The scene where Francine is being beaten while the kids cower in a bedroom is sickening. And then we see her run outside and her husband is punching her hard and kicking her to the ground.
But as soon as the police show up the parents are out trying to drag the police off their son. WTF?
So they were quite content to watch Francine be beaten but couldn't stomach their son being restrained by the police. Disgraceful human beings.
They really were scum bags.
I agree they were almost as horrid as their son. The novel is even worse.
With the literal exception of twice, they always defended Mickey!
I could not believe their disgusting attitude.
But on a side note, I lost most of my sympathy for Francine when I read several articles about updates on her life after Mickey.
SHE turned into the bad guy! She not only began abusing drugs & alcohol, she BEAT her children herself....and get ready for it...married yet another abusive man and let him abuse the kids too!
So now I look at her story suspiciously. Did she get beaten? I don't doubt it, but even in the novel (and film) she had several chances to leave Mickey before he became obsessive yet she did not.
It seems she not only learned nothing from her years & her reprieve, but became an abuser!
No sympathy now.
I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.
Yes, his parents should be criticized as well. But it looks like they are not criticized all that much at all.
The reason is because Mickey was already a man and as such, all responsibility should go towards him entirely and not his parents. Had Mickey still been a boy or a teenager who was abusing his girlfriend/wife, then of course his parents should take part of the blame for not punishing and disciplining their son. But once the son is already an adult, then full responsibility goes to the adult man.
What we know now that we didn't know then: violence survivors experience PTSD. Look at how many Iraq-Afghanistan veterans survived the war on the other side of the world, only to commit suicide once they were safely home.
It appears that Francine was simply left to her own devices after the trial and did not receive any kind of counseling. No matter how much a survivor might wish to change, without intervention he or she is going to repeat the familiar behavior patterns.
Exactly. I have PTSD from horrible child abuse at home, sexual child abuse then as a teen I met a man online who was a child pedo.
PTSD is not something you get cured from. It is always there. I have been out of therapy for about 10+ yrs. It took so long to learn coping skills to fight memories and the past. I still have to fight at times too.
Back in the 70s & 80s therapy was not viewed in a positive way. I doubt anyone suggested she go. If she did go it is doubtful PTSD was understood.
Those with PTSD fight it for the rest of their life. Just writing about my past brings on bad memories, scents and sounds. But skills I learned pull me through.
I pray Francine can over come her past and use it to help others. I've done that and it helps a lot to know your past can be used in a positive way.
Yet it is no excuse to hurt others especially children.
What happened with Francine afterwards is not rare.
Many beaten women feel unworthy and undeserving of a good descent man. Many continue the pattern and sadly so do children.
One of my aunts was married many times. Almost every man beat her and at times they also beat my cousins. My aunt married a good man back in the late 90s and they are still together. Sadly one cousin married an abusive man and still tends to end up with wrong men who drink, do drugs and beat her.
I come from an abusive home and when I met my husband I felt I didn't deserve him. Even after over 20yrs of marriage I still feel undeserving. Years ago a therapist said that was due to child abuse an other bad things I went through.
I feel sorry for Francine. That gives no excuse for hurting her children. But she is clearly mentally ill and maybe one day she will see the truth about her past and her current life. It takes many years to over come a tortured past.
Also keep in mind back in the 70s and 80s therapy wasn't well accepted. Neither was mental illness.
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