MovieChat Forums > A Beautiful Mind (2002) Discussion > The scene where the college students lau...

The scene where the college students laugh at Nash.

posted 10 years ago by fiatlux-1
8 replies | jump to latest

Who else cried tears of fury during that scene? These supposedly educated, urbane students laughing at a mentally ill man?
To be honest, I imagine such a scene not only did happen to him in real life but it would have happened at ANY college!

Then or today, in fact. On a side note....I have physical issues & have been laughed and literally made fun of by a group of ADULTS at the first state college I went to: Southern Connecticut State University. Vile college, I could not wait to leave.
People are vicious.

Anyone else cry at this scene?

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

[–] blackkomori 10 years ago

I thought the point of this scene was to make us reflect on the nightmare it would be in Nash's place: not knowing if events happening to him are real or not.

Most likely, that scene was indeed just in his mind, as he was quite paranoid since the "russian attack".

You could argue that his delusions were made of Charles, the girl, and the hat-guy, but I guess he also had other characters living in his delusions as well (i.e. the spy team who implanted the numbers in his arm, those in his backyard, and the fact that he asks a student if "a new face is actually real", when the Nobel guy meets him, as if it regularly happens that new imaginary people speak to him).

For that, I though the scene was great by not actually mentioning if it was real or not, putting us in his mind for a few seconds, not knowing if we should get mad, feel bad, or just ignore it.

[–] Cult_of_Kibner 9 years ago

I think it was meant to be real, but that's an interesting interpretation. From Nash's point of view they may or may not be hallucinations, so it's best not get riled up. If they're real they're really just making asses of themselves.

[–] groversald 10 years ago

I didn't cry, but I agree with you, OP, that it was sadly true to life.

[–] Kjottpudding 9 years ago

Yes, that scene is really frustrating. People can be so awful to each other.

If you want to win the lottery, first you have to make the money to buy a ticket.

[–] BrunoAntony 7 years ago

No, because it was obviously invented to trigger sentimental saps like you.

[–] halomaniac88 (1736) 7 years ago

Exactly, I don't any person at such an established place like Princeton would stoop so low.

[–] db20db (16208) 7 years ago

BS! Human nature is despicable wherever you go in life; get a grip on reality.

[–] janoss (206) 6 years ago

It's a movie thing. In my experience, people don't do those kind of things. They may have the same hate/fear in their hearts, but it isn't vocalized in that way. It's a movie short-cut that we have to accept.