What was accomplished?
The main character didn't change- the only person who changed was Ruth, because she couldn't cry, and then she did.
What significance did the story have on the character? I feel like it ended in the middle. The flashbacks provided backstory- but to what? He missed the funeral, so it doesn't matter how much he loved Boots.
The flashbacks were great, but the present day storyline seemed unfinished to me.
I think the main theme in the movie was to always remember your past and may be the film is trying to say that embrace it. Even though Joe was now a successful guy but still that doesn't change the fact that he made huge mistakes in his younger years, hence the title of the film 'flashbacks of a fool'.
(just my observation).
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Also he probably never forgave himself for Jane's death. He should have not stayed with Evelyn to have sex and sent the girl back in, but his 16yo hormones just didn't allow him to have good judgement. Thus he pays for it the rest of his life.
shareFilm is a mess- a sometimes appealing mess- but a mess all the same. Most important thing I learned is that there are some places in England where the sun used to shine- most british films I watch the sun (if you ever see it) is uncredited.
sharethose places in England where the sun used to shine are actually placed in South Africa. LOL
shareIt's a film about reflection.
The character, at this point in his life, and after getting hit with the news about the death of his childhood friend, reflects back on his youth and situations that occurred in his past; he reflects on choices he made that eventually led to him to who he is today.
I don't know that anything necessarily need be 'accomplished' or that a main character must change, for a film to be worthwhile.
However, 'Joe' does not seem self-reflective at all until the death of his friend, instead 'living in the moment', in a very selfish and hedonistic manner.
He seems to be all about 'him' until he finally goes back home after all those years and after he gives the check/note to Ruth.
We might not see how all this might otherwise change him, his attitudes, or his lifestyle because the film ends upon his return to California.
Guess it's up to the viewer to decide at that point if/how he has changed, if the question of 'change' is such an important one. To me, it is not.
I think that this film resonates more with people who are old enough to understand what it means to have real regrets from youthful mistakes and wrong choices -- to realize that certain mistakes impact your life forever -- to have the type of life reflection that seems to take decades to achieve and that is frequently triggered by permanent changes/circumstances imposed on your life that are beyond your control (such as the death of someone you've known all your life) and that lead you to question who/what you have become and maybe even where you will go and who you will be from here on out. We are, afterall, only young once.
And, all that can make the most simple, fond memories all the more bittersweet.
"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois
I think that this film resonates more with people who are old enough to understand what it means to have real regrets from youthful mistakes and wrong choices -- to realize that certain mistakes impact your life forever -- to have the type of life reflection that seems to take decades to achieve and that is frequently triggered by permanent changes/circumstances imposed on your life that are beyond your control (such as the death of someone you've known all your life) and that lead you to question who/what you have become and maybe even where you will go and who you will be from here on out. We are, afterall, only young once.
"I think that this film resonates more with people who are old enough to understand what it means to have real regrets from youthful mistakes and wrong choices -- to realize that certain mistakes impact your life forever -- to have the type of life reflection that seems to take decades to achieve and that is frequently triggered by permanent changes/circumstances imposed on your life that are beyond your control (such as the death of someone you've known all your life) and that lead you to question who/what you have become and maybe even where you will go and who you will be from here on out. We are, afterall, only young once."
ChazzJazz: "thats a lot of extrapolation for a movie that had none of that on film !!!!"
Uh-huh.
For one thing, the text of mine that you quoted was referring to viewers for whom I believe the film would resonate more.
But, be that as it may:
Are you honestly saying that film depicted NO "youthful mistakes"? Illustrated NO "regrets"? Showed NO "wrong choices"? Revealed NO "life reflection"? etc.
NONE??
"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois
Are you honestly saying that film depicted NO "youthful mistakes"? Illustrated NO "regrets"? Showed NO "wrong choices"? Revealed NO "life reflection"? etc.
ChazzJazz:
"sure it showed youthful mistakes, but we aint sure the main character saw them as such...
What regret? they tears the girl wasnt supposed to have?
No life refelction whatsoever, if he had any he would try to hook up with the girl of his dreams"
No reflection? The majority of the film was about the main character reflecting back on his life.
Do you think he is going to try to 'hook up' with her right after she buried her husband???
Besides what was inferred, the main character does explicitly state (not exact quote here) that it can take more courage to stay (which he did not do) than to leave (which he did do)...
Also, you don't think that the main character thought that his sleeping with the neighbor was a mistake -- first, when he screwed up his date with Ruth and then again after what happened to her daughter?
You don't think the main character regretted not having a relationship with Ruth?
And, much more...I already wrote more about this movie in other threads, such as how the death of his friend and the memories that come flooding back has an effect on the character -- for example, how he thought of someone besides himself (probably first time in a very long time) when he wrote the check out to Ruth.
Also, I don't understand what you mean by the the "tears the girl wasn't supposed to have"?
"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois
"It takes more courage to stand still" that is the whole premise of 'Flashback of a fool' He was a fool for leaving, he thought his voluntary exile made him strong and courageous but instead ..........well, the movie tells you the instead. He has had to learn the hard way, but learn he has.
share"The only thing you need courage for is for standing still" that is the whole premise of 'Flashback of a fool' He being joe scott was a fool for leaving, he thought his volutary exile made him strong and courageous but instead ..........well, the movie tells you the instead. He has had to learn the hard way, but learn he has.
shareIMHO the film was just a visual version of the song lyrics... Starting with the line "Shake your hair girl.... takes me right back". This is Walsh's favourite music track of all time, and as an experienced pop video maker, he wanted to "make a film" of it. All the detail is there to create the background leading to the dance scene/last scene. The accomplishment was to visualise a very abstract song lyric... done briliantly
There's other suff in the lyrics that appear in the film ("roses round the door" "Growing potatoes" ), and of course Anthomy Price's makeup/costume/hair/jacket from the ablum cover.