MovieChat Forums > Noordzee, Texas (2012) Discussion > The Hospital Twist...

The Hospital Twist...

posted 10 years ago by Iwishyouwell
12 replies | jump to latest

It seems fairly likely that in revealing Gino and Sabrina's father, Marcella also reveals the secret that he too is father to Pim.

Think about it:

- We never see Pim's father.

- Marcella reveals to Sabrina that Yvette (Pim's mother) slept with her husband.

- It explains the unusual bond that Marcella has with Pim, despite the fact that his mother helped destroy her family.

- It clarifies Sabrina and Gino's odd reaction to the photo. Sabrina's clasps her hand across her mouth at seeing the photo, hands it off to Gino, who immediately stares at Pim's face, looks back down at the picture, and hands it over to Pim. In the book Sabrina immediately notices that both Pim and Gino resemble the dad.

- The photo of the father actually does look like Pim, just with dark hair and a moustache.

- Earlier in the film Marcella thwarts Sabrina's attempt to have Pim over at the aunt's house. Could it be that she was afraid her family might note the resemblance between Pim and her wayward hubby?

- It sheds a completely different light on Marcella's last action of joining the boys hands together. A final deathbed confession and attempt to bring brothers together.

- It also fits in very well with the overarching theme of unusual/dysfunctional/twisted family dynamics rife throughout the picture.

[–] dhivyamyls 10 years ago

I totally agree with you. That makes Pim and Gino half-brothers. I don't know why they have made movie that way. I mean all along I thought it was just a story of young love between Pim and Gino.

[–] ccook-455-903939 10 years ago

As soon as I saw the photo of Gino and Sabrina's father, I nearly gasped because I had the exact same thought. All of the clues that I had been unknowingly receiving throughout the film suddenly stacked up. I definitely agree with you.

[–] gothic_a666 10 years ago

That is a very interesting theory but I think Gino's mother might have been against her daughter's infantuation with Pim if they were half-siblings.

[–] Iwishyouwell 10 years ago

I really don't think Marcella was portrayed as thinking that Sabrina's crush on Pim was anything serious or in need of attention.

Also there is evidence in the film to suggest that Marcella, on some level, was aware of Pim and Gino's "fooling around". If true that opens a whole other can of worms regarding Marcella and her notion of appropriate boundaries...

[–] dkm1981 10 years ago

I never considered the scenario put forward in this thread and it is certainly possible. As there seems to be a few opinions about the reasons for Marcella's deathbed actions and the photograph in the scene I thought I should share how I saw it.

I was unsure if the photograph was supposed to reveal that Pym & Gino shared the same father, and with Marcella's actions of joining their hands and seemingly encouraging their relationship (which she is undoubtedly aware of), we are entering into incest territory as Pym and Gino (as half-brothers) would still be blood relatives.

Also, if they did share the same father it would mean that he fathered Gino, then Pym to Yvette, then Sabrina, which while not impossible would mean that their affair went on for a long time or was not revealed until much later.

I don't think that Yvette knew who Pym's father was. We get the impression that she has very few morals. Maybe he was the result of a drunken one night stand.

I think that the photo looked like a younger Etiene. And I think this would make sense for the following reasons.

- He employ's Gino at the garage. This could be a way to try and make up to Marcella for leaving her and ensure his son is looked after.

- The knife. This is the sort of gift a father would give his son. And now he is seeing Yvette, Etiene is trying to be a father like figure to Pym.

- Marcella's animosity towards Yvette. Perhaps it is hard for her to see her former husband now seeing someone like her. Perhaps Marcella still has feelings for him.

- Etiene obviously has an eye for the ladies as is displayed when he tries it on with Yvette. Whats to say that he didn't do it when he was married to Marcella.

I think Marcella's deathbed actions were nothing more than her acknowledging that she was aware that Pym and Gino were up to something and encouraging them to follow their hearts.

Having read my theory, it now doesnt seem to carry as much weight as I thought it did but I decided to share anyway.

[–] InsecureNeuroticControlFreak 9 years ago

I agree with what you said about Etienne. I assumed it was a young Etienne. I doubt Marcella would've been as accepting as she was about Gino and Pim fooling around. (We all know she knew. The hand-holding scene and her cutting Sabrina off when Sabrina tried to tell her make it clear.)

I think Etienne was the father.

Plus I don't want the whole incest idea to be a thing. I think Pim and Gino's connection is deeply romantic, and making them half-brothers WITH the romantic happy-ish ending kind of tarnishes it.

Edit: I take it back. I don't mind if it turned out they were half-brothers. They didn't know about it when they fell in love, and they were deeply, deeply in love with each other. It's still a sweet, beautiful ending that so many serious-minded gay films often lack.

This is gonna *beep* do for him what "Jade" did for David Caruso.

[–] dkm1981 9 years ago

Thanks for your comments.

For what it's worth I really do love this movie. I agree entirely that the connection between Pim & Gino is deeply romantic and I also love the ending and wish that more gay movies end like this one does.

My main point was that if Etienne was father to both of them it just makes the whole thing incredibly complicated.

I think Etienne was the Father to Gino and Pim's father was someone else.

[–] InsecureNeuroticControlFreak 9 years ago

I agree with this. I really do think Etienne was the father. I think not revealing who Pim's father was makes it clear how promiscuous the life Yvette lives is. She's known as the woman who sleeps around to better her career and life, and I'm guessing Pim's real father is just some random dude who helped her with her music career once upon a time.

With that said, I wouldn't mind if it turned out they WERE half-brothers. They can't procreate anyways, so there's no risk of messed up offspring. THey fell in love BEFORE they found out about it, so it isn't like they went in knowing. You really can't help who you fall in love with, and even if they were half-brothers, their love for each other is everything but perverted.

This is gonna *beep* do for him what "Jade" did for David Caruso.

[–] dkm1981 9 years ago

I agree entirely. And they looked really good together too.

[–] kunal-karni 9 years ago

I was just about to say that since they both found out that they were half siblings, that they should stop their silliness but you pretty much explained and clarified things for me

[–] JohnM-9 9 years ago

Interesting angle but sorry I don't agree. However, you made me check the pic a few times. If anything, with that pencil moustache, he looks like Zoltan (or his father).

I also don't agree that 'it fits with the film' because, as many people here said, it would weaken the relationship between Gino and Pim, which *is* the central story. I mean, we don't even learn about Sabrina's wish to know who her father is until the end.

Plus Sabrina and Gino both have Italian names (like their father Stefano)and are darker skinned, while Pim has a Flemish name and is pale-skinned and blond.

If your suggestion were true, I think that the director would have made it easier for us to reach that conclusion and not have to run through so many hoops.

To me, Marcela on her deathbed clearly tried for closure: firstly to satisfy Marcela's wish and secondly to bring together the two boys by blessing their love.

[–] blindvias-071407 9 years ago

I have wondered the same thing, and, if true that he was the father to Pim, then how poignant it was that Marcella would care about Pim, the offspring of Yvette's liaison with Marcella's husband. Through that bitterness, she did not save any ill feelings towards Pim.

I need to watch it again.