightful; 'Don't fool yourself Francesca, you're anything but a simple woman' (E4's indeed have the most complex constellation of personality traits when I test them with the Big Five Questionnair)
Anybody wants to add something? Youre welcome.
Jan