MovieChat Forums > Subway (1985) Discussion > Fred as Jesus

Fred as Jesus

posted 14 years ago by petefij
7 replies | jump to latest

This was a pivotal film for me as a late teenager - it's not the greatest film ever made, but like a song or a band having great resonance for you, at a certain time at a certain place, it was very important to me as an 18 year old.

I saw this at a cinema about a dozen times & reckon I know this film as well as anyone, and having gone on to do a University degree in Film Theory I can be as pretentious as next person about film. Here is the far-fetched reading of it that i think has some legs and I haven't read anywhere else -

Fred is a Jesus character.

Fred appears from no-where - no back story - just appears out of blue - an unexplained virgin birth if you like - literally in the film, but also in Helena's world as well.
(this is tenuous, but that's what film theory is all about - when you have an idea go with every tortuous link...however the idea gets stronger)

Like Christ he is persecuted by many - he is chased by both cops and the husband's croonies.
(Not great either, but maybe...)

He gathers his disciples from the periphery of society - the musicians from the Subway who form the band -
(hmm...)

They spread his word - his songs - which are his gospel, his message
Lyrics of 'People kill People' has a pseudo-social comment.
(maybe)

Which unites the people -the punks and Old Age Pensioners who rather unbelievably dance in their seats next to each other at the metro concert.
(ok idea gathering momentum now)

he is killed but rises again.
(it's got legs..it's got legs!)

yes, yes - I know Christ wasn't a Subway train robber, and didn't drive a Peugeot 205, and wasn't keen on really bad sax solos... there's a lot that isn't a Christ-parallel but if you want to go down the pretentious-reading-route, the ending itself surely gives some credence to this idea.
I'm ready for the backlash!

Pete

[–] RasBolding 14 years ago

>Which unites the people -the punks and Old Age Pensioners who rather unbelievably dance in their seats next to each other at the metro concert.

And spiking up the somewhat cynical punky hairdo here; if you take a stroll down world history lane, are you sure you'd still claim the gospels of Jesus unite people? ;)

>he is killed but rises again.

In what version of the movie? He stays very much on the ground whenever I watch the movie and in my head he dies. The muttered singing at the end I think is just a reflection of the absurdity in it all. Tragic irony, you know.

[–] petefij 13 years ago

> In what version of the movie? He stays very much on the ground whenever I watch the movie and in my head he dies. The muttered singing at the end I think is just a reflection of the absurdity in it all. Tragic irony, you know.

the very final shot of the film - he has closed his eyes and head has lurched to one side, we are led to believe he has died, but in the final shot he is conscious and alive and singing along.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] indyhu 13 years ago

You can take that thought and run with it based on the pieces you have picked up along the way.

I just think it was a common thing in Lambert's movies at the time.

Highlander 1 and 2
The Sicillian
Subway

In all 4 fils he was put in situations where he appears to get killed, but comes back to life.

I hadn't seen all his films from the period but it did seem to be a common trend.

[–] guyincognito1 13 years ago

Just read this and thought it was really interesting. But you did say 'ready for the backlash' so here goes.
Obviously, you can read a film or a book in any way you want, but don't you think it is more likely that Subway is a modern reflection of 'Orphee'?

[–] laustijapan 13 years ago

"To be is to do"
-Socrates
"To do is to be"
-Sartre
"Do Be Do Be Do"
-Sinatra

[–] PoppyTransfusion 12 years ago

The message of the film is spelled out in the beginning
by - laustijapan on Wed Jun 29 2011 06:32:43
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"To be is to do"
-Socrates
"To do is to be"
-Sartre
"Do Be Do Be Do"
-Sinatra

I loved these opening quotes!

Why problem make? When you no problem have, you don't want to make ...