MovieChat Forums > Beautiful Girls (1996) Discussion > Were Marty + Andera the same person/soul...

Were Marty + Andera the same person/soul?


Like everyone on this link, I love this movie. I think the 13 yr old Marty was intriguing as there was no sexual tension between her and Willie. In addition the writers, in my opinion, wanted her to appear pure. Willy even says in the film "I'm formed & your not...". Marty being 13, this detail, was intentional and it works perfectly.

The whole struggle for Willie is a universal struggle for all (OK many) men. He has an intelligent beautiful girl-friend, Tracy, who loves him & he's still searching for the seemingly unattainable represented by Marty and Andera.

Now to the subject I wanted to throw out was the very representation of Marty & Andera actually being the same person, or soul. Marty says she's "an old soul". She's beautiful, cool and wise beyond her years. Then you have the magically odd appearance of Andera ("girls like her are BORN with a boyfriend" remember). She's intelligent, beautiful, cool, drinks shots with the guys, tries to help Paul make his ex jealous.

What finally tied it all together for me was the Winnie the Pooh/Christopher Robbin dialogue between Willie & Marty. Willie talks about himself being Pooh & Marty portraying Christopher. When Christopher grows up, he realizes that he doesn't need Pooh anymore. Andera's character plays out exactly that scenario in real time during the movie. She is the grown up Christopher Robbins that doesn't need, or want Willie's Pooh (ha ha). This is illustrated by the ice fishing scene with Andera spurning Willie's advances. Ironically, and probably intentionally, both scenes take place by the fish house. The scene with Marty outside, in the bright sunlight with the fish house in the background. This may indicate the unbound opportunity to "walk through this life together" with young Marty/Christopher in their current form. Conversely, the scene with Andera/grown-up Christopher, takes place in the dark, inside the ice house possibly illustrating the stark reality of what Willie's situation would have looked like had he taken Marty up on her offer to wait for her. The point is that she would have outgrown him and he would find himself alone and miserable.

Both Marty & Andera actually nudge him back into the arms of Tracy, making him realize how lucky he is to have her. Once both of these "beautiful girls" help Willie come to this, to quote Marty "...life decision if you will", Andera then magically disappears.

Like to hear any thoughts on this.

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I've seen this movie many, many times and never picked up on that. You made all good points that are supported within the film and I appreciate you posting this and allowing me to discover something new in this film that I had previously missed.

As far as the Winnie the Pooh/Christoper Robin conversation between Marty and Wille, I loved the fact that Willie used a Winnie the Pooh/Christoper Robin reference that he believed she would understand and better grasp his point of view and in turn she used a Lou Reed reference for the exact same reason; because she believed he would understand and better grasp her point of view.

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I did not think of it that way, but once you brought it out in the open; you're right.

I now look at it this way. Marty brought the innocent excitement or potential of a fresh new love While Andrea brought to him a potential love he could never have.

They both make him realize that he really has what he wants all along.

I thought the best line in the movie was when he was telling Andrea how jealous he was of her boyfriend who gets to read the paper with her etc. and she replies some guy thinks how lucky you are to be with Taylor (not exact wording)

I think Marty grows up to be a girl just like Andrea

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Well put, that's kind of what I was getting at. Thanks.

I almost numchucked you, you don't even realize!

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I love your analysis, but i think I belong to team Marty. She is such a special character that sticks with you forever. The ice fishing scene with Andera/ Willie was so moving , I... just cried.

Interesting thoughts, mfiskey55

"I might just grow to be five-ten. I'll be hot".
Marty

I think she was describing Andera!


Excerpt, Ted Demme Interviews Natalie Portman

TD: In our movie, Beautiful Girls, your character, Marty, has a crush on Willie (Timothy Hutton), who's about thirty. And he has a crush on Marty, but it never goes too far.

NP: He doesn't really have a crush on her. He has a crush on what she will become.

TD: When Marty says she's got "an old soul", what does she mean?

NP: It means she's got the knowledge that she wouldn't necessarily have at her age. And I guess know the definition of "old soul" means I am one.



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I'm glad I stumbled upon this post, excellent analysis describing Willie and Marty's relationship.
Thanks OP!!!

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