I beg to differ. We know exactly who sent the letter. You just have to have an eidetic memory and understand that nothing that Jarmusch shows you is incidental or accidental. Now, exactly WHY she sent the letter is left up to audience speculation.
(I'll tell you in e-mail if you're curious.)
My thought is that WHO sent the letter is not important. Neither is whether or not he has a son. The movie is about a man returning to a period 20 years in his past and seeing that that time -- those women -- don't exist as he has memorialized them.
Which is, in my opinion, why the letter sender sent the letter. She wanted him to stop chasing tail long enough to stop and ask himself what was important.
That's how I saw it. Mind you, I was sitting beside someone who was subconsciously humming, so that might have colored my interpretation somewhat.
~CA~
Interesting... so you think the woman I didn't mention was the one who sent it, I gather. I was thinking that if anyone other than Winston sent it, it would've been the Frances Conroy character.
That was a fascinating relationship and I ached for her. It reminded me of the Alison Janney character in American Beauty. You just know there was abuse going on... you could see her skin crawl every time her husband displayed "affection."
In any case, I think you're right, the sender and ultimately, whether or not Don has a son, is not the point. Now that I think about it... the conversation in the beginning with the woman to whom you refer makes sense, I guess. But in that case... now I want THAT resolution.
I know I won't get it. But dammit, I still want it. And REGARDLESS of the sender or what happens in that regard, I still think Jarmusch should've given us more than the philosophical one-liner to show that Don got something life-changing out of the trip.
In any case, I'd still recommend the film. 3 dots is over the center divider between thumbs up and down.
(Deirdre, if you think this is too revealing about the plot, feel free to edit it in Haloscan -- I don't want to step over any spoiler boundaries. ~C~
It's not Frances Conroy. She clearly didn't send it. She is a barren woman leading a barren life in a barren marriage in a prefab barren house. She's had no children.
It is also not Winston. Winston would have no possible reason to send the letter. Now, was Winston a willing accomplice, in cahoots with the letter sender? That's a distinct possibility. He loves Don and loves the letter writer as well. He could easily have allowed himself to be drafted. What does he say to Don? "Watch for anything pink." He's not just telling that to Don, he's telling that to us. Pink is significant.
The woman to whom I refer appears onscreen but briefly, dressed in a very expensive, tailored designer suit. A pink designer suit. She is the first person to handle the letter, to call his attention to the letter, and in fact, leaves the letter on the stack of mail, on top, where he cannot miss it. And what does he find waiting for him amongst his mail when he returns? This is not a coincidence. It's Jarmusch's way of telling you precisely who wrote the letter.
She also asks the most pertinent question of Don -- "What is it that you want?" When he has no answer for her -- when he is hopelessly paralytically ambivalent -- that's when the movie starts.
I'll give it three and half dots, only because I just really thought the performances were so brilliant -- especially compared to what we've seen lately.
~C~
Oops... but I meant to add (before I accidentally clicked "publish") that Jarmusch's direction drags in spots -- his transitions between scenes can sometimes be torturously long -- which is why I wouldn't give it more than 3 and half. So... we're almost in overall agreement.
~C~
No, no! This is exactly the kind of conversation I want to have on this blog. I want to discuss movies with people who have SEEN them. That's the reason for all the spoiler alerts... so we can talk freely amongst ourselves.
You're right, of course. I agree completely with your explanations and assessments...
I did think the severe lack of landscaping was a good tip-off... I just didn't link it to the barrenness of the household. Man, do I feel a little slow or what? What grows in a bed of bark? Nothing, unless seeds are planted.
You're right about the pink designer outfit... which I noticed and promptly decided I wouldn't buy, if given the opportunity. LOL... and I really like the idea that she was in cahoots with Winston. Good call.
I also agree that the driving transitions were torturously long. A little self-indulgent on Jarmusch's part... but for what reason, I can't imagine. Perhaps he wanted to impress upon his viewers the tedium between episodes of adventure. Problem is, when you make your audience feel tediousness... that's a BAD thing.
Definitely recommendable because of the fascinating performances. Thanks for a very SATISFYING conversation. :D You made the commentary completely worthwhile.
Oy... the driving scenes... "Yes. A map. Ethiopian music. I GET IT!!!"
Sheesh!
~CA~
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