MovieChat Forums > Kissing Jessica Stein (2002) Discussion > The Conversation between Jessica and her...

The Conversation between Jessica and her Mom

posted 16 years ago by gremma
15 replies | jump to latest

The conversation when Jessica's Mother reveals that she knows that Jessica is seeing Helen. This is the conversation that many gay people I know would love to have had with their own family, instead they were banished from the family. Jessica has a beautiful, loving conversation with her Mother, who would rather have Jessica with Helen happy. Jessica has the need for perfection in every part of her life; striving for perfection has prevented her from experiencing or enjoying so many things in her life. Her Mother knew this about her when she was a child. Love usually means you find a person whose reflection of you makes you happy. Helen, having a 'do what makes you happy' attitude that directly challenged Jessica's 'it has to be right, and everyone in the world has to think so' attitude. Jessica found, and then liked, not caring so much what people thought until finally she also didn't care so much what Helen thought, and then it was time to move on. Jessica finally concerned herself with making Jessica happy.

[–] LaLa12 16 years ago

I love that scene. Probably my favourite in the entire film.
What's up vanilla face

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Shearer_Goddard_Russell 16 years ago

If anyone has a link to the transcript of that scene, I would love to see it. I want to be able to read it again, it was so well done.

"Just close your eyes...but keep your mind wide open."

[–] trkelley 16 years ago

This is one of the best acted scenes in film. When Jessica's mom(Tovah Feldshuh)
starts to say, "I think she is a wonderful girl" she pauses to keep from crying, and her voice cracks just a little bit. What a wonderful, loving mother to want her daughter to be happy.

[–] shill-9 16 years ago

Its a great piece of dialogue. You could feel how Jessica's personal pain was much harder for the mother to bear than the common fear of Jessica becoming a "social outcast" as a lesbian.

[–] amanda1010 16 years ago

I have to agree with all of you on this one. That scene was so amazing. The acting was incredible. I kind of went into the movie thinking it was only going to be OK, and then I watched that scene. There are very few films where you actually see the actors put THAT much emotion into it. Fantastic.

[–] deluxe_cluck_cluck 15 years ago

Isn't that the truth. I just saw this movie for the second time, and had a chance to see this scene. What a powerful scene, especially on the part of acting great Tovah Feldshuh. It’s too bad that she couldn’t have gotten some sort of supporting actor award for this role. This scene alone did it for me.

I could have been an actor...but I wound up here... :)

[–] Shane_is_my_Homegirl 15 years ago

That was by far, the most beautiful and touching scene in the movie. One of my favorites because it was so moving and a conversation I wanted to have with my father when I "came out", but instead it went south. The conversation between my stepfather and I however, was kind of similar to the one Jessica had with her mother.

__________
What New York used to be..

[–] crazycat9 13 years ago

I came to this board to look for this very thread. The above comments are spot on. I also thought that scene was amazing. And pretty sure that up until they hug, that it was filmed all in one take. The dialog, timing, tears and emotion - really outstanding acting by both.

[–] Toshiko3000 13 years ago

Absolutely. Well written, well played.

[–] noveltylibrary 12 years ago

wonderful scene, fantastic acting, particularly Tovah.

[–] scissorhands__emily 12 years ago

The acting in that scene is so well done as well. The way her mom starts by saying "I think-" and chokes up a bit and tears well in her eyes, and then she continues and says "I think she's a lovely girl" or something, it is just so so touching. It was the affirmation Jessica needed that said it's okay, and you should do what makes you happy.

[–] lolstar6 11 years ago

That scene steals the whole film for me. Extraordinary acting from Jessicas mother. Was such a natural scene.

"What, you don't like rice? Tell me Michael, how could a billion Chinese people be wrong?"

[–] KCurmudgeon 8 years ago

Personally, I think that scene is not only the best in the movie but one of the best in all of cinema. That along should have netted Tovah Feldshuh a supporting actor Oscar nod.