Far From Heaven= My Heaven

I found the movie Far From Heave to be absolutely beautiful. As we discussed in class, the score was incredible and not often found in many movies today. Additionally, I thought they did a really good job keeping the characters and the scenery period specific, which really adds to the overall feel of the film.

I thought it was interesting that the movie was seen from the view of the woman. Since the director is gay and often focuses on that theme I would think that the film would be seen in his perspective- also his perspective is not one that is always seen. I feel I have seen movies about oppressed women in earlier times and the polite way they are supposed to carry themselves- as perfect wives and mothers. However, it is not very common to see the pressures of men- especially gay men during this era.

I also took note of relationship between Cathy and Raymond. For a black men during that time period he certainly was accepted in his community. He owned his own business, sent his daughter to private school and was able to attend community events (such as the gallery showing) with only minimal discrimination. In other parts of the country at that time, he could face more severe treatment and not be able to build his life in the same way. I also thought it was fascinating that the story honed in on the racial tension between Raymond and other members of the black community. The idea that they threw rocks at his window because he brought a white woman to a primarily black restaurant shows that many black peopled wanted the separation from white separation that white people enforced.

I enjoyed the commentary on the idea of an interracial relationship. That is an area in our racial world that is still not joined in complete equality. Those who engage in these relationships still face discrimination from friends, family and community members for "mixing" the races. It is interesting to compare that time to the time now.

The idea that Cathy did not see herself or act like she was oppressed was well portrayed and I think common for women of her generation. There was an element of her feeling "trapped" but it was not very intense. Had she not discovered her husband's extra marital affair she would have been perfectly happy with him working late in the office and not being available to her for a sexual relationship. It appeared as though she would have been happy tending to the children and the home and that being her largest and only role.

It was clear that if her husband had not left her she would not have pursued Raymond. However, I wonder how much of pursing Raymond was love or fear of being alone. Women built their lives around men at that time and to be presented with a life of divorce and then additionally to be alone may have been too much for her to bear.