From a female POV, what drove Val to return to Ray? He beat her senseless (we saw it once, but it wasn't the first time) and murdered her unborn child. Was it love that made her take him back and, if so, how could you stay in love with such a man?
Thoughts?
She probably thought she didn´t have many choices.
She had no job or income other than welfare. Nowhere else to live other than a shelter. It was the only life she knew. She grew up in the same surroundings.
If it harms none, do what thou wilt.
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I've just watched the film for the first (and probably only) time a few minutes ago, and I asked myself the same question. I got the impression at the end that Ray had changed. I think the final talk Val had with him made a big impression on him, made him realise that he needs to change. Also in the last scene there are two details that indicate a change in Ray's behaviour;
The daughter playing with him - something she would have never done with the drunken, violent man we saw through the rest of the film,
And Valerie wearing make-up, an indication that she had more self-esteem and confidence, and wasn't afraid to show some femininity, an indication of a more loving relationship between her and Ray.
I think the song that Ray's mum sings in the penultimate scene, "Can't help loving that man of mine" was the turning point for Val, right or wrong, indirectly convincing her to return to Ray, despite all he had done to her and not done for her. Whether that was what caused her to change her mind or not I have no idea, but certainly from a narrative point of view that seems to be the case.
I also get the impression that the final scene took place some time after the final talk Val has with Ray, at least a few months, enough time for him to make amends and establish himself as a more respectable man to Val and her family.
Valerie wearing make-up, an indication that she had more self-esteem and confidence
These feminists would either have poor reading skills, or a poor understanding of cause-and-effect logic. I said that Val wearing make-up was an indication that she had gained more self-esteem and confidence, and that this new-found confidence was the result of a happier home life, not the result of wearing make-up. The order of events is that first she gets the self-esteem and confidence, then she starts wearing make-up, not the other way around. I thought that was clear in my original post.
shareThe order of events is that first she gets the self-esteem and confidence, then she starts wearing make-up, not the other way around.
I don't understand what you're asking. Are you saying that all women who wear make-up do so because they don't already have self-esteem and confidence? That's an absurd assumption.
share^This conversation is getting us nowhere. I presume you're not a woman.
shareI'm not, and I didn't mean for this to turn into an argument. But please, if you have an alternative explanation for why Val appears to be wearing make-up in the final scene, and nowhere else in the film, please tell me. Also if you think that my very basic understanding of the relationship between women, self-confidence and make-up is wrong (which it may well be), please enlighten me. :-)
share^I'm done explaining. You've already said that what I posted is "absurd". This is the kind of discussion that can go on ad nauseam.
shareThat's an excellent, succinct response, B-J-C. Thank you.
Stirchley's responses are bizarrely obtuse. It sounds as if she discovered feminism yesterday and is strutting around in the as-yet ill-fitting garment in full sophomoric style. I love that she told you you can't understand the complexity of the issue because you're not a woman -- I feel that I am a far fuller feminist than she seems to be, and I'm a man.
Anyway, you probably don't care about my thoughts about her two years later -- lol -- but I just wanted to say "Nicely summed up" about your original comment.
I love that she told you you can't understand the complexity of the issue because you're not a woman
Misery loves company.🐭
shareI may be a bit late, but I have an answer, as someone whom grew up in Michele's position. (Val's daughter)
No, she didn't stay with him for love.
She stayed because she expected nothing better of her life...
He 'loved' her, was only violent occasionally, what better could she hope for?
Her mother had never given her any indication that she deserved better, just as she drove her son to pick up heroin,she allowed ber daughter to choose the easy option and stay with Ray.
She didn't love him, she just literally couldn't conceive of any other way...
With an education and female role models her daughter can escape the trap, but without she too will follow the same path.