MovieChat Forums > Winterschläfer (1997) Discussion > Did Marco deserve his fate?

Did Marco deserve his fate?


Marco was the most imperfect character in this story, but did he deserve his fate? Because he cheated on his girlfriend, was jealous of Rene, and treated his girl badly? I think not. Loved the story, but became sadly disappointed come the end.

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[deleted]

The accident/death of the little girl was the catalyst of this whole film, and I agree, no one should deserve to die, but I guess they do, as we all do eventually. Some sooner than others.

The soundtrack was issued and can be found on eBay occasionally for mega-bucks. I loved it too but will not spend $100.00 for it. I love all of Tykwer and Pale 3's scores and music. Have you the soundtrack to "Princess and the Warrior?" It's also wonderful and mesmerizing.

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[deleted]

...did he deserve the fate? Definitely not...
...I actually found Marco to be the most likeable character in the movie...of course, he's a real bastard "at first sight", cheating on his girlfriend, being extra jealous and overly protective of himself...but there's a certain depth to the character which others in the movie lack...the certain kind of fear he has, "defense mechanism" he shows very often, like he's had some bad expiriences in the past and is afraid of going through something like that again (bad memories of his father? Fear of being alone? Being cheated on?)...partially, I thing, this lies in the amazingly subtle performance the actor gives, implying that there's something more to Marco than he shows on-screen (which is something the others didn't manage very well - except for the father, who is good and shows grief even without too many words...but partailly the fault is on Tykwer and his "visual beauty over dialogue/story" approach, which leaves the viewer a bit unsatisfied occasionaly)...but I usually enjoy those kinds of characters, and I found his death/suicide to be really sad and unfair, rather than "deserved" in any way...

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[deleted]

I haven't thought much about whether he deserved it or not, to me it's alwayt been beside the point. The effect his death had on me, was rather that I realized how sudden death comes. And you can never tell when. It left me with quite a shock.

**********
Hugs...

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Are you kidding?

He landed in a crevice that was certainly a vaginal symbol. I am sure Marco died a very happy man!




I wish I was a headlight on a northbound train. I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain.

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Hi Jamo!

Absolutely! The symbolism is Crystal clear. Besides, the whole sequence is shot in a way, which clearly tells that this is not an ordinary and mundane run-of-the-mill fall to death in the Alps. That man Marco is certainly diving straight into ”heaven” – splash! From Womb to Tomb – but in reverse.

BTW, isn’t Tykwer sort of breaking the fourth wall here? I mean isn’t this the only sequence in the whole film, where it’s openly shown that this isn’t reality; this is *film*? The only sequence where we are relieved from the contract of suspension of disbelief? Is this Tykwer’s intention (not that it matters though)? Well, just a thought that popped up.

See ya soon

"Why is it that men are so much more interested in women than women in men?"
Virginia Woolf

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Hi Cine!

Do you think Marco was singing 'I'm In Heaven' as he plunged into the crevice?

I see your point about 'the fourth wall', I think. It strikes me that Tykwer seems willing to do this relatively often. The scene where Theo 'sees' Rene's scar also strikes me as a departing from the level of the narrative of the rest of the film. I would have to give it more thought, but what about the fireworks/bathtub scene?

Would the cartoon sequences in 'Lola Rennt' also qualify as a departure? If I am missing a stronger definiton of when that wall is breeched, let me know.

Gotta run!




I wish I was a headlight on a northbound train. I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain.

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Cine and Jamo,

I dont know about you guys but this is exactly what I think makes Tykwer such an inspired filmmaker. Yeah he breaks that fourth wall but never in a way that seems to negate everything that has come before or to take you out of the story. But seeemingly at just the right time as to induce a nice "Wow" effect. I love it!

There is NO Gene for the Human Spirit.

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I thought he was reincarnated into the baby. Every character was color-coded, Marco was blue and so was the baby. The baby was the first thing you see after marco falls into the birth canal, and the baby is crying and complaining for no reason.

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I don't think anyone really 'deserves their fate'. People do things for reasons that are based on their own particular perspectives, and nice people don't always finish first, and people who happen to be in bad circumstances do not necessarily belong there. And, in the end, everyone either accepts their fate or they do not. In WINTER SLEEPERS any one of the characters could have suffered an accidental death, but whether they 'deserve it' is beside the point.

"Free to those that can afford it, very expensive to those that can't."

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