MovieChat Forums > Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980) Discussion > Ending Confusion for me!

Ending Confusion for me!

posted 16 years ago by jplondon1
6 replies | jump to latest

Hi there, anyone have insight into the meaning of Jeff's note at the end saying "I'm sorry" ?? I couldn't tell if he was simply apologizing for something obvious like showing up and creating awkwardness, chopping all the wood, or leaving without saying goodbye OR if he was apologizing in advance for something more sinister he was about to do, such as attempt suicide or take the heroin he had been carrying around with him for weeks. They kept talking about his profound depression and his anguish chopping those logs at the end was probably the best acting in the whole picture, even though he didn't speak. Thanks to anyone for clearing this up!

[–] scoot1192 16 years ago

I think you could be right in all of your assumptions. The great thing about Jeff's apology is that it isn't obvious which makes us wonder what he could possibly be apologizing for. I love this movie despite its "dated-ness" and "roughness" and this is one of the reasons why. If the movie had been made by a big studio they would have never kept Jeff's note in. The studio execs would have asked "What's the point of it? We don't understand! What's he apologizing for?" But i think it makes you think, and if it makes you think, I think its pretty interesting.

[–] chaplin_7 15 years ago

In my opinion, even though it's only speculation, I think the note was before Jeff eventual decline...I think his life is about to (was about to) take a bad turn...maybe has something to do with carrying the heroin pipe or whatever in his pocket for two weeks, like he was on the fence about "Should I or shouldn't I" I also think, after hearing so many drug addicts' story, he's begun to see their point of view and understand why they did drugs.

I will admit, at the end, I was like, "Well, what was the point of this movie?" but I wish I could more movies about nostalgia and just conversation between friends.

[–] henrimaine 8 years ago

I also thought that perhaps this guy is planning to commit suicide or something. I even thought the movie might end with them finding his overdosed body lying in the barn. Luckily, that did not happen (that would have been too much for such a restrained movie). But I think the director knowingly left the possibility open.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5947) 3 years ago

Because he couldn't face saying goodbye.

[–] Wuchak (8076) a year ago

Yeah, I think this is all it was since Katie plainly said Jeff was one of those types who didn't like saying goodbye. Why get all heavy in interpreting the note as a segue to suicide? After all, he vented all his anger & frustrations out on chopping the wood. He should be good to go.

He understandably wasn't in the right disposition to say goodbye face-to-face because he was coming to terms with the end of his long relationship with Maura.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5947) a year ago

Yeah, reading heavily into things seems to be a moviechat.org staple. :) This is better than the "everything that happened after point x was all just in their imagination" type posts. :)