MovieChat Forums > Thief (1981) Discussion > Why did he let her go at the end???

Why did he let her go at the end???

posted 14 years ago by silverkid
13 replies | jump to latest

I assumed he threw her out to protect her. Because he was going to work for the guy and he knew as long as he kept doing this kind of work he couldnt have her and the kid in his life. But then he doesnt go to work for him. He kills him and everyone else and then walks away. I was scratching my head there. If he was going to kill them and then walk away, why send away the woman you love and your kid??? Made no sense to me.

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[–] Thereminator101 14 years ago

Maybe he wanted to keep them "on ice" until he was shure they were safe? That's the way I imagined it anyway. : )

[–] LightningLad 14 years ago

I think it was that he was not certain it would all come off. If he failed and they killed him or worse captured him they might torture his family to death in front of him first. So he made sure they were safe, but now he can relocate them.

[–] dykesy30 14 years ago

In the original script there was an additional scene at the end where Frank found his family and they were reunited. I guess it was cut because they didn't want it to be too corny, I love the end how it is with Frank just walking away down the street.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dimagic 14 years ago

This are his lines in the film.

[–] dimagic 14 years ago

Were you even paying attention in this film or not? Frank explains his view of life:

"You gotta not give a f-ck if you live or die. You gotta get to where nothing means nothing."
and
"I don't mean nothing to myself. I don't care about me. I don't care about... nothing. You know? Then I know from that day that I survive, because I achieved that mental attitude."

Sending her and the baby away was his mental preparation for going after Leo. He didn't want to think about them, to be in focus for what he had to do. This is also why he burns his own house and the cars. He disconnects himself from material possessions and from personal emotions. I am also not so sure he will go back to his wife, the ending is open and could mean anything.
Good film, although a little naive.

[–] NickMichalak 13 years ago

Yeah, Frank basically comes to the mindset that if having the things he most desires in life come at the price of being owned by Leo, he'd rather throw it all away than allow the terms of his existence be dictated by others. So, by throwing Jesse out of his life, she can no longer be used as leverage against him.

Check out this video essay on Mann's career. It very thoroughly explains these concepts explored in Mann's films, and how they have evolved over time.

Zen Pulp: The World of Michael Mann
Chapter 2: Lifetime Subscriptions
http://www.movingimagesource.us/articles/zen-pulp-pt-2-20090703

-NJM

[–] patpatterson 12 years ago

When Frank was sending them away there was bearly any sign of emotion on his part except anger and impatience trying to get her to leave.I would have thought he could at least muster some affection for a woman he supposedly loved considering he might not see her again.Frank was a very unlovable man.

[–] NickMichalak 12 years ago

At that moment, Frank is trying to get back into the mindset of "nothing means nothing." Get back to that survivalist prison mentality. He's severing emotional ties so that he can be a lean, effecient beast when he goes to take out Leo. If he can't turn cold in the face of his pleading wife, he won't survive.

-NJM

[–] hecantune 12 years ago

I don't blame Frank for doing what needed to be done, and as quickly as possible but it is tough to watch. Tess was a good woman and from her perspective the whole thing was pretty f-ed up.

Back off! ... Way off!

[–] johnf_sf 12 years ago

this was before facebook, twitter, and nickelback....no wussies

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Matthew_Diamond 12 years ago

SPOILER ALERT

Dimagic--you nailed right on the head. Exactly. Perfectly said.

Even Leo said it when Frank was lying on the floor of the shop after Barry was killed: "Are you one of those burned out wackos from the joint? You're scary, because you don't give a *beep*. But don't come on to me now with your jailhouse *beep* because you are not that guy you prick. Don't you get it? I want, you work, until you burnt out, busted or dead".

That is what flipped the switch inside Frank after he looked at himself in the mirror. He knew what he had to do, and then he became just a man on a mission with no feelings, e.g., not giving a *beep* Also, he knew there was a chance that he might be killed going after Leo, so Frank threw Jessie out rather than have her be a widow, because he felt that would be worse for her and David (their infant son) to remember throughout the rest of their lives.

It is not probable that Frank would try to get Jessie back after having killed Leo and his henchmen, because at that point Frank had already crossed a line from which he could not return.
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"I really don't like talking about my flair."