MovieChat Forums > Light in the Piazza (1962) Discussion > Fair Warning

Fair Warning

posted 9 years ago by jmatrixrenegade
5 replies | jump to latest

I watched this film on TCM last night & enjoyed it.

The ethics of her not telling the family beforehand about her condition was a concern to me. She tells the tutor & is about to tell the father until his friend is injured and he has to rush away.

There are people out there who -- without injures -- are simply child-minded or might have some learning disability that was covered up a bit for whatever reason. Before modern testing and everything, they'd just be considered "simple" or something. Still, here -- though it might be somewhat obvious when she hangs out with the family as she does that she might not be totally "normal" -- it was known. And, I think I'm not alone in thinking it was ethical for the mom to tell.

I understand her reasoning, especially given the times where people like the daughter received less respect, and think it will work out given the resources of her in-laws and the clear love of the husband. Still.

[–] simba-18 9 years ago

I was wondering why she didn't explain it to the father. You make a good point. I enjoyed the movie also. Very nicely done.

[–] cindyfrear-41382 8 years ago

I think they both may have been a little simple-minded. At the end, as Clara picks up a confection from the church steps and eats it, Fabrizio follows suit. The mother takes note of it and instead of assuming it was just a charming gesture, she asks the father, "What ever happened to that friend of yours who was shot by the cannon?" And without any remorse, he replied, "Oh, he died." She realizes that he didn't jump up and leave the conversation because his friend had been shot, but because he knew what she was going to tell him. He also mistakenly thought his own son was 3 years younger than his actual age because of the son's child like and impulsive behavior. Mrs. Johnson's last words are, "I made the right decision."

[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

Does it matter now? The film is absolutely awful and dated beyond
belief. For starters, we're supposed to believe that Meg can tell
Clara's teacher what happened to her in ten minutes, but she cannot
confess it to Hamilton's father??? There are endless, tiresome
scenes with the two parents, yet she can't bring herself to confess
something that is both vital for him to know, and yet nothing to
be ashamed of.

The film is dreadfully paced, with laughable moments (Brazzi steals
twenty minutes of this overlong bore-fest by sulking about a six-year
age difference - until his son INFORMS him that he's 23 and there's
only a three-year difference!

In the end, as they march out of the church, Meg mutters to herself,
"I...did...the...RIGHT thing!" Uh, sorry, Meg...you did not.

Had she done the "right thing", she would've been honest with Hamilton
and his family, and they would've had the chance to decide morally
and honestly whether or not to take such a risk.

Ridiculous, tedious film.

[–] skipper 8 years ago

I often wonder what Clara's father would have done after Meg returned home.

[–] waltereckland 8 years ago

The mother acts like she was the one who got kicked in the head. Just tell them already. It is obvious that the young man is also somewhat childlike. Not to tell them up front was horrible. Not to tell them at all was not only imbecilic it was also despicable.

To end the movie with the impression that the mother did the right thing was grotesque.