MovieChat Forums > Olive Kitteridge (2014) Discussion > Olive' s response to over hearing her so...

Olive' s response to over hearing her son's bride at the wedding.

posted 9 years ago by corabeth26
4 replies | jump to latest

The scene where Olive overheard her son's bride at the wedding really spoke to me. I understand that the Olive is a difficult character, but to me her son's wife is worse. But, what spoke to me most was what Olive did afterward. 40 + years ago I overheard a neighbor speak disparaging of me. We had recently moved to a large city in another state. We had moved from all our family & friends, it was a difficult time. I was devastated. If I could have done something like Olive(stealing the shoe & earring) I would have felt empowered over that small, evil woman.

[–] FilmGangster 9 years ago

I know doing stuff like that feels good. But it il very, very childish. That's why I was surprised Olive did that. She didn't seem like a childish person to me. Up to that point anyway. Crual yes, some kind of personality disorder. But Childish, no.

And I have also been in those situations when those opportunities presented themselves. I have a nerve disease. So I have overheard people calling me drunk or an idiotic klutz because of how I have coordination problems. I also have heard people call me retarded or stupid because of how I talk. I know how good it would feel to do something like that to get back at them, especially in the moment. But I take my satisfaction in that they just exposed how truly ignorant they are and that can't be erased.

[–] hodie1 9 years ago

I was happy Olive did that.

[–] drtturner 9 years ago

Yes tacky and illustrated that she was as off as they described. Silly how so many act tyrannical and then when people treat them with contempt they want a pity party. Had she really listened they described her husband as a sweatheart and saintlike. Would it kill her to try better to follow his lead rather than alienate people with each cold stare and abrupt comment?

[–] allisonjoys 9 years ago

I noticed that Olive reacted with actions instead of emotions. She would wash dishes, clean the fridge, work in her garden. Near the end she is listening to her dead husbands radio (earlier she told him it was depressing) and she quickly turned it off, said go go go, and took the dog for a walk.

That scene at the wedding in the room- it was her action instead of emotion. If you notice she's able to calmly leave, eat donuts at a restaurant etc. without a problem.