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Instant Bitch

posted 17 years ago by senorjuez
9 replies | jump to latest

The crucial dinner scene in which Sam and Renata were discussing plans for the upcoming baptism of their new baby showed a dramatic change in Renata's behavior. An argument ensues because Sam insists that according to his religious customs, the baby must be baptized on a specific date. However, Renata's brother and his wife, who were chosen to be the godparents have planned a long overdue vacation during that time. Instead of being willing to compromise, Renata becomes verbally abusive toward them, saying Fu*k you to her brother and nearly coming to blows with his wife. This causes Joe, the father, to bring the dinner to an abrupt end.

Renata cherished her family up to this point, but it seemed as if the stress that had been caused by Sam made her snap. Her father then tells Renata in private that Sam is no longer welcome in the house, to which Renata explodes and tells her parents off. My opinion is that Renata reacted the way she did because she didn't want to admit that there was a real problem and Sam was at the root of it. This denial caused her to stand by her man, therefore, she turned on her family.

[–] przgzr 17 years ago

Her family are at that moment Sam and their daughter.

Though Sam seems rather stubborn at this point, we must remember that not long ago Bellas prevented Sam to ruin their tradition (Joe's mother's anniversary). Now Sam wants to keep a tradition of his family, and compromise should have been made by Bellas this time. Is this because of their majority or is Italian origin worth more than Lithuanian that they insist on keeping their and neglecting other traditions?

[–] senorjuez 17 years ago

Sam wanted to sing a Lithuanian song at the funeral. That was not the time or the place for him to be the center of attention as he always tried to be. Renata's brother and his wife were taking their first vacation in a very long time. They already made plans for this then Renata and Sam spring it on them that they are to be the godparents. Did they even bother asking? Why didn't they ask Renata's sister and her husband, who seemed to have his nose up Sam's ass anyway, to be the godparents? They, Renata especially, were rude to expect her brother to drop everything. I understand a baptism is important in a family, but so is common courtesy and respect for each other.

[–] przgzr 17 years ago

I agree that what Sam tried to do on funeral anniversary was misplaced and only his expression of showing his own importance. So Bellas did the right thing. But baptism is even more important thing than funeral anniversary, so it was not too much to expect some flexibility from child's godparents. I am sure that there would be no misunderstanding, and they would settle their vacancy terms easier if Sam was Italian and baptism took place in Catholic church. If someone doesn't see the importance of baptism for Christians (and puts vacancies on the first place), he shouldn't accept to be a godparent at all.

[–] Raddish72 17 years ago

You probably know this by now but Sam and Renatta did ask Renatta's brother Tony to be the Godfather and then Renatta's sister, Jan to be the Godmother...not Tony and his wife. Frankly, if I were Sam and Renata, I would've simply asked someone else and told tony and Gail to go on vacation.

[–] przgzr 17 years ago

That would be most wise thing to do. However, she was a member of Italian family and they keep their relations and traditions (therefore their reaction to Sam's singing on funeral anniversary), so she - after marrying a non-Italian - tried to avoid further losing connection to her family and her roots.

I guess that, if Sam were Italian, Jan and Tony wouldn't hesitate to change the date of their vacancies. It seems that they have been punishing her for choosing a husband belonging to different nation and religion.

[–] ctomvelu-1 16 years ago

Excellent analysis of that scene. How nice in the next scene that they come racing into the church in the nick of time, including the brother and his wife. What a moment. Hallstrom laid it on a little thick, but you will notice that at the opening of the baptism scene, things were not going well prior to the arrival of the family. Hunter's character was clearly upset about them not being there, and did everything but drop the baby.

[–] Astrid2266 12 years ago

I kind of thought they were being a little selfish though. I mean, it's much more complicated and difficult for a married couple to schedule vacation time with employers than it would be for them to change the baptism date.

[–] thelongestcircledance 9 years ago

I didn't understand any of that. Why was their fight Sam's fault? Because he wanted to baptize his child on a certain day? I don't get how that's weird, especially if there is a tradition behind it. Her family expecting them to plan their child's baptism around their vacation seemed really entitled and stupid to me.

[–] WaterlooBridge 9 years ago

I agree! As you pointed out, it was his child. Parents should choose their own day for their child's baptism. And it was a date that was important to Sam's heritage. If it had been the other way around and the date was significant to Renatta's family then it would have been done no questions asked. I like the family and were on their side throughout the movie, but they were being horrible at that point.