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| Discussion: Virginia Wolfe Just saw the movie and felt confused about whether the movie was about feelings from mental illness, co-dependency or being lesbian, or all of the above. The complexity of the way the story is told in "The Hours" drew my curiosity to know more about Virginia Woolf. >>By Jane The hours, the hours after. It still haunts and weaves. Masterful. >>By nessie Friends went to see the movie last night. Is this the same Virginia Woolf as Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? >>By thegroup I too found it haunting. It was not about lesbianism per se, it was about the similarities of women of different generations and situations. Depression was a big part of it as was death AND especially trying to find LIFE. It was about the fact that women of all times have not been able to be themselves and to control their own lives without nurturing others' needs. Women always been expected to take care of others and in their own ways, these 3 women finally said "No more. I am the important one." >>By June "The Hours" is a film from which you can take what you choose. Two of the principal characters chose death over life, but two chose life instead. I do not think this film is about depression or lesbianism or the problems of women, per se. I think it was about life, being what it is, and the fact that life presents us with many, many obstacles and challenges. There is also the beauty and the of color of flowers and then, too, the thick, cold darkness of the less pleasant slices of life. The point of the film, I believe, is that each of us makes a decision (whether consciously or not) -- some of us choose darkness over light, others choose light over darkness. It's more about perception and choices. >>By Dee Seems like one would have to believe that mental illness (depression, in this case) is not a chosen condition. Virginia Woolf's closing line in the movie was, "What is the meaning of regret, if you never had a choice?" The acting was brilliant. The sets were magnificent. But the message/moral of the story was frustratingly subtle..............and then days later you find yourself still pondering each character, the similarities among the 3 women, and the possibility that you share those similarities. I left the theatre thinking the movie had been a waste of my time. But now I can't wait to get back and see it again. It's so profound, it's too much to grasp in one viewing. "Haunting"....yes, it is that, but why? That's the challenge....to discover why that movie won't leave me alone. >>By Bahb This movie was most definately about lesbianism and incest. Do not be deceived and think that it was not. The main characters all dealt with that issue. It is terribly dark and oppressive. There is hope - if you are searching for freedom from the kind of oppression portrayed in this film - Read the Book of Romans in the New Testament of the Bible. The truth will set you free. >>By saved My husband and I just saw the movie yesterday and I started to read the book today. Of course now I want to know more about Virginia Woolf. I thought the movie was masterful -- the overlays were so well done, synchronized. Yes, the subject matter was dark, but some of life is dark. Sad. I was most perplexed by Julianne Moore's role. Was it depression due to her pregnancy? Was she trapped in a marriage not of her choosing? Maybe the book will 'splain it to me. I'd also like to know if the movie was shot when Julianne was actually pregnant. Don't know why, just want to know. >>By Another Nana My opinion of this movie was at first a little dissapointing because I felt it was a little hard to follow with all of the shifts in plot. But now that I have had some time to ponder the movie I am fascinated with it and anxious to learn more about it. I believe I will definitely see it at least one more time. I suffer from severe depression so it was mind opening for me to see women from different generations suffering from the same malady. What a huge respect I have for the women who endured without medication, including my very own mother. I am still perplexed by the lesbian "thread" that ran through all three stories but I feel it was just another element that was added to add to the complexities of these women. I believe that it was there to make us all see how difficult it is to truelly be ourselves actually is. The movie was very thought provoking and definitely not your average "escape movie". If you like movie's that inspire thought and discussion please take this movie in. >>By Inspired We watched the movie this afternoon and my wife just wrote it off as a lesbian movie. I have to agree in that it seemed to me that it was dealing with how different women in different situations in different eras had to deal with homosexual feelings. I thought it was interesting in how it was presented by one writing the book, one reading the book, and one living it, but overall it was just too depressing to enjoy. Spending the afternoon with sad, depressed, suicidal lesbians is not my idea of a good time. >>By Wizard I saw the movie yesterday and thought it was very good but sad and depressing. I thought Julianne Moore's and Meryl Streep's performance was better than Nicole Kidmans. Nicole Kidman seemed very bland and was always scowling. From what I read about Virginia Woolf, she had a funny, witty sense of humor. I didn't fully understand Clarissa's relationship with Richard, was she in love with him when she was younger? Julianne Moore's torment was that she was living a lie. She had a loving and supportive husband but she was not happy. It is like a heterosexual stuck in a homosexual relationship. That is why she told Clarissa she was very lucky to be able to bring up her daughter, Julianne had to abandon her children b/c she that was the option she took rather than suicide. Does anyone have different thoughts about this? >>By Zoe Just talking about it at work and have not seen the movie, but also want to know....is this the same who's afraid of virginia woolf? someone please answer.i >>By mema was jeff daniels character a past lover of richard? >>By georgie Poor Virginia Woolf! First off, she was bisexual. Secondly, she was bipolar manic-depressive rather than unpolar depressive. And "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" is simply a catch-phrase in a play by the same name. In spite of her problems with mental illness, she was a great writer and produced an excellent volume of work. My personal favorite is "The Waves." I love complex plots and ideas all squashed together and defiantly left for the reader to translate. >>By redcatdave I agree with Dee. Movie is ALL about life and death, and the conscious and unconscious choices related thereto. Richard chose death to give life/freedom (to Meryl), from his perspective. Others, like Virginia Woolf, chose death, but chose it to give freedom to her husband. I am told by some knowledgeable folks that any likeness between the character of Virginia Woolf in movie and the real one is fortuitous. It is far from being factually biographical, tho some facts obviously are true, like her family/sister nieces & Nephews, and her death etc. In fact her niece has written a book, name excapes me, about Virginia, her aunt. Wife says it's interesting reading. She read it years ago. Surely interested folks can find that on the internet at amazon or somewhere. I found The Hours an interesting movie, well acted and fairly easy to follow. As I don't find a "black hole" in my life and have never felt a need to explore lesbianism it is clear to me that a spiritual void and lack of knowledge of one's self and the true meaning of life is what drove the characters to such despair and ruin. I KNOW that I am a child of God, I KNOW the value of a relationship with the Lord, and I KNOW how he expects me and my family to lead our lives....this makes our lives and time here on earth of great importance and value. >>By Marsha B The Julianne Moore character was not fully developed and was disturbing. Was she a latent homosexual? It sure seemed that way, she had no interest in sex with her husband except for conception. Or was she mentally disturbed to the point of psychosis? She operated normally with other characters, just seemed depressed. She said she did'nt have a choice. To me conflicted lesbianism and depression dosen't equal the disconnect to her son and eventual abandonment of her new born baby girl. Please comment. >>By Lisa D I saw the movie, and felt that the it gloified Death and selfishness in women. None of the three characters had any notion of joy or thankfulness or spirituality. They were all self-indulgent, and were unable to appreciate, or make the best of anything. They missed the beauty of their surrounding, the kindness of others, and thought only of themselves. The only enjoyable thing about this movie, was in the opening scenes, when Virginia Wolfe lit a very short cigarette, it brought back memories of the "I Love Lucy," episode where she lights her nose on fire. That image made me laugh in one the most depressing, downbeat movies of all times. >>By Nancy My wife and I saw "The Hours" this afternoon. The only time in the movie that anyone smile was when Moore's character and her son when she picked him from the sitter coming home from the hotel. Clarissa said that she had never met her daughter's father. Was the child conceved by Artificial Insemination? >>By Steve T. Like most who have written, I find myself three days later reviewing and reframing this film - one of the most subtly profound films of recent times. While the film offered elements of homosexuality and depression as the context, I do believe it was mostly about societally constructed feminine roles and the effect of repressed feelings such oppression can cause. Virginia Wolff was entirely controlled by her husband (and the household spies), as women were at that time. Her only escape was suicide. Julianne Moore's character lived the life society said she should, and she was so unhappy. She was not constructed to be the adoring, happy housewife and mother. After contemplating suicide, she instead abandoned her family to save herself. Clarissa adored Richard, who chose another over her, yet she remained loyal to him. Of all the women she had the freedom to choose her life: to live openly as a lesbian, to have a child without a father, and to love a bisexual man who loved someone else. Julianne Moore's character puts it all in perspective in the final scene when explains her own life and her choices and celebrates Clarissa's choices. >>By Sita About Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own." it is said that, " It was Woolf?s hope that through the exposure to these sexist themes and forms in literature, that society?s sensibilities would be awakened to more enlightened ways of viewing women?s roles both on the page and in society." It is also said that "The ?room? is representative of a woman?s independence. In this work, Woolf makes her illustrative statement: "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction." >>By Sita Hi Sita, I like your last comment. It stays on target with a discussion about the AUTHOR rather than a movie, which should be discussed in the move page. Virginia Woolf had an observant eye and a brilliant, literary mind, in spite of her struggle with bipolar manic-depressive illness. >>By redcatdave i have read all of the comments about this movie and my only question is....was the main topic of these depressed women about "Lesbians"? If not, then why put that in the movie? Susan I did not think this was about "lesbians", Susan. I agree more with Sita. It was more about societal oppression. And the reason Clarisa had choice, it was somewhat easier to choose during her era, vs. the 50's and 20's. V. Wolfe was so ahead of her time. Brilliant, even with her mental illness struggles. Her conversation with her husband at the train station was so amazing!!! >>By Sandy I am curious to know why a movie is being discussed in a page for books. Let's talk about Virginia Woolf's work! She wrote so many excellent oerves of literature. I want to hear comments about her work! Leave the movie for the movie page! >>By redcatdave why are women so hung up about their sex and what they percieve to be the expectations society puts on them? came here to learn more about Virginia Woolf and seem to be getting confused messages about Lesbianism rather than talk about the author herself >>By sammy snake I tried to discuss this in the movie section, but couldn't find it, so I'll put my opinion here. I think this movie was about not belonging. It was about living a life on the outside that had nothing to do with who you were on the inside. It was about being so tortured by trying to live according to the expectations of other people that finally you say "enough". It was about reclaiming yourself. Some chose to do that through death, others through life. If this movie was a true portrayal of Virginia's inner beauty, I look forward to learning more about her. >>By Kathleen to sammy snake: Thank you for wanting to know more about the author and less about the current movie about her. She wrote outstanding novels with complicated, symbolic plots layered on each other. Try reading "The Waves." I knew when I read the first page that I had found a masterpiece. It has to do with the cycle of life via the ocean's tides. It's one of my favorite books. >>By redcatdave Some really interesting thoughts and interpretations. I have enjoyed reading them. I have never read any of her books and so I am really keen to understand the significance of ' mrs Dalloway' (what happens in this story?). Does anybody know? Will any body tell me? I intend to read the book eventually, but i'm really impatient and want to know NOW. Please let me know. >>By by dee In response to the question about "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe". There is no parallel. This is the title of a play written by Edward Albee. A legend grew up about the title. Albee wanted to call the play “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” but the copyright holder demanded an exorbitant sum. One night Albee saw a better title, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” scrawled on a men’s room wall in a Greenwich Village bar. >>By lsh |