MovieChat Forums > Jindabyne (2006) Discussion > Meaning of electricity poles ? (possible...

Meaning of electricity poles ? (possible spoilers)

posted 17 years ago by jack traven
14 replies | jump to latest

Read some really interesting things here in the threads about the multiple metaphores that are presented in this movie...

Personally I think Ray Lawrence has created a deeply moving tale depicting Australian society in all its geographical beauty but demographical complexity. More importantly this is an all too real tale of human behaviour and emotions (reaction to death, grief, guilt) in itself with fantastic performances by all involved.

However, one of the many questions still remaining in my head are the words of the killer at the beginning regarding the electricity, and the scene later on with one of the fishers separating himself from the group (to have a pee?), when the sound mix focuses on the sound of the electricity poles above him .

Does it have to do with the fact that the new town of Jindabyne was built after the building of the dam which flooded the old town to generate electricity?
And why?
Also, was the character of the killer even needed to get the whole story going?

I'm non-Australian and thus probably not aware of some facets of Australian society that are probably interwoven in the story.

Can somebody elaborate? Thanx!

[–] GlennE 17 years ago

Maybe the electricity is a reminder that they cannot escape technology/society and are still part of it. Some references were also made to the flooded town and perhaps the power sound is some kind of noise the ghost town is making.

I am Australian (and have been to the area a number of times) and I was not sure myself why the camera was trained on the power transmission line for so long.

Anyway a top movie, strange how the body finders were punished more than the actual killer.

[–] jack traven 17 years ago

Interesting suggestion, thanks!

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] t_mac 17 years ago

"In some ways they are worse because you are more likely to meet such people than to meet a killer."

that is hands down, the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life.

the movie absolute is more about the four men obviously. and even more obviously, they got punished more than the killer, because of one very simple reason.. THE KILLER GOT AWAY WITH IT. you can't punish a guy if you don't know who killed the girl.

that being said, I loved this movie. Laura Linney is one of the premier actors of our time, and it's always a pleasure to see her in anything.

"I'm the Kling Klang King of the Rim Ram Room"

[–] sniffintheglove 15 years ago

So why does the killer have such prominence in the film? The flaw of this film is it cannot decide on the story it wants to tell.

[–] redquartz36 16 years ago

I think the electricity poles gave several things to the film.
One, a visual contrast between the natural wonders of great proportion and equally over sized manmade wonders.
second, the lake was made by a hydroelectric damn. No doubt they carried power created by the dam.
Third, the killer asked the victim a contemptuous question and rhetorically answered "electricity".
It made me wonder if an underlying motive for the killer was anger and bitter resentment from losing his home if we was a former resident of old Jindabyne. Lastly, it should not go unmentioned that he was an electrician.

[–] carey-8 16 years ago

And isn't it interesting that all this wonderful technology destroyed the old town, but technology also prevents them from phoning for help. Do you think if their cell phones had worked, they would have phoned sooner? Definitely. We rely too much on technogy for the "furthering" of our human endeavours.

[–] Havoac 16 years ago

I think in that moment the electricity poles humble the young guy. They are like Gods, over-seering and watching. Later he runs away because he feels a similar pressure from his consience.

[–] psdhart 14 years ago

I agree with the two previous posts

[–] activator 16 years ago

But think about it ...................how many people do you know that would have continued fishing after finding a body.

Answer NONE .

Even Mick Dundee would have packed his rods up and gone for the police.

Conclusion : Unrealistic self indulgent rubbish written to fit a mind set and stereotypes
that dont exist.

[–] Havoac 16 years ago

What the bloody hell is wrong with you...

I would have continued fishing. Half of the people I know and half of the people you know would have continued fishing. You're living on the clouds and wearing purplecolored glasses if you don't think something like this wouldn't happen.

[–] mcmullanbrush 14 years ago

You're funny!

[–] jaberuoki 14 years ago

You would've continued fishing and snapping happy pictures knowing there was a dead body nearby? What's wrong with some people's moral compass?? I hope none of the people I know is that callous...

[–] jandybanandy 14 years ago

Suspicion, fear, and uneasiness about electricity is not uncommon. (the fear is also not entirely irrational) Psychotic or paranoid people often think malevolent spirits or forces are coming down the wires.