I very much enjoyed watching Far From Heaven last class. I almost found myself in tears at the end because it really just moved me how sad everyone's situation turned out to be in the end. The film really touched me. As we discussed in class I think the dialogue was right on for being a movie made in this century with a setting far from this time.
A particular scene that sticks out to me from the film is when all the housewives got together and were chatting around a table. They were talking about how often their husbands want to have sex. This caught my eye for a few reasons. For one, it was all up to the husbands on how frequently they engage in sexual acts with their wives. It is as though the wives had no say, the men had all the control. Also, the women were acting as though it was a chore for them, something they had to do for their husbands. Most importantly to them, sex was something unenjoyable. It's strange how different time periods view sex. Today women are just as sexual as men and it is an act known to be enjoyable for both. Also this scene was one of the first hints that things weren't as cheery as everyone thought between Cathy and Frank. This was obvious through Cathy's facial reaction to the housewives' conversation about sex.
What I seemed to notice about color in the film while watching it is the frequent use of the colors red and purple. It seemed to me that whenever something negative or bad was about to happen Cathy would either be wearing red or there would be something obvious in the scene that was red. (Example: in many scenes there were red flowers) These negative things ranged from fights with Frank to something to cause gossip in the town. When there was a positive, calm scene or something that made Cathy happy she seemed to be wearing purple (especially around Raymond) and when having happy times with Frank she frequently wore blue. I think this choice by the director is because blue and light purple are calm, cool colors and I think the purpose was meant to portray that tone to the viewers.
I think the setting of this film also showed a lot about gender roles from different time periods. Cathy seemed as though she had no choice but to try to make her marriage work even if it was falling apart. She always seemed so cheery and happy around Frank despite all the problems he was causing her and the family. I also liked how both Cathy and Frank did things that were not approved by society at that time. Frank fell in love with another man and Cathy started to fall for an African American. This shows a lot about their character and how they are a little less judgemental than everyone else in the town. I wish Cathy and Raymond could have worked out. I thought it was sad how Frank got to persue being with the person he really loved but Cathy couldn't persue her feelings for Raymond and fall in love with him. Overall I enjoyed this movie very much!
I love that scene where the women are getting drunk and talking about their sex lives. Cathy's smile and hesitancy is very telling.
ReplyDeleteThe purple scarf Cathy wears is the one Raymond found when it sailed into the birch tree. Purple is a signifier for her relationship with him, but it also signifies homosexuality in general in the film. Cathy's wearing of purple occurs after difficult moments with Frank (whose descent into desperation and secrecy is also marked by green lighting and walls, as with the police station and gay bar). She wears a green pastel cardigan over a purple pastel dress the morning after Frank hits her, and when she goes out with Raymond that day.
I also find this film very moving, every time I watch it; I think I've seen it nearly a dozen times and I always see something new. The score by Elmore Leonard is particularly affecting as well.
The sight of the blossoming tree at the end may suggest that there is hope for Cathy and raymond. The year is 1958; by 1968, bi-racial relationships become better accepted; it won't be too late for them. I like to think they get together in the end.
Ah, yes there's a lot more to the meaning of the colors portrayed in the film than I could notice the first time watching it. I like movies where you always notice something new every time. And I really hope so too that Raymond and Cathy could maybe end up together years down the road.
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