I know the character is meant to be distant, but it just irked me so much how ungrateful she seemed to everyone who was looking out for her, like the photographer and the aboriginal elder. I think the movie would have had more impact if she seemed like she grew as a person, but it honestly seemed like the entire experience led nowhere, quite literally.
shareShe was quite grateful and comfortable with Mr. Eddy, the aboriginal elder (I think this is overtly shown in the film). And she definitely warmed to Rick over the course of the story, and I also think his character develops a deeper focus than how he began. Obviously, she was much more open around the aborigines, at times joyful. What you say you didn't see, I saw clearly, but everyone isn't going to see things the same way and the film doesn't spell things out, or underline its intentions. For me this was a great strength and gave it extra impact, because it felt real - in real life people are flawed and difficult, everything isn't served up on a platter and everyone isn't completely likable. Robyn was shown as being both prickly and vulnerable - I felt she completed the film considerably more open to others and more confident in herself. I thought the portrayal showed a human being who was grappling with things she didn't fully understand - there was a lot of pain, but a lot of joy, too.
shareShe just didn't seem grateful enough. I feel like she took everything for granted and was very blasé about the outcome of her expedition, probably because she seemed to suffer from depression. And I don't remember her verbally expressing any sort of gratitude for the multiple times the photographer did her a favor. I dunno, she just wasn't very likeable so her entire journey didn't impact me as much as it clearly did you.
shareI guess not. I saw the film once, back in late April, and I'm still thinking about it. I have to wait for the U.S. release, but I'll be back to see it again.
shareI gotta agree when it comes to her relationship with the reporter. The guy may have struck her as slightly awkward, but that's no reason at all to have treated him with contempt for it, even when they first met, before she was made aware that he's a reporter, or that he took pictures. Then he becomes the reason her dream got funded, which she could've politely refused if she preferred it more her way, but she treats him even worse. I mean, getting a few pictures taken while doing what you love is hardly a sacrifice in order to actually be able to do the thing you love. In the end he seemed to have probably saved her life with those multiple water drops, for which he went 1000 miles out of his way, and a quick "ok, thanks" and then ignoring him is all she bothered to show for it. He was a way better friend to her than she ever seemed to deserve, imo.
And what's with those aboriginal ladies being so judgmental with their "husband no good" comment? What, because he took some pictures to go along with a complimentary article? Sure, asking permission would've been better, but that would be the qualities that make someone a bad husband?
In the film Robyn was shown as emotionally closed off to most other people, she felt more in tune with animals. The film offers hints as to what possibly was underlying her alienation and distrust. She was difficult to get close to. By the end of the story I think it's quite evident that she saw Rick in a different, more affectionate light - she may not have used the words "thank you", but it was evident from her interactions with him and her embracing of him that she saw that others could be trusted and relied upon, and Rick especially. A big part of the film was her opening up to others, whether it be Mr. Eddy, the elderly Outback couple, or Rick. In reality, Robyn continued to be friends with Rick Smolan, even though there often were miles and years between them seeing each other. They are in many ways opposites, but sometimes encountering ones opposite is what leads to growth and understanding.
shareIt wasn't that she didn't trust him to do it. It was clear that she believed him when he said he would. Plus, she did react with different standards when her friends were speaking or when he was, earlier in the movie. It doesn't matter how bad she is with people, it's not fair toward him. I'd say it borders on prejudice.
shareAgreed. I also like that the film was being more truthful in its storytelling. I've read in interviews with her (Robyn) that the film depicts her as "joyless" because that's how she really was at that point in her life. I agree, she is not too likeable, but she loves her animals and she slowly warms up to people including Rick.
shareI like this LifeVsArt..
I think the reason why the Aboriginal women did not have a high opinion of him was because he may have been taking photos of them conducting secret womens business. This is a very important thing in Aboriginal culture- so he broke their law. Another example in the film is when she is about to butcher the kangaroo but her friend, the Aboriginal elder stops her as that is a mans job in their culture.
shareso glad to see i was not the only one. i couldn't get very far in the movie because i just could not care less whether this difficult, cantankerous, rude, disrespectful, ungrateful woman made her pointless dream come true.
have you tried that crazy wrap thing?! http://erinleighmckenzie.myitworks.com
I feel the exact same way. She was so unlikable as a character and so crappy to Rick, I just didn't give a shi* about her journey in the end lol. And why on earth did she sleep with him??? She didn't even like him at that point.
shareAussie women r known 4 their pms fitz
sharei thought she was genuinely grateful to Mr. Eddy (she even gave him a gun), to the old couple who received her in their home, to the man who taught her how to tame the camels and even to the photographer when he told her he would drop the water ahead of her.. i think at the beginning she was just annoyed by him bc she obviously always planned to do the trip alone and then she had to deal with this very chatty guy asking her to pose for pictures.. and i think she definitely grew as a person, it's just very subtly shown
.
Your post is a very good one. Yes she was a sick animal abuser, just as bad as someone beating and killing animals for fun. The film failed to portray that she was an abused and damaged person, torturing and killing animals for her own ego. I watched it in good faith and realised all this at the end, what a pathetic person she is/was. I hope that is was, because she didn't care about putting animals through all that for her.
shareWhat you talking about 'animal abuser' ?? She clearly loved the animals, likely more then the people she encountered.
shareJournos are low people, but hardly animals.
shareNot everyone who is good is nice. There are difficult people in this world.
Robyn was on a walkabout to explore her issue: the existential lonliness of being human.
If she were a man you wouldn't be saying that. In fact, stoic men are after widely admired.
shareShe is not the nicest person - or at least wasn't at that time in her life - person in the world. We see what made her that way, but it's no excuse. You don't lash out at innocent people because others hurt you in the past. It's unacceptable.
What really bothered me was that her best friend, her dog, is dead because of her personality flaws. She had this need to be alone. Fine. But the dog has nothing to do with her issues, but he sure paid for them.
For my latest movie reviews and news: http://www.hesaidshesaidreviewsite.com
I agree with Kuato.
I think she was so sure about her beliefs and it was too difficult for her to accept the reality once she had to face it...
She was abandoned by her mother and father and she lost her dog who obviously was the only affection she had as a kid. But as she said it to the old couple, her father lost his farm and couldn't afford to raise her kid at that moment...
Later, when her cousin came and visit her before her trip and her aunty and father, it looks like they cared for her and they were present.
Also she was looking long time for camels but until she got her camels, she didn't even know how to pay her trip or find food and water ! Where would she go or how could she take care of her 3 camels ? If her friend wouldn't bring the idea of Nat.Geo, what would she do ?! I mean she prepared somehow for years her trip just looking for her 3 camels but not the most important.
But she seems like a lonely person who really have enough of the society and people and can't handle anyone anymore.
However it doesn't give a good image of her treating people like this specially when she knows that without Rick. She accept the animals help as she can tame them! She really seems depressed and lost and really angry with love.
I think she really wanted to be by herself and each time she realized that she needed others and couldn't do it without them... Once she was finally by her own, she realized how alone she is... She seems to need some real love and recognition as a person but not someone who needs help. And the letters helped her to understand that in deep loneliness in the desert, she was able to finish her trip thanks to other's people's love...
So yes her behavious is really weird and selfish, but it looks like her trip tought her that she needs and should accept the love of others...
I don't think she was "that" ungrateful.
I'm sure you've met women like her: socially awkward, energic character that may let people think they're rude, and not so much of a smiler; but in the bottom, she's very kind. And you can see that her past may led her to be "this" way.
She was grateful with Mr. Eddy (the new rifle), and she grew confidence on Adam Driver's character, who reminded her that if it wasn't for the magazine, she wouldn't be doing the trip at all.
She's the kind of girl that you need to gain her trust in order to discover how wonderful she is. That's my thought!
Hate is baggage, life's too short to be pissed off all the time.
[deleted]