I may be mistaking, but I took it that they were related in some way? If that is the case, why was she involved emotionally with them? Okay, I know I named more than a few, however with these above points, I took away enough from the movie to not feel completely let down of any attachment to the film. A lot of people seem perplexed about the berries in the car and burning the hundred dollar bill. To me, these two scenes were about Lucy demonstrating control.
She seems to be a character that has had a lot of bad stuff happen alcoholic mother, drugged up friend who wants to die , that she has no control over. She knew that by allowing herself to be put to sleep that she was entering into a state where she has relinquished control. It was something small that was within her control. She was creating a mess in the car — messing up the perfect orchestrated ritual. As for the hundred dollar bill, money again represented something that controlled her.
She could be fired from work, or chucked out of her flat. As for all of us, she was reliant on money and resented that control it has. Burning the note was again an act of rebellion. It belonged to her and she could choose to burn it if she wished. She was in control. Someone also asked about the woman on the bus.
I think this scene shows how Lucy realised how vulnerable a person is when the are asleep. I think this scene is what made her curious about what went on while she slept, and urged her to buy the camera. Overall all the film left myself and my husband feeling flat. It was a bit depressing. Some of the characters could have been developed a lot more. And the ending definately lacked…well…an ending!
Did anyone notice that at the very end, where we see the footage of Lucy in bed with the dying man, that the camera angle was high up, as if near the ceiling? Perhaps suggesting that all of the meetings were being watched anyway? On previous occasions the lady who owned the house told the clients that they must not penetrate the girl. Just a theory — would love to know whether anyone agrees or not!
I thought Lucy burned the money to show us that she was acting out of self destruction rather than just simple monetary gain. But it could also be about control. The berries, red berries, are symbolic of losing virginity. Although in this case it is a symbolic virginity..
I thought that she put her knickers on when she got out of bed to show that on some level, even though deeply sedated, she had been aware or affected by what had gone on. Perhaps on an energetic level, she had felt violated and in need of the symbolic or flimsy protection that pants gave her, this idea was echoed by her watching the woman on the bus sleep.
This made her curious about what she was actually allowing to happen to her, and also probably why she bought the camera. The guy at the funeral I took to clearly be her ex. Her proposal was just to shake him up a bit, she coolly observed his anger at her machinations, her discourteousness.
Again- an element of self destruction and submerged anger. Her friendship with the birdman also shows her ease with depressiveness and self destruction rather than with the normal kids around her at college. I also think the film is clever at expressing the sexual violation without any actual sex. But, for all that, I still was merely left a bit depressed at the end, and not particularly overwhelmed.
Interesting for an hour or two, intrigued enough to check out reviews afterwards, but not massively impressed. The storytellers knew they had something to work with. It was as though the story tellers refused to accept responsibility for anything other than expressing a few raw concepts shrouded in ambiguity, deliberately so because they simply lacked the skill to construct the supporting framework with attention to detail so that all the pieces fit together.
Like an unfinished painting, with the background entirely missing because the artist had not the skill to complete that many layers of complexity. Just grasped at a few key concepts and hoped the audience would simply overlook all that was missing.
It has been very interesting to read the many interpretations expressed here. Some I think are what the storytellers intended, while others go beyond I think what the storytellers intended, but upon reflection, wish they had. Not because the concepts were beyond my comprehension or because I lacked the depth of perception to appreciate it.
I sort of know what you are going for …. Hi everyone, and thank you Thomas for this very sensible review. Is that the same woman, and why is she there, asking to be taken in the same car, on the same ride, with Lucy? A very well thought out review, and some fascinating discussion that follows.
I must admit to being somewhat stymied by the ending, but on reflection, it does make some sense. Coupled with her lack of any learning experience through the course of the film, I felt flat and unfulfilled.
Lucy appears to have not gained anything from her experiences. The film is beautifully crafted, very reminiscent of Kubrick in the static placement of camera dead centre in a room to emphasize symmetry, in a world and lifestyle that is far from perfect. Every film I have seen her in she has had the same emotionless, bland expression firmly fixed on her face. While I acknowledge that this would not have been an easy role to play, due to the confrontational sexual nature of the material, I saw nothing to show that she has any sort of range beyond what is shown here as well.
I guess if the director was looking to shock with physical, completely unsexual violation, she hit the mark with me. Not a great film, but certainly thought provoking. Thanks again for your insightful review Thomas. I concur — good review. As has been said before I am one of those people who like things tidied up and finished off — not necessarily with a pretty bow but finished just the same. So yes I would say that was the middle not an end and would be thrilled if there was a follow-up.
Theres just so many things i do not understand. Why was Lucy crying in the end when she saw the old man? I do love this film very much. Every single shot was beautifully composed and set.
I am just looking for some answers i can find myself lol. I have not seen the movie yet, however I ran across a preview of it on youtube yesterday. Now after reading your review and subsequent comments I really want to see it, now I just need to find it. Your review is much appreciated. Im not an arty farty person by any means, but once I was drawn into the movie by the characters, even the ones that dont have a word to say, I was hooked.
So much unsaid, yet so much told by the cameras and actors, truth be told small chapters. This movie, had me both feeling uncomfortable and enthralled at the same time. She is a mystery in this movie as is the plot on some accounts. This movie makes your mind wonder, it kept me awake for 2 hours thinking about the end where she wakes up screaming — or was she dead?? I reckon it will go down as a classic movie — not for everyone as the main reviewer, Thomas Caldwell, says.
But I really enjoyed reading this review and the comments, film was good, little confusing, but watched till the end. Great discussion about the film in this thread. The ending continues to perplex me though. In the shot from hidden camera at the end does she actually move or is she too also dead next to the guy in the bed? Furthermore, when she first arrives at the country house there is another girl coming out of the back door stumbling and being guided into a car, clearly in bad shape — what was that all about?
All depends on if she is dead or not at the end I suppose! The ending… Lucy asked if she could watch what goes on inside the room while the girls are under. When she was told no, due to client secrecy, she instead put a video camera up to record what goes on. When she is awoken in the morning, she discovers the money spent on the camera, instead of rent was a waste for all it catches is the two lifeless bodies, and her questions of what happens in those rooms is still up in the air.
Hi Dave, so you think she was dead in that final shot from the hidden camera? I must admit I did like the fact that the time she chose to capture events in the room was the time when the purpose of the visit was something different to those we had seen previously. Probably reading too much into it there.
Then again though, all the male visitors were off a certain age and all seemed quite sad in one way or another? I would have expected variation in the age of visitors since these days age is no sign of wealth or the ability to pay for services such as those — if the purpose was simply to spend time with the young lady? The woman who was falling asleep and drooling in her seat? What was the significance of Lucy seeing that woman on the train?
Or bus….? I think they say a lot about what we tend to expect from movies. Having just watched the film and looking for explanations to its enigmas, I found your review. Thank you for your analysis, which I found insightful and useful. I am quite surprised by the vitriol expressed by some of the commentors above and delighted that you responded to so many with a polite, respectful tone despite their rudeness. However, one major issue I have with the film is that there is no basis for relating.
Honestly, my reaction was somewhat like: What The Heck!?! As is, though, Sleeping Beauty was an alien to me. There was a lot of unanswered questions in this film. Skip to content. Clara Rachael Blake , Lucy Emily Browning and Man 1 Peter Carroll The men are repeatedly told that they are safe and free from judgement while in the room with sleeping Lucy, perhaps to parody the often defensive claim that men are the most vulnerable in a sexualised environment because their urges supposedly render them so helpless.
Thomas Caldwell, Thankyou Thomas. I think that was part of the point. Try again. All the best, Izzy. I find myself disagreeing with you though on the point of man number three: while another carries and throws her around like a rag doll. The acts are non-sexual but each in their own way are expressions of something dark within some men that make them want to dominate women apologies to quote your own review.
Well done Julia Leigh and Emily Browning, a team well forged. Thanks for your review Tom — thoughtful and well constructed as ever. There are a few points of the movie that actually aggravated me afterwards. What was the symbolism of dropping the berries in the car? Having said that, I have to say that I am glad I watched the movie. If nothing else, it has certainly evoked plenty of thought which is an achievement in itself. Nice try though. Thank you Thomas. I am just looking for some answers i can find myself lol Sorry for not writing formally XD.
I didnt hear or read any of the reviews for this movie before watching it. It made me question the lines in which they considered what was and what was not classified as penetration.
Was it her way of diminishing the act she performed? After Maleficent sets the curse upon Aurora that she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die on her 16th birthday , King Stefan orders all spinning wheels to be burned. She is a mystery in this movie as is the plot on some accounts. I must admit to being somewhat stymied by the ending, but on reflection, it does make some sense.
I think this scene shows how Lucy realised how vulnerable a person is when the are asleep. Or, heck, wait a day or even a week.
Having said that, I have to say that I am glad I watched the movie. The acts are non-sexual but each in their own way are expressions of something dark within some men that make them want to dominate women.
The immersive experience of watching this film is further aided by the meticulous and minimalist sound design by Sam Petty. I can appreciate this film for just what it is.
He wants to cherish this beautiful woman. Sleeping Beauty is much like the blooming of a flower, all the petals open slowly in unison, not one at a time, it isn't until it's finished can we admire it in it's entirety. Heaven forbid the kingdom get a just-okay-looking princess. But i think the meaning of the whole film is not dependent on the fact she is asleep and has been paid for the job she partakes but that in fact she is already asleep as a person.
Im not an arty farty person by any means, but once I was drawn into the movie by the characters, even the ones that dont have a word to say, I was hooked. A common critique of pornography, and the appropriation of the pornographic aesthetic in mainstream culture, is that images that have adopted such endlessly replicated and industrialised representations of sexuality are in fact drained of any actual eroticism or sensuality.
Lucy consented to Birdman dying next to her, unlike the old man. And you kind of get the feeling that the grudge she holds has something to do with feelings she has for King Stefan, Sleeping Beauty's dad.
It was about reinforcing his masculinity and making him feel like a man but with a softness. As others have noted above, I never felt able to engage with Lucy, not one iota, so consequently had no real investment in what happened to her, but that is by no means the only flaw here.
The fairies come to bestow their gifts upon the child and the first is Her relationship with the Birdman is never explained, as is her hobby of picking up men in bars, and — these two factors notwithstanding — for a uni student she seems to have little in the way of either friends or fun.
We both agreed we needed to go to the pub to discuss this film. I found myself hoping that Lucy would ditch the prostitution and marry Birdman. This film is replete with wtf. Example: The Reader Interesting for an hour or two, intrigued enough to check out reviews afterwards, but not massively impressed.
Her parents and it's implied that they had a hard time conceiving just willingly give up their baby? If this were real life, Aurora would probably still be calling all the fairies her real moms. This seemed to me just a collection of unpleasant things photographed compellingly in a way that renders them meaningless. The film left me with a void. She allows herself to be literally put to sleep in order to mentally skip the lengthy hours of her degrading job, only to wake up with a full purse and no memory of the events.
In this way Sleeping Beauty expressed the nature of sexual violence as being something that comes from a cruel desire to wield power and degrade, with sexuality having nothing to do with it. And a wonderful review on a wonderful film. The berries, red berries, are symbolic of losing virginity. Its like the bad acting and bad dialogue go hand in hand, so what you have are these really plain, uninteresting characters.
It also highlights that Sara is a construct, she is not real: like the fairytale character sleeping beauty. Kudos to you for trying to write something thoughtful and so on. Sleeping Beauty is much like the blooming of a flower, all the petals open slowly in unison, not one at a time, it isn't until it's finished can we admire it in it's entirety.
Why did Lucy become so overwhelmed with the sleeping lady on the train? Well done Julia Leigh and Emily Browning, a team well forged. Lucy is a university student who works in an office in the daytime and at a restaurant in the evenings.
It is seen as being worse than if she had been penetrated. This made her curious about what she was actually allowing to happen to her, and also probably why she bought the camera.
I found myself hoping that Lucy would ditch the prostitution and marry Birdman. Hello, I really like your article. Just a theory — would love to know whether anyone agrees or not!
It was as though the story tellers refused to accept responsibility for anything other than expressing a few raw concepts shrouded in ambiguity, deliberately so because they simply lacked the skill to construct the supporting framework with attention to detail so that all the pieces fit together.
I literally struggled to sleep; paranoid of being watched xD However, your review has helped me appreciate the film a ton more. I thought Lucy burned the money to show us that she was acting out of self destruction rather than just simple monetary gain. Can anybody tell me exactly what happened at the end? They are not just upset by the film itself, but by the fact that other people have been able to appreciate it. A common critique of pornography, and the appropriation of the pornographic aesthetic in mainstream culture, is that images that have adopted such endlessly replicated and industrialised representations of sexuality are in fact drained of any actual eroticism or sensuality.
The men are repeatedly told that they are safe and free from judgement while in the room with sleeping Lucy, perhaps to parody the often defensive claim that men are the most vulnerable in a sexualised environment because their urges supposedly render them so helpless.
Probably reading too much into it there. California residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. While many of my remaining questions have been answered; I still wanted to know the meaning behind the scene when Lucy subtlely releases the berries on the car floor.
Just like that. I hope I don't bore you to "sleep" with this! While she does not retu… An intriguing glimpse into some forgotten ring of hell, for your viewing pleasure.
Notions about sex and death are turned on their heads and the audiences are routinely confronted with ideas and images that are both ambiguous and unsettling. In the shot from hidden camera at the end does she actually move or is she too also dead next to the guy in the bed? And you kind of get the feeling that the grudge she holds has something to do with feelings she has for King Stefan, Sleeping Beauty's dad.
Simple as that. A belated birthday party isn't really all that bad. Or make you want to "curse" me! How can we get away with this? What's Wrong With Secretary Kim 16 episodes 4.
As with most posters, I too wish there was some sort of moral epiphany, or some realization that had been reached. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Please someone explain this to me. She only screams when she is on the offensive. It belonged to her and she could choose to burn it if she wished. If nothing else, it has certainly evoked plenty of thought which is an achievement in itself. Thanks for the article, offers great insight and obviously a different perspective than a lot of people have!
I think another interesting point to mention is the name change, I have referred to Lucy as Sara as it is Sara that is the sleeping beauty it forms as a detachment device allowing Lucy to separate herself from her work, or role as sleeping beauty. While You Were Sleeping 32 episodes 7. Some I think are what the storytellers intended, while others go beyond I think what the storytellers intended, but upon reflection, wish they had. This seemed to me just a collection of unpleasant things photographed compellingly in a way that renders them meaningless.
I must admit I did like the fact that the time she chose to capture events in the room was the time when the purpose of the visit was something different to those we had seen previously.
So what is new?? The acting in general was just so dry and sterile, maybe it was meant to be, but bad acting really does ruin a film. Surprising because I had seen previews On Demand and felt turned off.
What was the symbolism of dropping the berries in the car? To me, these two scenes were about Lucy demonstrating control. I was disappointed in the movie, mainly because it was lauded so much. She seems to be a character that has had a lot of bad stuff happen alcoholic mother, drugged up friend who wants to die , that she has no control over.
I enjoyed this review, specifically about you picking up the sensory deprivation theme and that penetration was solely perpetrated in the science experiment, presumably for money.
0コメント