MovieChat Forums > Rain Discussion > Importance of water (spoilers)

Importance of water (spoilers)

posted 17 years ago by hb1107
8 replies | jump to latest

I saw this movie a couple of years ago, but I remember water being present in many important scenes. The mother showering outside, Janey swimming to Cady's boat, Janey laying naked in the rain after having sex with Cady in the woods, Jim drowning, and even the title of the movie. I talked to one of my friend's mothers about the possible symbolism of water in this movie, and she said something about water representing a mother or something maternal. Anyway, like I said, it was a couple of years ago that I saw this movie and asked my friend's mom about it, so I may have it wrong. I was just wondering if anyone else noticed it or could explain the symbolism to me. Thanks.

[–] frozenflame 17 years ago

This might just be to do with Christine Jeffs' love of water?

Check out her short film, Stroke, which is set in a swimming pool.

[–] przgzr 17 years ago

It would be interesting to know if this was truth. Because, we can see so many things that she hates, despizes, condemns in the movie, that it would be a refreshment to find if she can really love anything.

[–] plaztikstar-1 17 years ago

I believe that water is a symbol of purification in this film. To think of it in a religious sense, water is used to baptize and water was poured on the hands of Pontious Pilot when the people wanted Jesus crucified. He said, "I wash my hands of it", meaning he had nothing to do with the decision or that his "hands are clean". I'm not religious or anything, but water proves to be a strong symbol. I feel that when Kate was showering outside and even when Janey showered outside in the end, it represented their desire to "wash away their sins", or to purify/renew themselves.

[–] przgzr 17 years ago

Purification could be a very good explanation. But doesn't the director want to tell us how wrong we are to think that we could simply wash our sins away just by a shower?

However, this explanation neglects one thing... A boy drowned in the water. In very big water. How well purified he was then?! And, according to the director, he was the only person that had nothing to be purified from.

[–] Benedictus_scribebam 17 years ago

"Janey laying naked in the rain after having sex with Cady in the woods"

That must have been cut from the version I saw: an American VHS release I rented.

It jump cut directly from the moment Janey was running her hands through Cady's chest hair to her walking out of the woods onto the beach, where she finds her brother.

I knew something was cut.

Censorship. It's what's for dinner.

Benedictus.
--

[–] bono_vox_is_god 17 years ago

No there is nothing censored, there is no sex scene, the fact that they slept together is just an assumption made by most viewers, which is left up to us to decide. It makes sense though to assume this.

[–] przgzr 17 years ago

If the description of the former poster is correct, than scissors have been used (quite a normal procedure for USA).

Yes, there was no sex scene, let alone a graphic one, and most thing are implied, but between "hands in hair" and running to the shore there are some seconds missing. At least the scene with Janey's body lying in the wood, on the ground, with trees surrounding her, shot from distance, in black&white or sepia (I don't remember and I don't have a copy any more). Nothing much seen (might have been a body-double, too) but we can conclude something more then just few kisses happened there. Possibilities are open to imagination, because Janey could have also been frustrated if nothing had happened (she offered herself, but Cody threw her away and left), her disappointment (surprise, anger, jealousy, humiliation etc) might make her lie there.

But though nothing has been actually shown, it could be enough for some censors to protect their citizens from such a disturbing content. (Death of child, parents on drugs, gallons of liquor etc. are not a disturbing content).

[–] Benedictus_scribebam 17 years ago

Thank you both for your thoughtful posts.

I think I should find a copy of this again and rewatch it more closely. I was assuming that there must have been a fairly substantial (even if short) cut because of the way other posters here were describing the scene with such detail.

Also, I did notice the jump cut at the time I saw the film and thought it was a little unusual in the visual style of the film. But that could have been on purpose for effect.

But I did like the ambiguity & think it would work better than being explicit in any way.

I will try to get the DVD of it...

Benedictus.
--