MovieChat Forums > The Ninth Configuration (1980) Discussion > Thoughts on Kane's reaction at the bar

Thoughts on Kane's reaction at the bar

posted 18 years ago by andheanswered
5 replies | jump to latest

Hey everyone!

I just watched The Ninth Configuration for the first time yesterday. I have a LOT of thoughts/questions that hopefully a second and third viewing will answer. But, one thought has brought me to this forum...

(spoilers)

What was the true message behind Kane's reaction at the bar?

I had read about the viciousness of this scene before seeing the film. But I had different thoughts about what was going to happen leading up to it. When the phone call is placed by the waitress to Kane, my mind was saying "These bikers are about to get the beat down". Kane arrived, and the attention of the bikers was switched from Cutshaw to him. Kane was now suffering for Cutshaw - forced to utter humiliating sentences, physically abused, forced to lick beer (or pee) off the floor. And then, my thoughts changed as to what was going to happen. Up to that point - Kane's treatment was SO similar to Christs during his trial/crusifixion - being hurt or humilated in any way possible. The lead biker was trying ANYTHING to make Kane crack, just like they tried to make Jesus crack. My mind was saying "Oh...this is going to be a brutal scene of Kane's death - for Cutshaw". I mean afterall - mentioned before was how Kane was blocking out the old killer Kane, and in it's place was one that just wanted to help. So it that point, to me - it just made sense for Kane to endure the punishment for Cutshaw. But - that didn't happen. The attention was sent back to Cutshaw - who was being abused even further, causing Kane to snap, attack everyone, and save Cutshaw.

I understand that Kane eventually let himselve die/committed suicide for Cutshaw, as an act of shock treatment to show "one example" of a selfless act - that is the theme/message there. But what is the significant message OR what justifies Kane's reaction to become violent? There is no doubt in my mind that Kane symbolizes a christ-savior-like image. But Christ did not become violent. Is Kane's reaction an answer to how to deal with such evil, or a justification of such behavior?

This reminds me of the theme of Boondock Saints - "Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men." Meaning: It is good to be a nice, caring, and honest person - but at the same time you can't just watch as evil works it's way.

My thoughts/questions...

Would Kane have allowed the bikers to further abuse/kill him, if they had not started to abuse Cutshaw again? As if Kane would endure the punishment if it meant that Cutshaw would not be harmed and would be set free? And once the bikers began the beatdown on both of them - that possibility was out the window - so Kane reacted to save Cutshaw by force?

If this is so, is there a theme in this film that justifies violence as a last resort again evil? Christ had somehow avoided this situation in his life. Is this film a suggestion on to what he may have done in those shoes? Hah - a butt kicking Jesus.

I'm open to hear everyone's opinions and can't wait for discussion on the topic. By the way - I loved the movie! Sorry for such a long post!

- Zachary Christian

[–] spinwit 18 years ago

Would Kane have allowed the bikers to further abuse/kill him, if they had not started to abuse Cutshaw again? As if Kane would endure the punishment if it meant that Cutshaw would not be harmed and would be set free? And once the bikers began the beatdown on both of them - that possibility was out the window - so Kane reacted to save Cutshaw by force?

I think you might be taking the Christ allegory a bit too literally. These are my thoughts-

Kane first and foremost was himself 'crazy' and simply human, not divine in any way. Remember his line "does evil grow out of madness or does madness grow out of evil" and the whole Hamlet discussion. Is acting crazy a way to prevent madness?

That's a very Liberal/Secular sentiment but in this movie it seems to jibe with religion. One important aspect is how the movie deals with the fact that science is not the enemy of religion. Maybe evolution was part of the plan all along, nobody knows anything for certain.

Kane was a redemptive character representing the fact that any person at any time can turn their life around and even people who do very bad things can become great people.

Anyway, my opinions about your specific questions-

Kane would have let himself die in the bar had Cutshaw not been continually abused. Kane was fighting a battle inside himself, hoping for a way out but the massive brutality and psychological abuse being rained down (on Cutshaw in particular) made him snap.

He desperately wanted to "turn the other cheek" but was faced with something that simply could not be dealt with rationally. So he became irrational.

If this is so, is there a theme in this film that justifies violence as a last resort again evil?

I'm not sure that it can be broken down that simply. I mean violence is not a "last resort" unless one simply fails to realize that reason will never work right from the start.

Consider being tied up in a serial killers house. Is there a way to talk him out of doing what he plans to do to you? He's a damn serial killer! Do you just let yourself die, sticking to your code when you have the chance to kill him and thereby save future victims?

My basic opinion about the theme of movie- It's never too late to turn your life around and while it's essential to keep an open mind and be compassionate sometimes you need to just kill some evil *beep* before they kill you. And who's to know that wasn't the plan all along?

PS- I'm not religious at all and think organized religion is corrupt and outdated. If there is a "God" anyone who claims to know His mind/plan is arrogant, a fool or looking to take your money.

[–] Edward_de_Vere 18 years ago

I agree with your interpretation that Kane was basically portrayed as a flawed and troubled Christ figure. His intention was to let the bikers at the bar beat and abuse him (perhaps even kill him) so that Cutshaw could escape. Kane didn't lose his composure and fight back until he saw Richard (the biker with the burn scars) attempt to rape Cutshaw.

[–] hunterwcw 17 years ago

Killer Kane is what exists within us when pushed comes to shove. Man tries to curb this nature within us but it always arises. Humans are a creatures of survival. Survival is not easy but it is essential.

[–] macliggett1 17 years ago

I must remind you, as delicately as possible, that Kane, is not Jesus Christ. I think you're essentially correct that Kane is being Christ like but, reverts to Killer Kane when the abuse turns back to Cutshaw. I love the resulting ass-whipping that results and the way the other Marines refuse to allow the CHP to arrest him afterwards, over our dead bodies, as it were.

[–] dark_angel_85 16 years ago

Ok, first of all...DON'T compare Kane to Christ, there is no point in doing that. This film is about a man who has done very bad things, felt regret about it, and convinced himself Kane was not him, but his brother. It's about what some of the soldiers endured in Vietnam, absolutely nothing to do with Christ.

I agree with the former poster, that yes, Kane would have taken more abuse if he had not seen Cutshaw getting abused even further. But I also believe that if Kane hadn't gone Rambo on them, that the bikers would have killed both him and Cutshaw, and I think he realiazed that as well. I mean the bikers kept saying do this, say that and we'll let you go, but as he endured each punch or pun, it got progressively worse. And yeah, killing them all wasn't a good thing, but once Kane went back to that dark place, even for a little while, it unleashed all his inner fury and rage, and got the result of basically all the bikers dead.

And this film is NOT about resorting to violence, it's just telling the tale of a man who went crazy, and who tried to make amends for his actions, but got dragged back to the dark place from which it originated, but he was not completely taken back to this place, because he saved Cutshaw and in the end cured Cutshaw, he committed a last action that was self-less, and ended his own suffering and nightmares.