MovieChat Forums > The Trip to Bountiful (1986) Discussion > Why the heck couldn't Ludie bring her ba...

Why the heck couldn't Ludie bring her back for another visit??!!

posted 17 years ago by fiatlux-1
9 replies | jump to latest

*spoilers*

Its not like Bountiful was in the other side of the country, or even another state! It was a few towns away, for Pete's sake. Why was this trip the only one she could make, and have to say good-bye to it?

Now that her son finally grew a pair and stood up to Jessie Mae and saw how important it was in Bountiful for himself and his mother....why couldn't he just run her over there every now and again?

Or do you think the film was implying her health was so very bad that she wasn't going to be able to return??

"Mulder? Are you sure you're all right?"
"I'm fine.......I'm free."

[–] PenTheater 17 years ago

It's called a metaphor, the whole idea of her world, her past,
and their quiet desperation of an existence.
and no, her health was just an excuse.

[–] fiatlux-1 17 years ago

I know what a metaphor is. I was merely asking a film question.

"A Grandmother Fred?! An aunt called George??
You HAVE got problems, D.M.!"

[–] PenTheater 17 years ago

I know what a metaphor is. I was merely asking a film question

I think you are missing what I am saying.
They couldn't take her to the farm because that is a major point of the story
"You can't go home again." That IS the film.
They couldn't give her back her past, Ludie didn't want to remember his, and
Jessie Mae couldn't relate with either of theirs.

If Ludie could bring her back for another visit, or several visits, Horton Foote
would not have had a story to tell and a message for all of us.

[–] watergarden 17 years ago

I think it emphasizes Lutie's overall weakness as an individual and the hopelessness of their situation.

First, Lutie may have stood up to his wife once, but I do not think it would continue. She would probably raise a fuss each time another trip to Bountiful is suggested. He mostly likely would yield to her and take them to a movie instead.

Another thing, he was poor and didn't own a car; he would have to rent or borrow one plus take time off from work to go on another trip. Also this story is specific to a place and time in the 40s and jumping in a car and going more than 30 miles was a chore, especially for someone in his situation.

Most important, he was thoughtless and unimaginative; he felt sorry for his mother but could not really empathize with her need to return to Bountiful, a place he felt no longer existed and a place she should forget.

I don't think the film is implying that Mrs. Watts' health would be too bad to travel again. However, Lutie and his wife would definitely think that and would not want her to die on them, for heaven's sake, if they did indeed take her on another trip to Bountiful. I think that in the last scene, Mrs. Watts understands the hopelessness of the situation and accepts the fact that she will never ask nor try to return to Bountiful again. She has made her one last trip before she dies.

Those are my thoughts on a sad, but beautiful story.

[–] PenTheater 16 years ago

Those are my thoughts on a sad, but beautiful story.

Those are good thoughts, I think it was obvious health was NOT an issue, the character only indicated health issues when she was stopped from going there.
When she got there she was fine, had perked up.

But you are right, after she did get there, "those few hours" she saw that that was all she needed. It was all over. Her need was resolved, Even Ludie became able to admit to his issues "I lied, Momma, I did remember it..."
and he was ablt to tell Jessie Mae, though even just once, that they were NOT going to fight, they were going to get along.
Whether that continued is speculation and not part of the story, the story ends there, and he DID speak up.

[–] synergy273 16 years ago

I sort of got the impression that Ludie found it too sad to go back--------of coarse until his mother runs away...he goes back to get her and realized what an idiot he was for not taking her back to see her old home. I think using her health was an excuse to shut her up.

[–] johnsokw 8 years ago

I think the responses offered are fine. Thank goodness, real life isn't always as bad as it is in lit where authors have to make people worse than in real life---at least those I've known. Most sons would have found a way to take mom back after 5 or 10 years. The literary creation son has to wait 20 so we are totally rooting for Carrie. We feel her desperation. The long wait allows Horton Foote to show us Bountiful dead and forgotten. There wouldn't be a play if she she returned after 10 years, saw her friends, a few failing farms and left with "I'll miss it, but Houston is my home now." That's normal for real people and why our stories make boring movies.

[–] jmillerdp 8 years ago

Ludie explains it in the movie. At his grandfather's funeral, one of those attending says that Ludie should name one of his children after his grandfather. But, Ludie cannot have children. So, going back to that house in Bountiful is painful for him, and is why he did not want to revist either the house, or the memory that the house had for Ludie.

I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

[–] nutsberryfarm 8 years ago

esp. over the holidays! 

🎄Season's Greetings!🎄