MovieChat Forums > Nights in the Gardens of Spain (2010) Discussion > Dated plot for 2012

Dated plot for 2012

posted 12 years ago by billhk
3 replies | jump to latest

The premise might have made sense in the original 1995 book, however, 17 years on I find it unlikely, particularly given the family is clearly affluent, educated, and worldly. The marriage was already on the rocks so it's unlikely in 2010 that an announcement that he's gay would be much cause for amazement.
This reminds me of "Deep End" (a great Tila Swindon performance) filmed in 2001 and based on the 1940s book "The Blank Wall". The original premise, that a mother protects her daughter from the scandel of her getting involved with an older man, would be laughable in the present century. So it was updated to a teenage son involved with an older man. But then again eleven yers on in 2012 even that doesn't make sense any more, particularly in a clearly affluent and evidently non-religious Lake Tahoe family.

[–] jcdwils 12 years ago

While I agree with you Billhk, that today someone coming out wouldn't cause much amazement, I think in very tight knit minority communities (of which I belong) some one getting married,having children and then coming out would still be somewhat of a shock and maybe a minor scandal...

[–] CooperCamden 12 years ago

Oh, I don't know. I've encountered many scared closet cases like Kawa. I have a Jamaican-born friend who left his wife many years ago, never revealing that he was gay. To this day, his now-adult children still don't know why he abandoned their mother, and a residue of anger remains. This friend went on to have gay friendships, and even a partner for a while, but in 2004, he sold his house, moved to another city, and crawled back into the closet. The last time we spoke, he told me he'd gotten involved with his church and had a "new life". I wrote him a letter recently, which was ignored. He turned his back on his gay friends. He's elderly, and will likely die without his ex-wfe and kids truly knowing who their father was. Sad.

[–] theredhairedcrow 9 years ago

The plot is very relevant for many cultures even in 2015, but from your ethnocentric viewpoint maybe not. There are many cultures around the world where homosexuality is still a difficult issue with enormous pressures to conforms, besides the simple reality that you may fall in love with and like someone of the opposite sex at some point in your life, but you still desire sexual, emotional or psychological fulfillment with someone of your same gender.

The problems of equality, sexuality, etc. continue to exist in our world as a whole because of people like Billhk who seem to refuse or cannot comprehend or accept the reality that there are often fundamental differences of belief, culture, history, etc. between peoples. Differences do not have to divide, but admitting and realizing they are there in the first place is the first step to mutual understanding and acceptance.

Even the other film you mention, "Deep End" is ridiculous as well, because there are some cultures where it is still considered, if not taboo, then one where you are looked down upon which can completely affect all aspects of life and life quality.

I find it so strange and sad when individuals or groups behave as you do that just because you don't think it is relevant, it is not relevant to others. Bad mindset.