MovieChat Forums > The Man in the Moon (1991) Discussion > I just watched this for the first time a...

I just watched this for the first time and....

posted 8 years ago by Imatwork
8 replies | jump to latest

where we supposed to feel sorry for Maureen? She went after a boy she knew her sister really, really liked. Went on 1 date, had sex, and she fell so head over heals for him that even their parents were on her side.

I'm just going by the timeline of their mother's pregnancy, but she had to have been all of 8 months already at the beginning of the movie, so I'm guessing that 2 or 3 months had passed....and the majority of that time was spent on Court and Dani.

I guess I really didn't really like the scene with Dani and her dad when they were fishing and he basically told her to "suck it up" and that your sister is hurting worse than you.

[–] CTReviews 8 years ago

She did not "go after" Court. He pursued her. In fact, one of the chapters of the DVD is "Court goes courting."

The movie takes place over a few weeks at most. Not 2 or 3 months.

[–] Imatwork 8 years ago

I guess my point was...why did the parents feel that Maureen was in more pain from his death, and basically tell Dani that she needs to be there for her instead of dealing with her own pain. Maureen had spent significantly less time with him. Is it strictly because they had sex? I find it hard to believe that her parents would have been OK with that had they known given how strict their father was about boys.

[–] PenTheater 8 years ago

I guess my point was...why did the parents feel that Maureen was in more pain from his death, and basically tell Dani that she needs to be there for her instead of dealing with her own pain.

Dani asked that very same question.

That is why this is labeled as a Coming of age story.
That means a lot of things, and questioning this and seeing the world different than everyone around you are some of those things.

Some of us from that point on, like Dani, question everything, and tackle the world on our own.

Ephemeron.

[–] curious_and_confused 8 years ago

Maureen lost the love of her life, possibly her future husband. She was in a real romantic relationship with Court when he died. Her loss was immeasurable.

Dani lost a boy and a friend that she liked very much, but it was still only a crush.

Maureen was in more pain from his death.

🐬 ma ink

[–] Imatwork 8 years ago

By that logic you think it's more painful to lose a bf/gf/spouse (someone you are in love with) than a friend/sibling/parent (vs someone you love)....makes sense.

Every one grieves differently and no one should he told to suck it up because others are feeling it more.

Dani and court spent every day together. Maureen and court knew each other for a few days and went on maybe 2 dates. You can't say they knew each other their whole lives because it was very clear the families have not seen each in 10 or more years....with statements such as "I haven't seen you since you both were in diapers" and the fact that they had never even met courts younger siblings.

[–] PenTheater 8 years ago

Her loss was immeasurable

Everybody's loss is immeasurable. Yours, mine, everyone.

This is Dani's story.

Ephemeron.

[–] Deana_beepbeep 8 years ago

The way I saw it... it had little to do with Maureen's romantic feelings for Court at all. Firstly, because i don't believe they were in love - just lust. Court felt icky lusting after a 14 year old, so he moved on to her older sister. Nothing more than hormones from his perspective.

Secondly, you can argue that both of the sisters lost Court. The big difference was that Maureen also hurt her sister and consequently lost her too. It was in Dani's power to forgive. So in this respect, Maureen's loss was bigger, because she knew her actions had pushed her sister away.

With respect of the coming of age aspect of the film... I found it to centre mostly on the relationship between the two sisters. Yes, Court was a big part. But they ultimately find their way back to each other.

[–] Deana_beepbeep 8 years ago

Court would have ripped those sisters apart. He clearly had feelings for Dani. What would happen when Dani grew up, if he ended up with Maureen?

I think the ending was perfect.