MovieChat Forums > Before Midnight (2013) Discussion > Artistic temperament can't do domestic

Artistic temperament can't do domestic


Frank Zappa's wife, Gail, took care of all the business end, while Frank worked away in his studio, in the basement. She said Frank shouldn't be bothered with all that.

One of this couple's biggest problems is the chip on Celine's shoulder. She's a feminist, so afraid to let go on a single issue ("This is bigger than me"), and expects a daydreaming writer to handle his share of the daily managing. I'm not bashing Celine---God knows Jesse's far from perfect---but a lot of their anger could have been bypassed if they'd been slightly more realistic here.

I'm a writer myself, and there's no way in hell I'd know the name of my kids' pediatrician, or care. That's not my concern. I expect to get a load of flak for this, but it's how it is. I'm happy to provide, do what I can, etc., but petty domestic details aren't my thing. Nor are they most men's, at bottom---but least of all an artistic type. And the idea that a man can't go off for a couple of hours without accounting for himself---what is that?

It's hard to say a solution here, because obviously Celine could never be happy as a stay-at-home mother, either. Probably they shouldn't have had children, but that's sailed. Plenty of men are willing to manage domestic details---but not a writer. Plenty of women are willing to stay home and take care of things---but not an activist. It's a pickle.

I get the impression they could afford a housekeeper, but Celine's too controlling to hand over the running of things, that way. Maybe that would do it, though.

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You hit the nail on the head with the ‘feminism’. If Celine’s head had not been filled with feminist and eco propaganda she would have made a positive difference in the real world - by being a good wife and mother.

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