MovieChat Forums > Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2002) Discussion > The Professor

The Professor

posted 21 years ago by net5519
11 replies | jump to latest

I thought that the professor gave an excellent portrayal of stereotypical teaching in this century. I enjoyed his way of dismissing students who decided to not participate. This being an act that is rarely documented. A teacher, in fact, should take more time with the pupil who is "falling" behind. John Turturro did an excellent job at this role. He was able to pull off the tight hemmed, very punctual, morbid character with much sucess. Did the students know of his affair with the other professor? This is a question that I have raised to friends who also viewed this film. When he asks the student if when he wakes up in the morning does he expect for his bed to just make itself the reply is, "If I was at a hotel." Then, you see Walter and his mistress in a hotel room. I was just wondering if the students were aware of this affair. What do you think? I love feedback. I love other John Turturro fans. If you are interested in discussing his previous works including, but not limited to "13 Conversations About One Thing" feel free to send me a private message. Good Day.

[–] lionphish 20 years ago

I don't think the student was aware of his affair with the other teacher, probably one of those coincidence that help movies along. The professor was probably used to having someone make his bed (his wife and know he lives in a hotel) and he lectures someone for expecting his bed to make itself.

I cut my finger, that's tragedy!
A man walks into an open sewer and dies, that's comedy!

[–] net5519 20 years ago

I must correct you. The Professor had a habititual cleaning disorder. He always had to have everything in a line, per se'. So, no, his wife didn't make his bed for him. The thing that drove her to the brink of insanity was his cleanliness itself. The student may not have known of his affair, I agree. Still, when approached by the student in the hallway he and the other professor were deep in conversation that was of an obvious nature. Therefore, I think that he had an inkling to the subject of their fued. That was what I meant. Good day to you :)

[monkey2] If we could all allow our MonkeyBone to take effect, we would be better off!!!!

[–] lionphish 20 years ago

Thanks I most of been distracted because I didn't pick up the cleaning disorder...

I cut my finger, that's tragedy!
A man walks into an open sewer and dies, that's comedy!

[–] net5519 20 years ago

You're welcome. Think back to the first scene with he and his wife. He was eating a meal very meticulously. He seemed to be afraid to spill a drop of it. Then, while his mistress dressed herself he made the bed. He had a problem, a serious problem. So many people run themselves ragged keeping everything in order. "A place for everything, and everything in it's place." Such a sad predicament. I am so different than that. Just come to my house some time. HA HA Good day to you!

[monkey2] If we could all allow our MonkeyBone to take effect, we would be better off!!!!

[–] Lollycopters 18 years ago

I just saw this movie and thought it was great, but I was under the impression that the professor (Turturro) had moved out to a small apartment and this is where he was conducting the affair with the other female professor. I am under this impression because there is a scene where they are in this small apartment and he says how he was just thinking that he never thought his life would take this turn and change this much. Then the female professor says something to the effect of "What? You never thought you'd be living in a one bedroom apartment..."

Also, he makes a comment about how his things are still at with his wife at the old apartment and he hasn't picked them up. I think this is after she moves out leaving his things for "Charity". Then later in the movie we see him on the street outside his car looking up at his old apartment. Then we see him calling his old apartment and no one answers...

Thoughts? Anyone want to back me up, or prove me wrong?... preferably the former :)

[–] net5519 18 years ago

You are right. It could be an apartment. The location is not the issue, I don't reckon. Then again, it may be. I just wanted to touch on his inability to break his "habits" and move on to this new life that has been slapped into his lap. I guess I can relate to the professor. He is accustomed to having his day-to-day schedule. When his wallet gets stolen and he realizes that all things change he is faced with the want to change with it. Still, he goes right back to his "old ways" and that proves to be hard as well. W/out his regularity he is out in the cold, so to speak. I get up every day and do the same things. I get my hair brushed, I get my teeth brushes, I put on my clothes, I brush my hair again, I get some milk, and out the door I go. If anyone told me to do those things in a switch-a-roo, well, I would be upset. I guess life could cause me to have to change my daily routine, and I would be lost to begin with. See what I mean? Come on back w/ more feedback, I sure do love that stuff! Good day to you!

It's a slender curtain between theatre and life. Let's lift that curtain, shall we?

[–] Lollycopters 18 years ago

Yes, well, we are creatures of habit I suppose. Most of us are I guess. Just casually thinking about that it seems it has something to do with growing older and becoming more set in your ways. I'm 32 now and very set into habits, for example, I meticulously floss and brush my teeth every morning after I eat breakfast and every night right before going to bed. It would really bug me if I missed a single morning/night where I couldn't floss and brush. I don't think I've missed a single time in years now, I even have backup floss in case I run out. But then I think back to being 18 and a freshman in college living in a dorm room and there were no real habits like this. I didn't floss back then, probably missed brushing all the time, skipped meals depending on whatever was going on, sometimes had to wake up early and other times would sleep to 2 or 3 in the afternoon... I don't know, maybe that's more information than anyone wants to hear - just a comment on the subject.

I completely forgot about his wallet being stolen which triggered everything. Also, as discussed earlier, I don't think any of the students knew about the affair. When the student who was failing went up to talk to Turturro after class that one time he could tell the two professors were discussing something important and gave them room to do so and waited a bit down the hall but I don't think he knew what they were discussing. I could've missed something though...

[–] net5519 18 years ago

Well, I would have to say that the student was aware of the situation between the two teachers. It was obvious that they were discussing something other than trig....:) Still, that is left up to the beholder of the film. Yes, I am sure that the comment on the bed being made was supposed to spark some sort of thought in the mind of the viewer. We were to assume that the professors were busted by this kid and that he "could" be bad news for them, I assume this of course. Back to his wallet being stolen, yeah I would say that caused a want for change. He had been the same day in and day out for so many years. He could see how it was affecting his marriage in a way so that she was about to leave him. He couldn't even change his habits around his mistress. Most men/women act the opposite around their sordid lovers. They tend to carry themselves differently in many aspects. He was the same. He didn't change. He still felt the same. His mind was telling him to simply leave the bed unmade. He knew it wouldn't harm anything at all. Still, his fear of the "unkept" creeped in on him like a hurricane! He "HAD" to make the bed. Her dislike was clear on this. She knew that he would never change regardless of his circumstance.
When he went and looked at the sports car he was thinking his outlook on life would change with him driving a newer, sportier ride. He imagined himself, surely, cruising along the highway with his curly hair blowing in the wind, holding his new lover by his side while smoking a big stogie. He had a lot of spunk, but no real ability to allow that spunk to flow over into his reality. His mind played many tricks on him. I could see in his face that he wished for his "old" life, yet he was compelled to never return to it. He hated himself for being such a "prude" such a "by the book" kind of guy. Then again, he needed this routine to keep him sane. We can "all" relate to the professor. I know, just like you, if I didn't do my "dailys" I would be lost! I feel completely aware of what is going to happen each day, though I long for something new, something different, something out of the ordinary. Yet, when that something does occur it is mass confusion in my world. I can't change these habits, just like he couldn't change his. How's that? :) :)

It's a slender curtain between theatre and life. Let's lift that curtain, shall we?

[–] ccherry-1 18 years ago

The student is deep in his own problems and doesn't pick up on the problems of others. It's ironic that the professor is also suffering disappointment and loss at the moment the desperate student walks by.

[–] net5519 18 years ago

~The student is deep in his own problems and doesn't pick up on the problems of others.~
Great way to put it! Still, I see how he mocks the professor during class. I realize that there is always that one student that torments the teacher, that's always true in school. Still, he seems to know things, and the professor knows he knows. Their tension shows. Think back on the comment about bed making...........what did that all come from? I think that he knew. Another twist? Perhaps! Maybe the professor related to the students feeling of grief, anguish, and lonliness. Maybe the student didn't know about the affair. Maybe everyone is correct in that assumption. Maybe the professor was trying to save the student from suffering a fate such as his own. Maybe, just maybe he was trying to mentor this boy to take a different path. When he fails him on the test the student requests a re-take, the professor refuses him. Why? The answer is obvious, but it isn't at the same time obvious to me. I see that the student flittered his way through the class and when test time came he was ill prepared. But, the professor takes it a notch higher w/ the lecture in his office. Did he want the boy to fail? Did he feel no concern? Was he overwhelmed w/ affection for this boy and want him to succeed? Somebody! LOL Let me know what you all think.

It's a slender curtain between theatre and life. Let's lift that curtain, shall we?

[–] liquordude 17 years ago

Typical Democrat view of the world. Responsibility is not one's own. It is always someone else who should take responsibility for one's flaws.

This was a college course and the student was immature and distracting to others. He should have been removed from the class. Not babied like so many are in our welfare entitlement society. Suicide was a weak choice made by a weak individual.