MovieChat Forums > The Secret Laughter of Women (1999) Discussion > Did Jenny love Matthew?

Did Jenny love Matthew?

posted 19 years ago by lovinglife
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When looking at this movie I wonder "Does Jenny love Matthew or the lifestyle she has with him?.

When she finds out that he had been sick, she tells him that he looks great, but that she was scare that she would have to come home and "wipe his fever brow", which isn't what you want to hear from the person you're married too.

Also, toward the end of the film, Matthew ask Jenny what will happen when they are no longer "fit but they have a need", and her response was as usual "we rise above it". Matthew expressions was like a "light bulb" went off in his head and he realized that Jenny did not care for him as Nimi did.

Nimi wasn't wrapped up in what Matthew could offer her as far as "things", but in his good heart, which she realized when someone saw the garden that she designed for Matthew, and it became clear that Matthew had set that up for her.

[–] Reverie3 19 years ago

By the way, I think Caroline Goodall (I hope I have her name right) gave a good performance as Jenny. Her character to me was afraid of commitment just like Matthew, only he matured realizing he needed more.

Did you notice during the "wipe your fevered brow" scene how Matt looked at Jenny when she said John came with her. He looked somewhat irritated that she had brought him along.

Regarding the scene where she mentions someone seeing the garden she designed, I often wondered about that conversation and now her response makes more sense when she said "You really do think about things."

I think Jenny wanted to have her cake and eat it too. She loved Matthew, but not in the way he eventually came to need. He matured and she still wanted to play games.

[–] lovinglife 19 years ago

Caroline Goodall played Jenny very well. I did notice that Matthew had a confused looked when she mentioned that she brought along John (who was her lover). I also thinks that Jenny loved Matthew in a weird sort of way, because she knew that Nimi had captured Matthews' heart, and she felt the need to go and tell Nimi that she knew all about Matthew's "little adventure" with her.

Jenny tried to destroy the love relation between Matthew and Nimi not only in the garden when she ripped the tomatoe vine off, but also by telling Nimi that Matthew was only using her.

I think that Matthew was trying to give Jenny another chance to say that she love him or at the very least that she cared for him when he asked her what happens when they are no longer fit, but they have a need. Not that he would have forgotten Nimi, but I wonder would he have stayed with Jenny?

I think that Matthew changed when Nimi and her family took him in after he fell ill in his car and Nimi mother said that they could not move him anywhere until they found his family.

Thank you reverie3 for responding.....

[–] Reverie3 19 years ago

Your welcome BJ...I have finally removed this movie from my VCR. It's been stuck in there for a while; but what can I say, it's one of my faves.

Regarding Matt staying with Jenny, I don't think he would have. Like you said, the experience he had with Nimi's family when he fell ill sparked a realization that there was "More". I love the scene when Nimi tells Matt she had a good job etc. and that was enough. Then Matt has this change in expression (which Colin does so well) and he says "Life is not about enough Mrs. Da Silva, it's about More." He realized that he needed more of what Nimi had; a family, commitment, and love!

[–] lovinglife 19 years ago

I finally removed it also. I don't like becoming obsessed with anything. And I was headed that way with this movie. I found myself dissecting every scene, so I'll put it on hold for a while and come back to watch it later.

But this movie reminds me of "The Way We Were", with Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand. Barbara play a character who knew what she wanted, had a strong personally, and fell in love with a guy who wasn't too sure of himself. Robert Redford (who is totally gorgoreous in this movie) plays a young man who had the world at his feet and knew it and yet he was insecure and non-committed (just like Matthew). He was only the best he could be when he was with Katie (Barbara's character). He didn't realized it when he was married to her, but at the end of the movie Hubble (Robert's character) ask Katie, "You never give up do you? and she responds, Only when I'm absolutely force too, I can. But I'm a good loser. Then Hubble says, You're a better loser than I am. Just before the movie ends, Hubble catches Katies' hand and pulls her to him and while hugging her, he tears up, and I believe its because he realized at the end what he had.

Katie's strenght and kindness and love for her man reminds me of Nimi's love for Matthew. They both are willing to fight for you as long as the men will allow them too. But yet they have the strength to walk away even though it hurts. The sad part is that Hubble doesn't realize it until its too late, and Matthew realizes it and correct the situation.

I've enjoyed reading everyone elses thoughts on Matthew/Nimi. After reading them I would always watch the movie again and see it from a different point of view.

[–] Reverie3 19 years ago

Same here. I was amazed at the insights others had which opened up my understanding of the characters and helped me to enjoy this movie even moreso.

The Way we Were is a favorite of mine too. Hubble settled because things got a little difficult and Katie was more complicated. He chose a simpler woman, but I think he regretted it in the end. You could tell he still loved Katie. A classic cinema moment is when she takes her gloved hand and brushes his hair from his face. The ending definitely causes you to use your hanky!