MovieChat Forums > Junebug (2005) Discussion > Rural v. Coastal Elites

Rural v. Coastal Elites

posted 7 years ago by ABBAcat
7 replies | jump to latest

The mother, Dad and brother represent the closed minded rural side, and Madeline represents the closed minded urban elite. Both are reluctant to embrace their differences and find common ground. Only George and Ashley rise above the biases and misconceptions, and are open to getting to know people as individuals.

I also like this film because I think this is a common story. There are a lot people like George who move away, change, mix with new people then come home to the family and friends who are still the same as ever. You can see it from Peg's point of view too as a mother who sees her changed son with his strange new wife, and feels the loss of her close knit family.

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[–] ppllkk 7 years ago

ABBAcat wrote:

The mother, Dad and brother represent the closed minded rural side, and Madeline represents the closed minded urban elite. Both are reluctant to embrace their differences and find common ground. Only George and Ashley rise above the biases and misconceptions, and are open to getting to know people as individuals.

That is complete nonsense.You have simply left the very specific family relationships out of your analysis, and they are at the core of the movie.

[–] 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ABBAcat 7 years ago

ppllkk wrote:

That is complete nonsense.

That was unnecessarily rude. I usually only respond to people who practice message board etiquette, but I guess this is as good as it gets when posting about a film from 2005.

My op was not supposed to be a complete and full analysis of this film, just a reflection on that one glaring aspect: the tensions caused by the situational differences between Madeline and George's family. Of course the family relationships add more levels and complexities to the story, but I leave that analysis to some of the other threads in here. I think that is why this film is such a gem. There is so much in it, and more yet to be discovered or noticed with each repeat viewing.

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[–] ppllkk 7 years ago

ABBAcat wrote:

just a reflection on that one glaring aspect: the tensions caused by the situational differences between Madeline and George's family.

That was not even remotely a tension in the film.Madeline grew up in a variety of different cultures. There is no sense in which she is judging George's family. She deals with outsider artists for God sake.There are lots and lots of tensions in the story, but the "situational difference" between Madeline and George's family is not one of them.

[–] [email protected] (690) 7 years ago

I love this film and I appreciate your frustration when some don't fathom the nuances the relationships have.
But I don't think it's terribly off-track to point out how Mad's high-brow culture collides somewhat with the Carolinians rural sensibility. She is just a little tone-deaf - only a little - to how best to connect with these new family members.
That someone sees this as a plot point doesn't seem far-fetched to me, and I hope you can recognize perhaps your own tone-deafness when dealing with someone who doesn't share your viewpoint.
I say this respectfully as I agree with your estimation of this film whole-heartedly.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Good analysis ABBA

[–] snepts (11123) 6 years ago

I see I've commented here before, but I just recommended Junebug to a friend, so it's on my mind.
I really don't think it's fair to say Madeleine is close-minded. She does everything in her power to connect with George's family, they're just not comfortable with her. She also needs to spend significant time wooing the artist which might make the family feel as if they are not as important.
Obviously, she is very cultured, and I'm guessing she was an only child and was insulated from the usual concerns many of us have while growing up.
But to me, it's really the Matriarch Peg and the other son who set the tone of the relationship between Madeleine and the family. The Father isn't quite sure what to make of her, but he's a kind person while being quite subdued.
Ashley, of course, loves her. She loves everybody.