MovieChat Forums > Levity (2003) Discussion > My take on the symbolism in Levity.

My take on the symbolism in Levity.

posted 19 years ago by IIDX
8 replies | jump to latest

Forgive me if my observations are blazingly obvious, but I am no film, art, or English major, and I simply enjoyed this film so much that I would make a few observations about the symbolism in this film. (also I am only going to mention a few things, I don't have the best memory)

I think the film was about redemption, obviously, and Manual's journey towards it.
At the start of the film he mentions the 5 steps to being redeemed.

1. Admit you made a mistake.
2. Feel remorse for what you have done.
3. Right your wrong by replacing what you took.
4. Make amends with God.
5. Pass up the opportunity to do what you did wrong again.

I feel that the entire movie was showing his quest to fulfill these 5 requirements, but I'll come back to that.

Earyl in the movie you see Manual walking down a tunnel in a subway station, he walks one way, while everyone walks the other way. This shows his apparent removal, and feeling of seperation from society, even though he has been deemed a free man by the legal system.

Then later in the movie he is standing on the bridge dropping ice, he sees an image of Adner, and he tells him he is observing gravity, to which abner replies something along the lines of nothing lasts forever, as he throws a peice of ice in the air and it floats up, defying gravity. I think this showed that there still is hope for Manual, telling him that nothing is permanent, everything can be changed, even something as permanent as gravity.

Now for the 5 steps. I feel he completed all of them save one, which I geuss can be interpreted in different ways.
1. He obviously has admitted that what he did was wrong, and that he didn't want to do it.
2.Once again, obviously he regrets it, and spent 22 years thinking about it.
3. By saving Adner Jr. I feel like he has done a good job in replacing (in this case saving) someone that Adner Sr.'s sister loved. Also, the fact that they share the same name symbolizes that he in a way, went back and saved Adner.
4. This one is up in the air, but you can say by helping those trouble teens, and the "pastor", he has righted himself with God.
5. When his old friend from jail offers him the chance to rob another liquor store and he refuses, putting his neck on the line it shows that he will never rob again, and most deffinitley never kill again.

All of this comes together when we see Manual walking with the crowd, looking a little more proud and satisfied then we saw him at the start. We see him walking with the crowd to show that he has finally repaid his debt to society in the best way he can, and he can start living the life of a normal, free man.

Forgive me if you feel these are totally wrong or obvious, but please comment.

[–] reggaeky 19 years ago

I, too, enjoyed this movie. And I agree with your observations. I'm no theater or literature person, as well, but am a 48 y/o grandmother who finds Billy Bob Thornton entertaining, be it laughing at his comedic roles or the dramatic ones, as this. I wanted more out of Holly Hunter's character, but hey, you don't always get what you want, right? haha! She's one of my favorite actors and her and Billy Bob were the reasons I watched it to start with. Good film. I love most of the Indies. I read this was one, as well. Guess I'm a little "weird" as I find lots of these Indies are, most of which I LOVE!

[–] ps-mn 19 years ago

I like your comments about the symbolism of the subway corridor crowds at the start and finish -- very astute.

[–] ljl16 19 years ago

I've come just from seeing it and when i saw the title of your comment it was like we had telepathy or something.

I thought exactly the same about the subway corridors and the others simbolisms, except for the one with the peice of ice.

bye!

[–] garethgazz 19 years ago

I also thought with the ice dropping, that he was contemplating suicide, the cowards way out. It was interesting that they had Abners ghost telling him nothing lasts forever, in a way, the guy he killed saved him too...

He said in the letter that he was a murderer and a coward, and always would be.
Well, he could have killed himself to relive the pain, but he didn't, he even told the truth to the woman he was beginning to care for, knowing he would probably lose her. That's pretty brave.
As well as that, he helped Abner when there was every possibility of being shot himself (as he was!), again, pretty brave.

[–] beavis_el_bunghole 19 years ago

He admits that he is weak and a coward and unable to carry the burden (gravity). Once he dies (when he is shot), he is finally allowed to be reborn because by doing this and in accepting his immutable weaknesses, he has accepted 'God' metaphorically or literally (it doesn't matter) and therefore, made peace with 'God' as well. #5

Brilliant script and an equally brilliant cast.

B

[–] viryou2 18 years ago

I loved this movie...I just watched it for the first time last night...I think it was a brilliant script and the cast was outstanding...I just didn't get one thing about Morgan Freeman's character....the FBI was looking for someone who turned out to be Morgan Freeman's character...but what did he do????
Can someone let me know??? Thanks

[–] liddyzissou 18 years ago

One last piece of symbolism at the very end of the film is when he enters the subway and the camera shows the door closing, with Manual on the right side of the screen and Abner on the left. Abner is standing on the outside of the train, as you can see his reflection, and the subway moves away, with Abner remaining still. Manual has completed his five steps to redemption, and he has freed himself of the guilt of killing Abner, as his ghost is released from his presence.

[–] Demarates 14 years ago

My thoughts exactly. He can finally leave Abner behind.

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