I first saw Four Friends at the urging of a friend/date in the mid 1980s, then a few years ago wanted to re-watch it but couldn't remember the title. Finally found it a few weeks ago, watched it the day before its director died. Spooky.
I don't remember what I thought of Georgia then, but I didn't much like her this time around. For one thing, during the intervening years, I dated her. Well, not her of course, but several women with many similarities. Ah yes, the free spirit, the wacky behavior, the deep uncompromising narcisism. Her on the beach in the last scene -- that's the most normal she's ever going to get, and believe me, it's a fleeting moment. This viewing, I didn't really get her chemistry with Danielo anyway. You're right, he'd have been better off with the serb. Or his roommate's sister. (BTW, something else I didn't notice twenty years ago, was the roommate's sister and her father having an incest fest? Sure looked like it to me, and explains a few things...)
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tuttt
13 years ago
I don't remember what I thought of Georgia then, but I didn't much like her this time around. For one thing, during the intervening years, I dated her. Well, not her of course, but several women with many similarities. Ah yes, the free spirit, the wacky behavior, the deep uncompromising narcissism.
"uncompromising narcissism". Could not have said it better.
Her on the beach in the last scene -- that's the most normal she's ever going to get, and believe me, it's a fleeting moment.
I liked to think maybe she had finally grown up, but unfortunately you are probably right.
This viewing, I didn't really get her chemistry with Danilo anyway. You're right, he'd have been better off with the Serb.
I agree.
Or his roommate's sister. (BTW, something else I didn't notice twenty years ago, was the roommate's sister and her father having an incest fest?
Yes, Adrienne's father was definitely abusing her sexually.
Sure looked like it to me, and explains a few things...)
You mean her father's act at the wedding reception? Easily the most disturbing scene in the film. But even that scene was ruined (if you can call it that) by the focusing on Georgia's face. WTF?
Teresa
http://MermaidLady.com
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passedpfv
9 years ago
I agree with many of the posters on this thread. Georgia is not a sympathetic character. The term "uncompromising narcissism" made me chuckle at the apt truth of that statement.
Georgia defiantly exudes traits of narcissistic personality disorder. What I don't understand is why Danilo, David or Tom find attractive in her. As many have noted, Georgia is similar to Jenny from Forest Gump and I give her a pass because she is an incest survivior.
No such backstory was provided for Georgia.
What strikes me is that this film is not such much a narrative of the 60s (it is too condensed to explore those turbulent times-as Mad Men has truly been able to explore the changing times) Four Friends instead is about personalities types and personalty disorders.
By that I mean Georgia is a narcissist, and Danilo and David are Beta male providers. At the end of the story, Georgia realizes that her one true love is Danilo and that they will live their lives together. Ha!
Realize that Georgia is over thirty, greying, with a child and no father and no career prospects. Her 20s were squandered in a drug induced haze. So naturally she finds Danilo and his steady paycheck from the university. Too, by the end, Danilo's character arc is unfulfilled; he started out wishy-washy and ends up wishy washy. I expect in ten years he will be a frustrated professor ala' Michael Caine in Educating Rita.
As many on this thread have pointed out, their union is likely temporary. I envision Georgia getting involved in the campus theater program and engaging in massive drama at home. Likely she would leave him in 1980-81 and seek spousal support so she could find herself and resume acting. Too, Danilo would likely get stuck raising Georgia's kid as well.
So, in closing, I think Four Friends is a primer in the personalty types to avoid: the narcissist and the passive-aggressive beta provider. Neither ends up happy and both make the people around them crazy by engaging in dramatic and unstable behavior.
oniloWe have all had women in our lives known gir
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es_sj
9 years ago
I agree with many of the posters on this thread. Georgia is not a sympathetic character. The term "uncompromising narcissism" made me chuckle at the apt truth of that statement.
Georgia defiantly exudes traits of narcissistic personality disorder. What I don't understand is why Danilo, David or Tom find attractive in her. As many have noted, Georgia is similar to Jenny from Forest Gump and I give her a pass because she is an incest survivior.
No such backstory was provided for Georgia.
What strikes me is that this film is not such much a narrative of the 60s (it is too condensed to explore those turbulent times-as Mad Men has truly been able to explore the changing times) Four Friends instead is about personalities types and personalty disorders.
By that I mean Georgia is a narcissist, and Danilo and David are Beta male providers. At the end of the story, Georgia realizes that her one true love is Danilo and that they will live their lives together. Ha!
Realize that Georgia is over thirty, greying, with a child and no father and no career prospects. Her 20s were squandered in a drug induced haze. So naturally she finds Danilo and his steady paycheck from the university. Too, by the end, Danilo's character arc is unfulfilled; he started out wishy-washy and ends up wishy washy. I expect in ten years he will be a frustrated professor ala' Michael Caine in Educating Rita.
As many on this thread have pointed out, their union is likely temporary. I envision Georgia getting involved in the campus theater program and engaging in massive drama at home. Likely she would leave him in 1980-81 and seek spousal support so she could find herself and resume acting. Too, Danilo would likely get stuck raising Georgia's kid as well.
So, in closing, I think Four Friends is a primer in the personalty types to avoid: the narcissist and the passive-aggressive beta provider. Neither ends up happy and both make the people around them crazy by engaging in dramatic and unstable behavior.
Excellent analysis; I agree with every point.
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