MovieChat Forums > Stealing Beauty (1996) Discussion > Observations about Ian and Lucy

Observations about Ian and Lucy

posted 14 years ago by bill-704-986013
8 replies | jump to latest

It seems most people don't think that Lucy's Father had much of an idea that he was her Father - but I think there are some interesting clues that could easily be missed if you haven't watched more than a couple of times that lead me to believe he suspects it - and is guarded about it, too.

First, he is obviously concerned about why she has come - in the scene in the bedroom with Diana he even said "It's very strange". He was contemplating being Lucy's biological Father even then. I don't think he is sure of it yet, but he's definitely thinking about it. Diana got it right that it was Lucy who wanted to come, but Diana doesn't know why. I think Ian is really thinking about it, trying to get his head around it. (I actually think throughout the movie Diana is also processing it, but she doesn't admit it to either him or Lucy - but she's a woman - she senses something is going on.)

Second, notice the timing when he takes Lucy back to the studio to work. Diane and Lucy are washing the dishes, but notice exactly when he interrupts them - it's exactly when Lucy starts to tell Diana about the journal entry/poem her mother wrote. Ian obviously did that on purpose - and it's also reinforced by what Diana says after Lucy goes with Ian - Diana says that he hasn't worked at night for years. I don't think it was an accident that he pulled her from her conversation with Diana. :)

There is serious motivation and depth to these characters - they obviously thought about this as they were creating this story and movie.

[–] boarding_angel 14 years ago

I agree.

I didn't pick up on the clues the first time I watched...but in all my later viewings I can pick them out easily.

Another one is (I think, might be another scnene near that) when Lucy askes Jeremy Irons if he is her father and the scene clips breify to Ian working on her wood sculpture.

[–] Bilwick1 14 years ago

I thought her father would turn out to be Darth Vader.

[–] info-3508 13 years ago

Ian knew he'd fathered Lucy. He cuts her off from talking with Diana about a man in Italy whom her mother wrote about. Diana observes that Ian's behavior is out of character, and that he hasn't worked in his studio at night for years. I conclude that Ian is using Lucy's portrait as a diversion.

Later, after discussing her conception, Lucy indicates that she won't inquire with Diana about that summer. Ian asks Lucy if she can keep a secret. Lucy responds that she can, that she learned from the master. I conclude both were referring to the portrait superficially, but speaking about Ian being Lucy's biological father on the deeper level. And here Lucy lets Ian know that she knows how long Ian has kept his role a secret.

I think Lucy's life of secrets is reflected in her personality, burning or hiding poems, not allowing Richard to read her journal. It's a powerful, subtle film.

[–] callagal 12 years ago

I thought when she said she learned from the master, that she was talking about her mother, not Ian.

[–] whitespirit26 8 years ago

Really Info, and why then does he expose her breast while he's working on a sculpture of her FACE? Is that fatherly behavior?

[–] ohlittlelioness 12 years ago

Notice also how he immediately seems uneasy at the idea of the others setting Lucy up with Christopher. Clearly, it's because he knew that would be incest, because Christopher is her half brother.

Meet me in Montauk...

[–] queencat18 11 years ago

Christopher and Miranda aren't Ian's children. Diana had them from a previous marriage. She was finalizing her divorce from that man when Ian had the affair with Sara. Daisy is his only child.

"Oh my God! You put a living room where the crack den used to be!"

[–] whitespirit26 8 years ago

There's no proof he had any freaking affair with Sara. If he did, that makes him a disgusting cheater, forceful seducer and filthy pervert who enjoyed looking at his own daughter's breast. Care to explain how that's supposed to fit in a supposedly touching and meaningful film?