MovieChat Forums > Snowtown (2011) Discussion > Why are they eating all the time in this...

Why are they eating all the time in this film?


Every other scene is one of the actors shovelling food into his mouth and talking with his mouth full. I can see why this film is considered so disturbing now.

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Because Food (and Drink) are comforting. When you grow up in such dire surroundings like these characters you don't have much to be happy about. Think of like eating your feelings or for temporary pleasure.

Pay attention to the scene when the Mother serves her Kids Breakfast lovingly. She is a woman at the end of her Rope. She is doing the best she can. Her smile fades and she looks like she is about to cry knowing how hopeless and dire her situation and her Children's situation is. (of course this is also the scene when she realize the Neighbor had been molesting and taking nude pics of her Sons)

~I love the rhythm it is my methoood!~

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They're a bunch of welfare bums with no cash but they can afford to stuff their faces every 5 minutes. If you're broke you should be skinny.

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Why are you even posting.

You brought ZERO to the conversation.

Go somewhere.

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When I thought about it, you are right. Food is comforting, even though they don't have much to be happy about, at least they have that necessity. I was comforted just to see them eat. Now I know why my mom watched us eat all the time. It's therapy for them, even if it is brief.

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Scenes at the dinner table, restaurant etc reiterate the ordinary domestic environment within which these horrific murders took place. I can't believe seeing someone talk with their mouth full was what disturbed you about this movie.

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I often thought talking with your mouth full was a sign that you were so full of euphoria having your mouth full of food that you can't wait to talk. In contrast it takes a certain amount of emotional discipline to chew and swallow your food and only then talk. One is more innocently barbaric, common to children the other a sign of sophistication and good character.

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Eating is a social event.


*You can't take the sky from me*

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I was grossed out by the constant eating in this movie, or by the eating sounds!

But yes, I think all the eating made the movie somehow more realistic and I also buy into the 'comfort theory'.. it was as if they could only eat or drink (or kill) to make themselves feel somehow content.

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I am only half-way through this but I had to see if anyone else noticed all the eating. I get why it's in here but it was overkill. After the third time it seemed like a crutch for the actor playing John.

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I thought they would've been a lil bit more porky considering how much they ate in this film...not all healthy food either. Sometimes it boggles me how skinny a person can be in contrast to how much they eat, but I guess it definitely isn't uncommon.

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I think the eating scenes served as a kind of symbolism for something that was...erm...deliberately left out of the film. Look up the actual case events & you'll know what I'm talking about.

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I was wondering the same thing, but considering the poor surrounds, it gave me the feeling john was acting like a provider. Providing food provides comfort and these people have very little comfort in their lives. You could see how John as provider, let alone companion could sway Elizabeth's feelings/affections.

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This may be too far a stretch but the real killings involved ritualistic cannibalism. I got the impression that the producer expected the viewers to have some prior knowledge of the crimes so the meaning of some scenes could be inferred.

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