MovieChat Forums > Finding North (1999) Discussion > Dated attitudes

Dated attitudes

posted 14 years ago by elmsyrup
1 reply | jump to latest

SPOILERS BELOW-
I'm very pleased that this film now comes across as dated. First of all the gay victim film: not that people don't die of AIDS any more, but... they are much less likely to in America. But in the 80s and 90s it was almost impossible to make a film about gay people without feeling the need to show them as victims. I'm really glad that gay people are 'allowed' to be happy and successful in films now. Secondly I found it really sad that even in a film made for the gay market it was expected that he would hide his orientation in public, that his family would not accept him, and he seemed somehow grateful that the aunt was halfway-accepting. Things still aren't perfect nowadays, but thank goodness attitudes have changed and with modern eyes I found the inherent homophobia of this film pretty shocking. I mean, even his sidekick galpal asked "what's it like being gay" and showed a momentary revulsion towards him when she found out his partner died of AIDS.

[–] truetexian 8 years ago

I'm really aggravated at how the interpretation of the word 'victim' has been distorted and used in a judgmental way to incriminate someone as somehow a co-conspirator in the harm that has befallen them. We don't need to do that in our efforts to encourage empowerment. That's an example of the sort of attitude that needs to become 'dated'. Still though, concerning this film I don't see where anyone is playing 'the victim'.

I agree, it's nice that gay people are 'allowed' to be happy and successful in films now. But it's also important to realize that this movie isn't about a "happy time" for it's protagonist.

Where in the film was the lead expected to 'hide his orientation in public'? The only scene which comes close to what your suggesting is the one in the C&W clothing store's changing room in which Travis was asking Rhonda for a little more discretion and privacy. Please don't equate that with being "closeted". A sense of decorum regardless of orientation should never become a 'dated attitude'.

In the scene where she finds out his partner died of AIDS, that's not a 'momentary revulsion' she's revealing--it's heartache. She's momentarily devastated but rebounds whenever he reveals to her that he's HIV-.
It's also not 'homophobic' to ask "what's it like being gay"? Showing curiosity about another is the first step toward communication and understanding, however ridiculously it may present itself. These are also 'attitudes' I hope never become 'dated'.

Travis wasn't worried so much that his deceased partner's aunt accept him. It was Bobby's (his partner's) wish that his aunt understand that aspect of himself and have the opportunity to love the "real" Bobby even in death. Since Travis had been entrusted with carrying out Bobby's wishes he was relieved in finding it so. Why in the world would you have wanted to whitewash any of that fear and concern away? That was (and still is) a part of what some gay people (hell all people to some extent) live(d) with. We shouldn't want to go farting around with history in order to paint a rosier picture for any of ourselves today. What would be the point?

I'm sorry to say but your's is the attitude that seems in need of becoming 'dated'.