MovieChat Forums > The Mother (2004) Discussion > Did you wonder if the son was gay?...

Did you wonder if the son was gay?...

posted 16 years ago by cmgeyer
16 replies | jump to latest

Though the main sexual tension was among the triangle of mother-daughter-handyman (Darren), did anyone think that the son, who was Darren's actual employer, also gave hints of being attracted? E.g., didn't one of the women characters say something like, "no one would want a man like you" to Darren, to which the son muttered something subtly insinuating like, "that's not quite true"?

Also, there were glances, as well as the odd chemistry in the two men's drinking scene, plus the almost scorned fury in the son when he later fires Darren.

If I'm right, it's as though the needy, self-abusive, dysfuctional Darren had a knack for being the touchstone of nearly everyone's illicit passions and drove them all (mother, daughter, son) in varying degrees toward a misguided attempt to "complete" themselves by bonding with him.

[–] CWessonSpeaks 16 years ago

I went back and looked at the points you bring up and I think you are on to something. I'm not sure I'd say the son is gay but there's for sure something between the men in each of the moments you mention. An attraction or admiration of Darren from the son would support the use of Darren's character in the piece. Good analysis. I've seen the film a few times and never quite got that. I believe you are right.

[–] cmgeyer 16 years ago

Thank you, I'm gratified to hear that. Interesting, disturbing film all around.

[–] mitlander 16 years ago

In one of the first scenes Darren and the son stand very close to each other for a while when they were supposed to just walk pass each other. I remember thinking: "Okay, those two are lovers."

Also, Darren gets so very upset when he finds out the son is going to sell the apartment. If he was just a worker, why would that mean anything to him?

[–] cmgeyer 16 years ago

Interesting. So you not only agree that the son may have designs on Darren, but you think Darren may reciprocate on some level? I suppose that would be consonant with the way he behaves with the Mother -- suffusing every relationship with eroticism, unconsciously at least eager to "belong" by sexualizing everyone around him.

[–] IMage60 15 years ago

Fascinating thread!

When I first saw this movie, I did notice the sexual innuendo between the two, but I chalked it up to casual teasing that never gets acted upon because that would be "too weird" for the friendship. I've had same-sex friends (I'm straight) with whom I would flirt big time, and they would do it back, in much the same way Darren and Bobby acted ... all the time knowing that it would never go any further than that.

That was pretty much my take on it, but now that I read this thread I can see that there might be more of an undercurrent than I originally supposed.

However, the way Bobby reacts when he

SPOILER ALERT

sees the drawings that expose the affair doesn't imply that he's sleeping with Darren, too. He's almost amused by the idea, at first.

[–] donnamaguire 15 years ago

Interesting remarks about the sexual tension between Darren and Bobby. I'll have to watch it again and look out for it.

On the point of why he gets so upset about them selling the apartment, the fact that he is taking so long completing the work is explained early in the movie by saying that he is more of an artisan than "just a worker" who takes great pride in creating things that will last forever. I think he was trying to create something beautiful for his friend (which only reinforces the lover theory), rather than just do a job of work.

[–] Orgelist 15 years ago

The son is bisexual. Darren is pan-sexual. Anyone or anything will do.

Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the Hell happened!

[–] sebastiansmurf 15 years ago

very interesting ideas here! i did, in fact, at first wonder if the son had something going w/darren, or was at least attracted to him...particularly at the part you mentioned:

one of the women characters say something like, "no one would want a man like you" to Darren, to which the son muttered something subtly insinuating like, "that's not quite true"

and then, yeah - the glances & some type of weird 'chemistry' or something. but then when he saw the drawings, he didn't seem to be as ticked off as i'd've thought. he seemed to be more amused, as someone else mentioned. so that made me say, "hmm, maybe not...."

but i LOVE this idea:

it's as though the needy, self-abusive, dysfuctional Darren had a knack for being the touchstone of nearly everyone's illicit passions and drove them all (mother, daughter, son) in varying degrees toward a misguided attempt to "complete" themselves by bonding with him.

you made some awesome points! thanx for the post!

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[–] ginda2000 14 years ago

I actually wondered this exact same thing. When I saw the scene where the two men meet in the kitchen there was definately a sexual undercurrent there but I put it down (as another poster said) to two straight mates having a laugh with inuendo.

However, when you break the film apart we only view things from May and Paula's perspective. Darren is such a wild creature its 100% certain there are other elements (lovers ect) to his life which we are not being shown within the confines of this story.

Bobby's wife clearly dislikes Darren and Bobby has a very casual quite strange relationship with him. Darren is basically one of lifes bums, inpractical at many of the day to day issues (such as being a partner, parent or employee) but gifted with an incredible sexual energy people are drawn to and a zest for life.

Its very likely the original script (and possibly even cut) had Bobby and Darren as lovers also. This would create an even deeper situation for May and Paula and muddy the waters for us (the audience) perspective. However, I think this would have been viewed as 'too much' at some stage in either development or production.

We got the point perfectly that Darren was a dog without preference (the beginning of the scene where he loses his rag proves this) and I feel it would have been over egging the cake to show him and Bobby as lovers also. Thus adding the son into the sexual car crash!

[–] KrystelClaire 13 years ago

Bobby had financial problems, and that was one of the main criticism he made to his wife. In the two scenes they are together, they argue because of some reason with other. For Bobby, Darren must have led a carefree life which he envies. I interpreted that relation as a kind of envy, not exactly as sexual nuances, but now you make me wonder.

However, I think that there is a certain element of jealousy on Bobby's part because of the wild uncompromising life of Darren. We come to know that Darren has problems of his own, but Darren doesn't compromise in the sense that he doesn't seem too stressed about it - I don't say that Darren likes his life, but he doesn't really seem to worry about it-.

[–] joelcairo1941 13 years ago

An excellent thread. I often see a gay subtext where most people don't, but I missed the possible sexual tension between Darren and Bobby. In hindsight, I can definitely see it now. It might also explain Bobby's wife's utter disdain for Darren. Bobby radiates a sensualness that anyone - woman or man - could readily respond to. On a sub-level the wife may sense her husband's attraction to Darren.

[–] lamont-hard 12 years ago

Or wanted him for her self or maybe even had him. Do you think he would pass up chance at her. I would think at some point he would make a move.

[–] Princess_Ashmi 11 years ago

lol i thought that the very first time i watched it to

dunno though, there tends to be a lot of this bromance around nowadays. either he was in the closet or they were just solid bros!

Ashmi any question

[–] cdholden-537-211086 11 years ago

I really just thought they were ex school/uni pals - as discussed - "mates"!

[–] Sugarminx 11 years ago

I'm really surprised that so many people picked up a 'vibe'.

I most certainly didn't. It's an interesting theory and I'm not saying it's not right, but I thought they were just friends too.

As for:

'one of the women characters say something like, "no one would want a man like you" to Darren, to which the son muttered something subtly insinuating like, "that's not quite true" '

I thought Bobby was making a veiled reference to the fact that he knew his sister wanted Darren enough to have an illicit affair with him.

You fill me with inertia - George Spiggott

[–] TheHungryAndAngryShow 10 years ago

I completely thought there was a bit of a homosexual vibe here, but from my point of view there were two "straight" guys who get drunk a lot and sometimes drunk guys get horny, maybe experiment a bit, etc etc. I could totally see the son orally servicing his friend one drunken night. Plus you could tell that Daniel Craig's character was into the whole hedonistic lifestyle, with the taking whatever pills come his way behavior. Plus I think he owed some money to some guys, implying some gambling debts possibly. This is not a guy that says no very often. The son was obviously a bit prissy, not exactly macho by any means, and had no heterosexual vibe to him at all. He seemed more amused that his Mom might be doing his friend than remotely upset about it. Maybe he thought it was funny that they all had their go around with him.