MovieChat Forums > Look Both Ways (2005) Discussion > Why oh why does it need to rain............

Why oh why does it need to rain..............

posted 18 years ago by qouth_the_raven
6 replies | jump to latest

Firstly I'll say the LBW is one of the better Australian movies I've seen in yonks.

But why do writers or directors (same person in this case) need to include the cliche of thunderstorms and rain. I think most informed movie goers know that scenes that appear to be at the same time (the party, the traindriver delivering the card, etc)are filmed at different times and thus either (incredibly conveniently) it was always raining (not likely in Adelaide) or they use pretend rain. Ok, rain is a metaphore for tears, and adds dramatas (sp?) but I reckon it's way over used device. It seems that background thunder is the 'new' dramatic music.

PS I thought the 'evolution' of the relationship between the traindriver and his son, done without dialogue, was a masterpaice in direction and acting.

[–] mistermurdoch 18 years ago

I thought the 'evolution' of the relationship between traindriver and son was one of the more cliched and heavyhanded moments in a film not exactly short in cliche. Punk son with blue collar father in the midst of a communication breakdown... they aren't characters, they're cyphers.

[–] punkshed 17 years ago

Although I agree with you in general about the use of rain as a really obvious and unnecessary clue to show drama etc., I don't think it applies to LBW in the same way. One big aspect of LBW is that it is set over one weekend during summer. I'm not sure if you're Australian or not, but I think most aussies have experienced those summer days or few days where the humidity just goes up and up and up until it's so hot no one can think straight. You can just feel the build up to a big storm in the air and when it finally comes, it comes so suddenly and is such a huge release. The air changes and it's quite amazing. I think in LBW the rain represents a solution, an ending, the thing that the characters had been waiting for as a release. What I mean is that I think the rain is used differently (and in a way quite unique to Australia and its weather) in LBW than it is in other movies. Less of a cliche.

[–] KyL_idolz 17 years ago

The rain wasn't just THERE to provide the some device for adding drama. It was a symbol of realise, the hot blistering heat of the sun represented the build up of anxiety is all the characters. When it rains, it's a release and all the characters who held anxiety toward a certain individual finally confused in some way or released their load and were finally relieved of their burden.

Do not speak- unless it improves on silence.

[–] Kiri_Martian 17 years ago

The rain, as well as other uses of water such as the sprinkers, shower, swimming pool etc was an important motif throughout the film about things such as relief and cleansing...and stuff like that. I don't think that the use of water, including rain, was cliche at all...

Hmm, iced tea. How very musical theater of you.

[–] the_big_dogma 17 years ago

I think that the rain was used as a metaphor for cleansing of the mind. It seemed that after the rain, the characters seemed to be able to come to terms with their respective situations so that they could move on to the next phase.

The mere fact that it can be interpreted differently means that it doesn't easily fit into the realms of cliche.

The one aspect of the train driver/ son relationship which bothered me was why the son needed to be present at the apology, as if being witness to his fathers pain would somehow bring them closer together.

"What's truth got to do with it?"
"What's truth got to do with anything?"

[–] Kiri_Martian 17 years ago

I think that the presence of the train driver's son was to show his support and care for his father, understanding what he has been through, and was a perfect way to show the development of their relationship after his ordeal.
Also with the rain as a form of cleansing..it was important for the son to be there for his father too.. he was under the umbrella, unlike his father..who was in need of this catharsis that the rain brought...

Hmm, iced tea. How very musical theater of you.