MovieChat Forums > What Makes a Family (2001) Discussion > Why the bitter custody battle?

Why the bitter custody battle?

posted 16 years ago by jenni_doll_1
1 reply | jump to latest

Sandy had said in the movie her parents were devastated when she came out to them in high school, as, I'm sure, most parents would be, but they seemed to be accepting of her lifestyle by this point and welcomed Janine into their family right away, so I don't see why, after Sandy's death, they became so hostile toward Janine and used her lesbianism as a reason why they should have custody of Heather instead of her. It would have made more sense if they had never really approved of Sandy's relationship with Janine, but it appeared that they were a loving happy family from day one, and I don't see what suddenly changed that. Did they feel guilty and maybe a little jealous that Janine was the one who was with Sandy everyday for the last days of her life and they felt Heather was all they had left of her and were looking for any reason they could to get her? Any opinions?

[–] vampire_mike 16 years ago

I feel that Sandy's parents only accepted Janine because they were kind of forced to. So they made it as peaceful as possible. With Sandy dead, they no longer have to be friendly towards Janine. They may have felt hostility towards Janine the whole time and although appeared to be supportive of Sandy and Janine's lesbian parenting, they may truly, deep inside, not have liked it at all and those feelings became public after Sandy's death.