MovieChat Forums > Guinevere (1999) Discussion > A couple of things I was unsure about

A couple of things I was unsure about

posted 16 years ago by NestOfNewts
5 replies | jump to latest

There were two things in the film that I was a little unsure about that didn't seem to be explained properly.

1) Why was it that Connie split up from Harper? He seemed to be the one that pushed for the breakup which seemed odd to me because we were told earlier in the film that he likes to keep the girls for a five year plan if possible yet I think he instigated the split from Harper within the first year. It was also hinted at throughout the film that he was her favourite so if anything he would have made the most effort to keep her for the full five years wouldn't he? The only thing I can think of is that perhaps she was the only one he truly cared about so he let her go because he thought she deserved more than what he could offer?

2) Why was it that connie seemed to be struggling for money towards the end of the film? Harper seemed to have to go out and get a job of her own and he didn't seem to be doing much photography anymore. He seemed quite desperate when he went to visit his old friend in the hope of selling him some pictures and I think he even pawned his camera. What happened to him that put him in such a poor financial position? Was it something to do with him spending too much money on drink?

Any help with these two problems would be appreciated.

[–] nace180 16 years ago

1.) He tries to get a 5 year commitment, the girls never make it, perhaps her saw that Harper could, or more likely, she had grown as much as she could with him and needed to branch out on her own.

2.) He pawned the camera in order to have work done on this teeth which fell out in a scene where they're eating lunch in a little roadside cafe'. As far as struggling for money and Harper having to work, I think the struggle is all part of helping the girls build character, nothing good comes easy.

That's just my take on what you said, this is one of those movies where people are very opinionated, so take it as you will :)

Hoped it helped none the less!!

[–] blaine3-2 16 years ago

No, she pawned HER long lens, to get money to fix his teeth, then pawned the body of HER camera to get gas for the trip back from L A to San Francisco. Remember she said she was pawning the camera before she had ever used it.

[–] autolei 15 years ago

I'm a little late with this but...

1)She was ready. She had done all the reading and learned everything there was to know, but she never wanted to use a camera until that day. Remember how mad she was because they had to pawn the camera? She started taking photographs like a mad woman and at the end of her frenzy she focused the camera, and saw his pain thru the lens. That's when they both realized that she was ready.

2)Not sure about that myself. I guess the drinking was one of the main reasons. That and the fact he hated to do well paid jobs like wedding-photography.

[–] msmouse841 15 years ago

1) Connie hated that he was older than her. He didn't want her to see him as a failure or as old (especially because she was his favorite). He pushes her away so she wouldn't have to watch him die, so she wouldn't have to take care of him. Her mom was right about everything that's why he got mad and pushed her away after the visit (when he accuses her of instigating the whole thing). The Guineveres had an awe of him and he couldn't stand for her especially to see him as a failure, as an old dried up hack.

2) He wasn't a successful artist anymore. He couldn't let go and "get a real job." He would rather be dead than sell his integrity as an artist...Its also possible that he turned all of these beautiful, lost young women into artists to support him. But the film isn't entirely clear. just an idea.

Hope that added another view to the film.

[–] Rheli 11 years ago

I think he could see she was going to leave him. No doubt it had happened before and by now he was expert at seeing the signs. The idea of the trip was to get her not to do that. But it failed miserably, so he decided he would rather pre-emptively break it himself rather than experience a long, lingering break.

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