MovieChat Forums > The Door in the Floor (2004) Discussion > I think Elle's character should have had...

I think Elle's character should have had more screen time.

posted 14 years ago by LextheXFile
2 replies | jump to latest

For one thing I think Elle Fanning, playing Ruth, was amazing (especially considering she was only 4 and 5 during filming and the role was originally supposed to be given to twin girls to handle). The story is of course about the break-up of the marriage after the death of Tim and Tommy, but Ruth is the child that is born as their "replacement", the long term effects of the movie will effect her character the most and she is neglected by her mother (and, even though he tries hard, her father is pretty self absorbed). I think this movie could've been a lot more interesting if the movie had been shot more from Ruth's point of view- the basic story line could remain the same, but then the movie would show not only what can happen to a marriage after the tragic death of children, but how a couple can try to "rekindle" their love by having another child, and how that child grows up in the shadow of her dead brothers (who she never knew) and the effects it has on her.

"I don't LIKE confrontation."
-Rex from Toy Story

[–] lulupalooza 12 years ago

Yes. The Ruth character is the main person in the book. The story is about her life and what comes after all of this happens. The film only covers 1/3 the book. So maybe you would enjoy the book. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbhrz1-4hN4

[–] gbeacock 10 years ago

That part of the book wasn't written from Ruth's point of view, but from what she has put together as an adult, therefore, an adult's point of view. To show the movie, especially one as sexual as this one, from the child's POV would be quite wrong. I do love Ruth's line, "Your penis is funny." I heard no controversy over that, but her sisters barely envisioned rape in Hounddog was mega puritan fodder though the bath scene was much creepier.