MovieChat Forums > Beautiful Ohio (2006) Discussion > Did the mother know...? SPOILER

Did the mother know...? SPOILER

posted 13 years ago by cdunbar-3
3 replies | jump to latest

There are several hints that perhaps the mother (Rita Wilson) knew her son Clive was gay; halfway through the film, when talking to William, she remarks that a mother knows her children inside out from the moment they're born (paraphrased.) Closer to the end, when William tells her about Sandra living in the basement, she says she knows, "But don't tell your father, he's not as forward thinking as he seems." Minutes later, the family discovers Clive and Elliot in bed together and the father demonstrates just how intolerant he is. So was the mother trying to protect her eldest son all along? Her comments suggest an awareness and a desire to protect him. Or was everyone in the dark until this revelation?

[–] wdflwr 12 years ago

I sure was. Not much slides by me in a movie - sub text is my thing & I've hardly ever seen a movie I haven't figured out before the end - if there is something to 'figure out' that is. I wasn't on my toes & wasn't looking for some surprise. Great film & btw, Sandra WAS right with her prediction about the 'family coming apart'. I thought she was correct when she said it, but the look on Williams's face was so sad when she said that. BIG moment in that film!

[–] CanSteve3 12 years ago

She suspected at least, that's why she asked William if Sandra was Clive's girlfriend. She wanted her to be so i would mean her son wasn't gay.

______
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity

[–] kisdot 8 years ago

I think that she knew because she wasn't worried about a teenage girl living under the same roof as her teenage son which is a recipe for an unwanted pregnancy especially in the 70's. Since she knew her son was gay she didn't have to worry about a baby ruining his son's bright future.