I was watching this movie again last night and I noticed something. Josie's dad gave her nothing but grief throughout that movie and I noticed that his attitude about Josie didn't change until her mom (Sissy Spacek) left him and moved into that hotel. Does anyone think that this was the only reason he began to support Josie and if his wife hadn't moved out on him, his attitude never would have changed?
shareOk....I was only half paying attention to this part because I was doing other stuff while the movie was playing in my house. Anyway, I saw him reading a piece of paper, which I assumed were the things Josie had written down about what had happened to her. I thought that after he read them, it really affected him then, and made him start to support her after realizing all that was being done to her. But like I said, I wasn't fully pay attention to that part, so I dunno.....
shareThe paper, I think, was a note from his wife, I assume telling him she was at a motel (since he knew exactly where to find her).
I think by the look on his face in the lunch room while some men were shouting out at his daughter, and the look on his face as people talked to him about it, he was resistant but knew deep down that what was happening was wrong.
Well, then his wife leaves him a note & a sandwich. Then he attends the union meeting, and watches as his daughter tries to speak, only to be met with shouts, heckling, and obscene remarks.
THAT'S when he decided to stand behind her. It really was building up all along.
No matter how stubborn and old fashion you may be, how could a father sit in an audience like that while his friends, neighbors, & co-workers for years upon years shout such things at your daughter (especially after hearing it again & again at work).
I can see that being a point when you'd want to stand up and say enough is enough.
I think what changed Josie's dad mind was the conversation that her mom had with him,she told him that Josie only had a child... she didn't rob a bank,an i think after that he realize how much he was overeacting!
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Richard Jenkins was superb in that scene at the meeting where he stood up for his daughter...finally.
shareit's not that the note from his wife was 'the only thing'that changed josie's father's mind, but that that was the catalyst/last straw. upon reading the note, he reflected and began to change his approach to his daughter and his opinion/attitude towards her.
shareJust my opinion, and not totally related, but I think the note said "this is the last thing you'll get from me unless you change the way you feel about our daughter" (because the note was next to a sandwich)
shareSo do you think if Josie's mom had never threatened to leave her dad that he wouldn't have come around and stood up for his daughter the way he did?
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