As much as the movie holds together, I have always been bothered by one part- when Joanna goes off with David and Mark does nothing about it! I have always wondered why Mark did not try to stop her, and can only come up with two possible explanations: either Mark felt guilty over his own infidelities, or the fact that David is the brother-in-law of Mark's biggest client.
Anyone else agree with me or have another explanation?
a couple thoughts...
he doesn't stop her because he can't - she has gone on a glider ride while he is working. that initally harmless little jaunt quickly turns into something more for joanna & david. when mark finally catches up with them, the affair has begun and joanna admits she loves david. what could mark do to stop that situation at that point?
also this is a complex relationship in which characters do not act in simple, one-dimensional ways. his own infidelity/guilt may be part of that. his relationship with his client would be largely unaffected (unless i suppose he became violent with the david). i like this film so much because it presents very contradictory human emotions in a very rich and life-like way.
also even if mark could anticipate the infidelity what could he do?
Thanks for your thoughtful response. Having known several men like Mark, I am still troubled by his lack of effort to stop Joanna from going off with David. Unless I am mistaken, there is a scene between Mark and Joanna just before she leaves to spend the night. Given his chauvinistic personality (OK for a husband to cheat but never for the wife), I just feel like it does not fit in with his behaviour in the rest of the movie. Of course, if Mark did not let her go off with David, we would not get to see what I consider one of the most heart wrenching scenes of all time - when Mark asks Joanna by the pool how she would know if she was with him or David...
share when Mark asks Joanna by the pool how she would know if she was with him or David...
...was an act of emotional revenge on Mark's part towards Joanna, IMO. He couldn't stop the affair but he revealed his hostility about it and his own guilt and self recriminations that way. That's why Joanna reacted so strongly, she knew he wasn't going to let it go easily and forgive her.
The only people who make no mistakes are those that do nothing.
Another thing to bear in mind is this: Mark is not quite the unflappable, in-control macho-man that he likes to pretend he is. Joanna's affair occurs at a point in the (crazily but coherently non-linear) narrative where the balance of power between them has shifted in her favour, and the episode with David reveals a vulnerability and emotional dependency in Mark that we have (if we have been watching for the signs) suspected, but not until then been shown.
The rightness of Joanna's return to Mark would ring hollow, were it not clear that Mark needs Joanna at least as much as she needs him.
Very true regarding the shift in power, IMO.
As for Mark's laissez-faire attitude about the affair-- it is in keeping with his maintaining the outwardly hostile and cynical attitude towards marriage. An abiding problem between the two that is mentioned frequently.
He covers his vulnerabilty by striking out at her with hurtful barbs-rather than impassioned force-reminding her subtley that she is a mother (her flinch is great) and then, later, asking if she knows which one he is.
Joanna and David start making goo-goo eyes at each other from the moment they are introduced on the beach. Mark immediately picks up on it and becomes even more snappish that usual. I think he did nothing to head it off because he was too busy with his job. One thing that bothers me about their reunion is that she is completely unapologetic. She's like, "here I am, take me or leave me." Also, she maintains a "friendly" relationship with David after supposedly ending their affair. I don't think as a husband I could put up with that.
shareMaybe Joanna is unapologetic, because of all the crap that Mark has put her through during their marraige. Most of the time, he either ignored her, put her down, or cheated on her, so I think he's very lucky that she came back to him at all...
shareMark's cheating is a quick, anonymous sexual encounter, not a serious, lengthy affair that causes him to consider leaving Joanna. Plus, there is nothing in the film that suggests to me that Joanna even knew about Mark's quickie. I think Joanna simply was attracted to the other guy and pursued the attraction. She may have been feeling neglected, but I didn't get the impression that her affair was revenge.
share Joannna sensed that Mark had been unfaithfull; check out the scene where Mark is supposed to order an egg for Caroline from room service.
At the beginning of the movie, Mark doesn't even recognize his daughter's name as she is speaking to Joanna on the phone! In his defense, the phone call was deliberately out of context. Mark was thinking about work or Joanna and David's affair, or something else when Joanna made the call in the airport lounge. It's another trick in which she has captured him. I've always felt sorry for him because he is so ashamed of not recognizing his daughter's name.
Neither Mark or Joanna are perfect. That is what makes this movie so great!
I know this post is over a year old, but exactly how has the balance of power shifted toward Joanna? My sense was as Mark became more of a success, Joanna had less of his attention and time - not to mention her role as mother and running her household. In my book, that's many things, but not empowering in any relationship, especially in a marriage. I must have missed something, I suspect. Moreover, does Mark express hostility toward marriage or is he just expressing his sense of what marriage entails, candidly and, often, with great wit and wisdom?
I'll have to have a second viewing - I haven't seen the film in years apart from a few days ago.
Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.
What happens with David begins because Joanna went off with David at a point when Mark wasn't around and unable to stop her. I think the things you mentioned might have crossed his mind if he had been there, but I still think he would have tried to stop it.
shareIt always astounds me how movie-makers consistently seek to avoid direct
confrontations involving this subject.
The restraint shown by characters whose spouses are involved
in some form of infidelity, especially towards the marriage interloper-
is admirable, but doesn't ring true.
In TFTR, Mark reacts to David w/ a stiff-upper-lip, while Joanna,
who never once expresses remorse ie: "I'm sorry"-
simply sidesteps anger,& recrimination.
Briefly we see that Mark is hurt- yet control is never lost,
pain is never adequately expressed, and the extent of the affair's impact
is never fully explained.
Moreover, what man maintains such a friendly attitude towards the
man who almost stole his wife?
Throughout this film, Mark was portrayed
as a sort of maverick, yet he acts so meekily towards David.
I have yet to see someone whose spouse has cheated
react in such a controlled, refined manner.
The aftermath of infidelity is ugly,
but you'd never know this by watching this movie!
Unfortunately, this is the case in alot of films showing this circumstance.
I agree with your statement. A confrontation can be civil depending on the setting. I don't think an altercation would have been appropriate in that setting between Mark and David. Married couples are often more complex and don't react typically, but rather hide and don't fully express their pain or anger.
share