MovieChat Forums > Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural (1973) Discussion > Going out on a limb here *Spoilers*

Going out on a limb here Spoilers

posted 12 years ago by Sean_Haze
2 replies | jump to latest

So. I just finished watching this a few minutes ago and I can't help but ask.

Does anyone else see a pretty unsubtle subtext concerning sexual confusion at puberty, here?

I mean, I saw the "Lemora is a lesbian!" thread and, while I applaud the posters gusto, I think it might be a bit more than that. Lemora, is lesbianism itself, rather than just a lesbian in general. Hopefully as you're reading this, you're thinking "Well no duh" as that would mean, while stating the obvious, I'd be right.

It's established, at least in theory, at one point that she knew the reverend had the hots for her. This realization, in turn, leads to the mental conflict during the church service which leads to the bulk of the movie in her head. Combined with the negative impressions of her father, a ruthless killer, gives a generally bad impression of men in general. Notice how all the men in her vision are off, creepy, pedophilic. All. Of. Them.

Now, don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying "Oh, her dad and preacher are mean so she CHOOSES to 'give in to Lemora'", something shes given evil connotations to in her mind (murderer/Vampire/All around creepy bitch). But, there has to be some emotional (as well as physical) attraction to whichever gender you end up preferring. I'm saying it's a product of the natural development, this preference for female figures, not the cause of the decision. It's just a progressive stage in her pubertal cycle.

But getting back to it. Near the end of the film when Lila 'becomes a vampire like Lemora', it's simply her learning to accept those 'not like everybody else' feelings, or at least acknowledge them. And Oh. My. God. Did anyone else notice that like 90% of the deaths in the movie involved men getting stabbed with big wooden stakes? I mean, even if I'm wrong, you have to admit there's a lot of homoerotic symbolism there.

I may be overthinking this though, and if you want to pick a fight with me about this theory, I'd suggest pointing out that all of the 'victims' seen in the movie are male. She feeds off of men, so it simply could be the awakening of heterosexual desires as well.

In the end though, the puberty subtext is "slap to the face" obvious, so I know I'm not too far off that it's involved somehow. And while this may be a stretch, I remind you of the lovable preacher from Footloose. He warned us this would happen, IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH DANCING.

Thoughts?

[–] sageonelove 11 years ago

This is a brilliant take on the movie. You're right, all the men were creepy to the n'th degree. She was made a model of purity for her church, an example of God's saving grace turning a potentially depraved child of depraved parents into a pillar of righteousness.

Everyone's approval depended on her maintaining her "lily white" purity. Yet she was beginning to want to explore her burgeoning sexuality. She didn't want to be exploited but she wanted to find out what was what.

Only by becoming predatory herself, at the behest of a strong woman, could she use her attactions to fulfill her agenda as opposed to being the object of other people's lusts.

Her fantasy, of getting the upper hand might have been a dream during the church service. The war between zombie vampires and witch vampires at the end sure seems like something a childish mind would dream up, especially the way the battle was shot.

I loved Lesley Gilb as the Vampiress. She was absolute perfection in the part, imo.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, they were insightful.

[–] ladylaughinglizard 8 years ago

I agree that there was an obvious metaphor about sexual desire and sexuality, but I don't agree that it was necessarily about lesbianism.

I think it was more about control, like you said. She didn't want to be exploited by those that wanted her. In the end, she became the one in control and "fought back"/bit the hell out of the preacher. I think ultimately, not being a victim was her goal, but I don't think any of it was connected to lesbianism. In fact... Going a little further, if it was all a dream, Lenora was probably actually a facet of herself that she had to constantly deny to be the face of innocence dt her church. In that way, Lenora is not another women, Lila and Lenora are the same person. Lenora is what Lila could never imagine herself being like, because she's had to deny the dark side of her parentage at the church for so long - but she knows that it has always been there.