MovieChat Forums > How Do You Want Me? (1998) Discussion > Question about the headmaster . . .

Question about the headmaster . . .

posted 17 years ago by rez_stevens
2 replies | jump to latest

I'm pretty sure anybody who watched this already knows what's coming, but what was with the headmaster (Clive Merrison) and his eye contact (or lack thereof)?

I initially thought the character was supposed to be blind, or later that he didn't respect anyone enough to look them in the eye, but eventually settled on it just being a random quirk.

It always left me wondering if it was some running joke and he'd eventually look at somebody, but to my knowledge he never did. lol

Anyone else able to shed some light on this?

[–] combatreview 16 years ago

I took it as being one of the quirks of his very restrained but aggressive and impersonal character, rather like if he made eye-contact he wouldn't be able to hold his emotions back. He's slightly disturbing because he seems to be on the edge of exploding, I think.

Mind you, the actor in question - Clive Merrison - does have a glass eye, I think, judging from his appearance in Archer's Goon - so he can give an impression of not making eye-contact, which perhaps was deliberately exaggerated for this TV role. Just guessing, to be honest.

[–] tucostevens54 10 years ago

He's stuck in a bygone age and seeks to be respected more than he is. What doesn't help is his lack of social skills which include a barely restrained temper and, as you've mentioned, an inability to look people in the eye. Perhaps repressed shyness behind a mask of stern discipline?