MovieChat Forums > If Someone Had Known (1995) Discussion > what is up with the people in this movie

what is up with the people in this movie

posted 17 years ago by KAnnD86
20 replies | jump to latest

It started out really good. Then when we get to part where she's arrested, I just kept saying to myself "WTF?" Why didn't she say he was about to kill her? Why didn't she say she had no choice? Why was she acting like she was guilty and should be punished? I was like "what's wrong with her!?" Then we find out what really happened and it wasn't self defense, she did have a choice and she was guilty. I know he was a crazy freak and that he wanted her dead. But she walked into his room and shot him. There was forethought involved. I understand battered woman syndrome. But she still could have left him. I wanted him dead as much as anybody. If she'd just grabbed the gun from him and shot him on the spot, it would have so clearly been self defense. He just jabbed her in the stomach over and over! He could have killed the baby. I just found a lot of elements of this movie odd, like how the father didn't press charges against that abusive son of a bitch because he identified with him and thought the woman was overreacting. I guess I just didn't like the way this movie turned out. Jamie's mother apologizing at the court. Katie saying "I'll make tomorrow better for both of you" to her children at their father's grave. It all just seemed very messed up to me and people's reactions were not realistic in my opinion.

Tomorrow's just your future yesterday!

[–] hillbrian2005 17 years ago

I didn't like the part where Jimmy's brother called her a bitch after the funeral. I know she killed his brother, but she should have said,"Your brother beat me up and was a total ass hole to me.

[–] wilsonandrewc 16 years ago

For those of you who have seen this movie, there's something else that I wanted to say: How many of you have been hit? Who among you beats their wives? Well, this is against the law. This is wrong. And you know what? The sister and the neighbor watched it happen to Katie and they did nothing. You have a responsibility to the people that you care about. When you see them hurting her, you see them in trouble, you step in and you tell someone so that this does not happen again.

[–] KAnnD86 16 years ago

I agree that if you suspect someone is being abused, you should help in any way you can. If my original post came off as me being somehow against that, I apologize. My post was strictly about the confusing/odd nature of the film, not about real life abusive relationships. I felt the movie portrayed it somewhat unrealistically. That is all.

Tomorrow's just your future yesterday!

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] KAnnD86 16 years ago

I made that post over a year ago, but I still remember the movie and what I felt about it at the time. Whether or not I've been in an abusive relationship is irrelevant to my opinion of the movie. I'm sorry if you've been through that.

From what I remember, the husband said he was gonna take a nap and went in the other room. She picked up the gun, followed him in there, and shot him. She didn't shoot him while they were fighting, which would have been self defense. She had a few seconds to think about it. I don't blame her at all. I just found the movie very confusing. It was giving mixed messages.

Tomorrow's just your future yesterday!

[–] wilsonandrewc 15 years ago

I am so happy that she killed him in self defense. He deserves this! If I was a woman and my husband ever hurt me, I would divorce him on the spot! Not many would tell in fear of being labeled a snitch or uncool. I rather be a snitch and a nosy parker than just ignore this situation for any reason.

[–] angelicksin 15 years ago

it's simple to say it, but when you're actually in the situation its a lot harder. some people can just pick up and leave knowing its the right thing to do, others don't...they feel it's their fault when clearly it isn't and no one should be beaten

[–] wilsonandrewc 15 years ago

And also, If I were Katie and at the first sign of Jimmy hitting me, I would have slugged him back, told my family, divorced him, got a restraining order and pressed charges.

[–] Kelea7 11 years ago

I think Katie sort of internalized things because of how her father treated her mother, when she was young she saw how he treated her mother and in the back of her mind soaked up the messages her father inadvertently threw out, making her feel some types of abuse are ok even though deep down I'm sure she knew it wasn't right. She wasn't sure just how much was normal/how much to take and by the time any one found out she was in too deep. Remember when she asked her mom if her dad ever hit her? Part of her felt she deserved it or that it was the norm.

Rest in Peace Chris Kelly

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Kelea7 11 years ago

Yup, I'll personally never fully understand it but it's like the abuser has a mental stronghold on you. Sometimes they fear for their lives and family members safety, or feel ashamed, and rationalize it. It's strange the power these abusers have over their victims.

Rest in Peace Chris Kelly

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[–] wilsonandrewc 10 years ago

Imagine not speaking up and later hearing that one of your family members and/or neighbors getting killed by their abusive spouses - You'd never forgive yourself. Better to be safe than sorry.

[–] Noirdame79 9 years ago

Abusers also know how to manipulate their victims. The abuser can go from loving to violent in an instant, and the battered spouse/partner never knows what to expect. And if there are children involved, that makes it even more difficult. The abused is afraid for her life, the lives of her children, and what the abuser will do.

In Katie's case, she didn't have much self-worth. Jimmy made her feel wanted and loved, and she probably thought that she had done something to set him off. As other posters pointed out, she watched her father put her mother down for years. She may have even thought that was normal. Her dad idealized her; and as her mother later pointed out, Katie believed that if her father knew what was happening, he wouldn't love her anymore because she wasn't able to be the perfect daughter she thought he believed her to be. So many internalized feelings, and Katie ultimately attracted an abuser, even though she wasn't consciously aware of it.

As the neighbor pointed out, he himself came from an era where people looked the other way. Not right, infuriating and frustrating, but that was how it was.

[–] wilsonandrewc 9 years ago

Well, I disagree with what the neighbor had pointed out about him coming from an era where people looked the other way because if anyone I know and/or care about is a victim of domestic violence, that's it! I'll make sure she gets out of that situation and stays out.

[–] deem_bastille 8 years ago

waitaminute.... a daughter of a police officer gets arrested??????? bvahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reading the paper can really be depressing. Mr. Dithers fired Dagwood again.