Was it necessary for her to be a ... ( spoilers) - Liberal Arts (2012) Discussion

[–] Jack1191 11 years ago

The way I looked at it was this: Jesse was very torn, as you said. But he was clearly starting to get more comfortable with the idea. But Zibby dropping that bomb jolted him back to reality and made him think about the age difference all over again. This time with sexual implications and the idea of "leaving your mark" on someone. I think her being a virgin was very important to the story, actually.

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[–] fokker671 11 years ago

I agree it's a significant story point. To expand on that, immediately after Zibby orders Jesse out of her room we see her going to a party, meeting up with Eric, asking him to get her a beer and then laying a big kiss on him just as they cut away to Jesse and Professor Fairchild. Does this not strongly imply that Zibby had sex with Eric as a response for being rejected? Is that the basis for her new found wisdom in the last scene with Jesse?

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[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Eponymous-too 11 years ago

Radnor, the writer, needed an excuse to make it even remotely believable that these two people who are great for each other wouldn't end up together, so that was the device he used. I didn't buy the excuse, but I'm sure some viewers did. Pretty much no one would have bought it if they got that far, she wasn't a virgin, and his character just killed the relationship right before they had sex.

"My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider."

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[–] doggie_rodriguez 9 years ago

I didn't buy the excuse, but I'm sure some viewers did.

I bought it. The guy was already a little uncomfortable with the age difference. I don't think it was b/c he thought he was going to hurt her, I think it was more b/c he thought since she was young she would change her mind and hurt him (once he let his guard down and got into something serious with her).

So when the virgin thing came up, it gave him the perfect out. For some reason he just didn't think they'd be together long term and he didn't want her to waste her V card on him.

So yeah, I bought it.

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[–] lewiskendell 11 years ago

It would have made a big difference to me too, if I was in his place.

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[–] Sandy0095 11 years ago

I think its sort of similar to American Beauty when Kevin Spacey was drooling over his daughter's friend because she acted 25, then he found out she was actually pretty inexperienced and felt guilty taking advantage. Zibby acted overly mature to the point where Jesse convinced himself it didn't matter, but her inexperience made him realize she was just 19.

"Troubled childhood? If you consider a 9 year old kid with a 35 year old girlfriend troubled."

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[–] GoingNowhereKid 11 years ago

Holy crap I was going to say the same exact thing thank you so much it's EXACTLY the same thing he realized she was still young and had more to experience it's not a *beep* plot device like someone else said its a fact of life he didn't want to "hinder" her as he thought he would be doing he wanted her to have a normal romantic life with guys her age and be with people her age.

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[–] freebird1987 10 years ago

I agree.

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[–] ruthierocks 9 years ago

I think it was important. As another poster said, he was already on the fence with his decision. You could tell he was not entirely comfortable with it before she admitted she was a virgin. That's the point that really made him realize that the age difference IS significant enough to matter.

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[–] BB-15 9 years ago

by ruthierocks;

"I think it was important. As another poster said, he was already on the fence with his decision. You could tell he was not entirely comfortable with it before she admitted she was a virgin."

Yes.
Jesse certainly wanted to take things very slow and didn't want a longterm relationship or fall in love with Zibby.
35 year old Jesse definitely wanted to keep things casual with a 19 year old.
- But as soon as Zibby said she was a virgin, there was no way having sex with her was going to be causal.
The first time is always memorable and she was going to fall in love with Jesse who seemed to be so perfect because as she put it, he was mature and better than the other guys her age.

Anyway, overall a good movie.

BB ;-)

it is just in my opinion - imo - 🌈

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[–] Ana_Banana 9 years ago

What if Jesse was a virgin, too? Now that would have pushed him down from his mentor pedestal! 😀

We can't be lost; we don't know where we're going.
All that matters is that we're going.

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] doggie_rodriguez 9 years ago

Are you sure all of us in this thread missed the plot? Or was it just you?

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