MovieChat Forums > The Normal Heart (2014) Discussion > Was Felix Lying?

Was Felix Lying?

posted 10 years ago by kvobejda
9 replies | jump to latest

Now I've only seen this movie once, so bear with me if I have this wrong, but I believe Felix said two things to Ned right before he showed him his lesion:
1. He doesn't know if he would leave him if Ned got sick
2. He was married before and has a son

Is this true? I find it really terrible and out-of-character, for Felix to say that he might leave Ned if he got sick when Ned was so loyal and strong when Felix got sick. I was kind of thinking that Felix knew he was sick at this point. So, maybe he was feeling guilty about moving in with Ned and then getting sick? Like Ned would then feel responsibility to take care of him? Maybe Felix was trying to give Ned an out of the relationship so he wouldn't be a burden?

As for the marriage and son...what? That just seemed really random and out of nowhere. I suppose there's no reason to doubt him. I mean, gay men marrying and having children was not unheard of in the 80s since so many were in the closet. Still, I kind of feel that this was also Felix's way of pushing Ned away so he wouldn't have to deal with his illness. "Oh and she won't let me see my son so you can't meet him so there's no real evidence that he even exists at all." How convenient.

What do you guys think?

[–] Spectator88 10 years ago

I have watched this movie multiple times and had never thought of this. I think you're on to something and I have to give you a lot of credit for picking up on it after only one viewing.

[–] kvobejda 10 years ago

Aww, that's so sweet! Thank you so much :)

[–] Congirl 10 years ago

Felix did have a son. If you read The Destiny of Me the 2nd part of The Normal Heart it does mention Felix's ex-wife and child. He was not lying about that.

[–] kvobejda 10 years ago

Okay, thanks for the info!

[–] jcooper-alias54 10 years ago

His ex-wife was a real shrew, too; she told Felix he was going to hell because he was gay...She brings a holy roller preacher to the funeral, who rants all Westboro Baptist Church at the mourners...

I totally believe her not letting Felix see his son...

[–] curlybean 10 years ago

I think Felix was trying to give Ned a way out by saying that he didn't know if he would stay if Ned was sick. Just a thought.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] puirt-a-beul 10 years ago

I find it really terrible and out-of-character, for Felix to say that he might leave Ned if he got sick when Ned was so loyal and strong when Felix got sick.

I'm genuinely not sure what you mean by "out-of-character" -- to me it seemed very human, and very true to life. I thought it was clear that he had something he was trying to work his way up to telling Ned about (and when he finally shows him the lesion, and says "It just keeps getting bigger", it's clear he's had it for a while -- maybe he just kept his socks on during sex?), and was trying to gauge ahead of time whether he could count on Ned (that thing we probably all do about trying to get almost a binding commitment to support before we risk telling our secrets), or was trying valiantly to give Ned an "out" in case he needed one when he found out the truth. Some folk can't stand being pitied, and would rather be abandoned than have the other person stay under sufferance or a sense of obligation, but still fear that abandonment all the same.

Re the wife and son: I remember at that moment thinking "That's not what you were trying to tell him, is it?" I've no doubt it was true, but I also got the impression that Felix chickened out on what he was really trying to work up the courage to tell Ned, but knew he had been so ominous that he had to make some disclosure. And again, it was a test of Ned's commitment.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] mom2joshua 9 years ago

I wonder how long Felix had the lesion before he told Ned and if he still had sex with Ned or made excuses to avoid intercourse once he discovered the lesion.
You can tell even during the scene when they were drinking wine on the beach that Felix was anxious about something. Must had been terrifying to discover that lesion, especially after hearing so much about the disease from Ned.