MovieChat Forums > Sympathy for Delicious (2011) Discussion > Plse help fill in blank spots (spoilers)

Plse help fill in blank spots (spoilers)


I had to miss a chunk in the middle. I saw it from the beginning to him re-joining the band and doing some stage healing, and then i missed the middle and rejoined the film when he was in prison and ruffalo was telling him that he was no longer a priest and suggesting that D do community work(and then i saw it through to the end.)

If anyone has time, i'd really appreciate being filled in. Why did ruffalo resign his priesthood and what did he do afterwards? and why was D in prison? Aside from the fact that D healed the sweater guy, did he show any authentic change of character where he stopped being pitiful/self pitying and began to really care about others?, because i didn't see that(even with the sweater, but maybe that segment was meant to show how much he had changed >>that he was SEEKING to help another voluntarily). i thought the acting was excellent but the premise was my fav thing about it- that someone has an extraordinary gift that he doesn't want to use because he doesn't care about others and can only feel taciturn. thanks much.








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In a nutshell:

Nina, the A&R rep, got the band on a tour called Healapalooza and during the sets D would come out to the edge of the stage and heal those he could. The problem was that he only cured about 72% of the time and Nina felt that was a marketing problem so she hired people to fake problems that D then "cured."

There was already increasing friction between the band members and D, especially The Stain. The Stain of course wanted to be all that, but the fans were more and more drawn to D and would call for him not The Stain before the band would go on stage. Ariel is shown as knowing that at least some of the healing was fake. Whether D knew what Nina was up to is unclear. Although she did inform him that the 28% unhealed was a problem, but he didn't need to worry about it, she would.

After D and The Stain get into a shouting and physical altercation on stage, Ariel collapses from an overdose while the band is playing. D apparently wouldn't let the paramedics get to her because he thought he could heal her. He is charged with (I believe) negligent manslaughter. The case hinges on whether or not D can actually heal or whether he was just pulling a stunt and his ego caused her death. The Stain, on the witness stand, accuses him of being a fake, that it all was just a gimmick for the band.

Nina (and the record company) want Father Joe to testify that D can in fact heal, and that is why he had the paramedics held back, he thought he could help her. Nina and the record exec leave the room and Father Joe and D get into it. Each accuses the other of being a user and not really caring about the people - Father Joe because he wanted the $250k and D because he just wanted fame and money. Things get physical and Father Joe apologizes (for fighting or for using D is not clear). It becomes more clear when Father Joe takes the stand and when asked if D can heal people, testifies that only God can heal. D is then convicted.

I don't recall if there is some dramatic point of transformation, but the fact that he talks to Father Joe when he visits him in prison and apologizes to him for his behavior and abandoning the Skid is an indication that he is changing. Which is probably why he was refused re-entry onto the prison bus - the song that is playing on his Walkman as he wheels down the road, is very appropriate to this scene.

The full reason for Father Joe leaving the priesthood is unclear. I would surmise it was because he felt he too was a "user" and his motives for being a priest were questionable.

The "sweater guy" healing WAS a very dramatic indicator that D had indeed changed. Remember, he was previously adamant that if he couldn't walk again, he wasn't going to help "sweater guy" walk again.

Hope that helped.



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well planet, you are a hot TICKet! I know it took you a long time to explain all that and I really do appreciate your effort. I understand the whole thing now. Thx so much for being such a generous person.Hope i can return the favor some day.






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You are most welcome.

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There is a point of transformation

You have to understand how much D hated Re'ne to understand what it took to heal him.
He swore to the Father (Ruffalo) that he would ever heal him until he got healed. Re'ne is just so "happy" and preachy and sure that God won't forget him. Re'ne is optimistic to the point of being unbearable. Chair people know the types all too well.
The priest vists D in prison and finally asked him if any of his efforts ever did him any good, D recalls being fed.
When it occurs to him that the priest helped him most when he fed him, it's like an epiphany. It wasn't any miracle, it was just a man with food making sure those without it got fed. After all the antagonism, the two men finally loosen up and laugh together as D asks the priest what kind of work detail they have - outside of prison - where he spots Re'ne.
And he realizes he has nothing to give anybody, except that he has healed people by touching their clothing. ("By the Hem of His Garment")
So he takes a chance, slips into the clothing store and handles the garments that Rene's wife say they're looking for.
His chains are immediately loosened. He is no longer a prisoner (they won't even let him on the bus) either to the state or to his own anger. He's grateful for the tape the kid gives him, an act of pity that he would have previously hated.
It's a beautiful ending. His biggest affirmity is his hatred, and he's freed from it.

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Tremendous explanation. Thx so much for taking the time!

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