MovieChat Forums > The Fare (2019) Discussion > Please - please - help me understand thi...

Please - please - help me understand this one!

posted 5 years ago by EsmeJai (171)
4 replies | jump to latest

This movie went over my head a little...

What was going on??? ANY ideas would be helpful ...

Going to rewatch this one before the end of the year. It'll stay with me.

[–] bistritapcv (1850) 5 years ago

I kinda understood but not why she kept disappearing.

In Greek Mythology, the Ferryman took dead people across the River Styx to Hades. Survivors out pennies on the eyes to pay the ferryman. Not sure where he picked them up from. In the movie they mentioned Elman River Drive. I am still not sure where he got them from or what the deal was with Penny.

In Greek mythology, Penelope was Odysseus' wife but not sure how that is relevant here.

[–] heyteegs (1207) 5 years ago

I couldn’t even finish it. I had ten minutes left and still didn’t care what happened or to whom. It was ridiculous and I really tried to make it to the end.

[–] bistritapcv (1850) 5 years ago

Got kinda romantic in the middle. And the Greek Ferryman does that, ferries (across a river).

[–] Andy91042 (85) 5 years ago

I think "Penny" was based on Persephone, daughter of the Earth goddess, Demeter. One version of the story has Hades visiting Olympus & falling in love with Persephone. Eventually he kidnaps her & brings her to his domain in the Underworld. Only Zeus, Hades's brother, witnesses the kidnapping. Demeter, bereft at the loss of her daughter, searches high & low, but cannot find her. While searching, Demeter withholds her blessing from the earth. Crops fail, the soil hardens & grows fallow. Famine rages & people are unable to make their customary offerings to the gods. The gods finally prevail upon Zeus to intervene. He reveals that Persephone is in the Underworld with Hades.

One problem, however. During her time there, Persephone grew fond of Hades; she liked being Queen of the Underworld. So finally a compromise is worked out—for 9 months of the year Persephone returns to her mother, the remainder she spends in the Underworld. During the latter time Demeter continues to mourn; the earth grows fallow & crops don't grow. We call it "winter".

Some of this is used in the screenplay, though obviously "Penny" is presented more as escaping Hades than being fond of him. Also not certain where the Nepenthe she gives to Harrison fits in, or why touching her begins to restore his memory of their previous rides.