MovieChat Forums > Ordinary People (1980) Discussion > Conrad and his friends

Conrad and his friends

posted 8 years ago by OldFriendOfTheChristys
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I think people are so quick to praise Hutton’s “meatier” moments - the therapy sessions with Hirsch, etc. - that they sometimes overlook how wonderful he is in the “softer” ones. Among the most heartbreaking scenes for me are the ones between Conrad and his friends. Conrad has become so consumed with sadness and isolation that he feels disconnected from everything and everyone. His friends, the blond kid especially, try to reach out to him but to no avail. It reminds me of a line from the song Closer to Fine by The Indigo Girls: “Well darkness has a hunger that's insatiable. And lightness has a call that's hard to hear.” Powerful stuff.

[–] daverindone 8 years ago

Good point! I loved the exchange when his friend is pressing him for an answer about why he quit the swim team and he keeps giving non-answers. Conrad finally blurts out "Then stop talking to people!" Plus that part when he finally blows up at Adam Baldwin, finally deciding not to take any more crap after years of repressing his emotions.