Sharon's family *spoilers* - Angel Eyes (2001) Discussion

[–] TAllen77 15 years ago

well her mother was kinda caught in the middle.she still loves her daughter very much but she just wants to move on and forget it.but sharon hasn't really had any closure over what happened.

"I'll hold your hand and the last thing you will ever see will be me because I love you."

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[–] fiatlux-1 15 years ago

I was so angry with Sharon's family! What the hell is the matter with them anyway?
They're mad at her for calling the police to protect the mom and *gasp* the father has to pay for his abuse/crime?
That mother was too weak, and in denial. The father almost looked like he was going to go talk to Sharon at the party, but turned away!

I agree 100% with the original poster. She's better off without them. Who needs family that treats you like that for doing the right thing?

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

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[–] rosek102 15 years ago

The father obviously had anger/resentment issues, and the brother was a chip right off the old block, abusing his own wife at home. The mother was the one who bothered me the most. She was so naive and unable to stick up for herself. She convinced herself that the vow renewal was some kind of "rebirth" for their marriage, but really, her husband obviously hadn't changed very much. Maybe he didn't hit her anymore, but a lot of that was probably because she tiptoed around him like a meek little puppy, never questioning him or making him discuss anything that might be uncomfortable. In short, it was all about HIM and HIS needs. He was allowed to hang onto anger and resentment, but everyone else had to man up and just accept him as he was. As a mother, that woman needed to stand up for her daughter, and she clearly didn't. She was all about staying in her own little fantasy world.

The whole story was very emotional and powerful, though, because it didn't just end on a happy note. It showed some reality with what happens in a lot of families, where people just can't let go of those things from the past. It made it all the more touching when Sharon said at the end, "It's not fair, I did the right thing, I know I did...and there's nothing I can do anymore", and Catch was there to tell her he loved her. At that moment, you knew she'd be okay and that she'd survive, even without her family.

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[–] IForgotMyMantra 15 years ago

The emphasis on thestoryline with the abuse in Sharon's family derailed the movie. It didn't work as well as it could have done.

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[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bfuente1 14 years ago

my parents don't talk to me either. i tried to have my older sister arrested for abusing her then 3 year old son (she broke both his arms-at the same time) eventually no charges were filed. i guess my word & his 2 broken arms was not enough evidence to convict.needless to say my sister can do no wrong according to my parents. the dept of children & families in florida is a complete joke. my parents call what she did to me as a child a bad temper. and want ME to apologize to her for what i put her through (she lost custody during the 3 month investigation) i have no plans to ever forgive her. so i understand the family dynamic in this movie.

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[–] roxist 12 years ago

I also disliked her family - I hated the general opinion of "let's not bother him with this, let's not bring up that".
I also get how the mother, his wife would understand somewhat his situation because when they're a couple, they tend to protect eachother no matter what but the son shouldn't agree with them.

@bfuente1
I'm sorry you have such problems with your family. It sounds like your sister has / had some problems. I think parents generally tend to put childhood things under the idea that "they were kids, they didn't know anything". I think they see the baby's broken arms as some kind of an accident rather than accepting that maybe it was not and that's why they might want you to apologize to her for her losing custody.
We all go through some key points in our lives and I think that if you saw the baby being abused and suffering, then, you did the right thing.

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[–] bufster3 11 years ago

@bfuente I am so sorry for what happened to you and your nephew. I used to work as a social worker in foster care and sadly it is common for abusive parents not to be charged when they abuse their children, even when the court believes that the parent did abuse the child.

Children are considered the property of their biological parents in our legal system.

So it's no surprise that your sister got away with it.

You did the right thing even though things did not work out well for your poor little nephew. You do not owe anyone an apology. You did a very difficult thing, the heroic thing. The brave thing.

I hope that things are better for you now.

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[–] jztzt 11 years ago

Sharon is the type of person who advocates for victims to stand up and speak for themselves instead of favoring their oppressors. She's not so easy to forgive and forget and confronts her family about the painful past. However, her family wants to bury the past and doesn't want to talk or think about it. Some truths and skeletons in the closet take a long time to be unearthed and be resolved. Her family probably needs more time to digest and reflect on what Sharon has said and Sharon should give them time to cool off. She should also slowly come to terms with her past and reconcile with her family and renew a fresh relationship. While I believe her mother understands, cares about, and loves her the most, it may take awhile before her brother and father turn themselves around and embrace her again. However, I trust that the instinctive and powerful nature of human affection will reunite them eventually.

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[–] kronos251 10 years ago

+1 What jztzt said.

"Rommel...you magnificent bastard, I read your book!"
-- PATTON

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[–] next-lover 9 years ago

Yes OP, I agree with everything you've said. But this is the way it is in real life, sadly. Actually, this movie portrayed it in such a heartbreaking way because... this IS reality. Many women WANT to leave the abusive husband, but if she does not have anything to support herself, what about her finances? How will she take care of her children? Put food on the table?

I used to work as an ED nurse and we get all types of domestic abuse cases. A lot of SANE nurses would talk to me about those abuse cases of family and the one common theme they re-iterated was the reason many stayed in those relationships? Where will they live? So it's either stay in the relationship or live off the streets. And many "alms houses" have wait lists here in CA :( So at best, they can only stay in those facilities for about 3mo.

Oh the ending was painful to watch. It's so so so complicated and I... can't blame Sharon and the mother for "overlooking" or wanting to move past the abuse of the father. So sad.

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[–] fiatlux-1 8 years ago

Its so frustrating to me when I read about wives (or even some husbands) who feel they can't leave their abusive, vicious spouses because they'll 'have no money'.

Well, they made the CHOICE of not getting their own careers before their marriage, or even of getting married to begin with!
Abusers always always give some kind of sign, even if its only verbal or emotional abuse or control issues.

The idea is to have your own career, be independent, and NOT GIVE a spouse (any spouse) the control over your financial life to begin with.
That way, you can leave if you need to & take care of yourself.

I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.

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