MovieChat Forums > The Lifeguard (2013) Discussion > 'I'm sorry.' 'I know.'

'I'm sorry.' 'I know.'

posted 11 years ago by windkirby
12 replies | jump to latest

The one thing that really bothered my about the end of this movie was that Bell's character said sorry to Mel as if she had done some terrible crime. I side with the boy's father--there are real problems to worry about besides very consensual sex. There are definitely situations in which the adult manipulates the child, but this was not one of them. Leigh consistently treated him as an equal. I do not believe she did anything wrong, and I do not believe she had to apologize to her friend Mel. If anything, the only thing she would have to apologize for was the colateral damage of the boy's threat to tattle on Mel's antics, but even then, no one MADE Mel do any of those things.

I know I may get backlash for this, but I just don't think Leigh did that many terrible things throughout the movie. The film seemed to want to demonize her actions a bit, but other than letting Moose get out and some rebellious behavior, what did she really do wrong? She had NO part in Matt's suicide. I mean, she was the reason the guy wanted to stay, maybe driving Matt to his decision, but that was completely indirect.

Anyway, that's my rant. I thought this movie was brilliant, but I thought it was a little too hard on Leigh frankly. Still a great film and really beautifully shot!

[–] teamilkhoney 10 years ago

I agree entirely with your post. And I actually quite liked the film.

[–] Rainforest Elf 10 years ago

I think she's just sorry that she put Mel in a situation that she never would have gotten in herself, had Leigh not come home. No, no one forced Mel to smoke, or drink, or hang out with the kids, but Mel wouldn't have sought that behavior out on her own.

You Can't Stop the Signal

[–] rfrankie12 10 years ago

The only apology Leigh should owe Mel is for putting her in that situation, which is I think what she meant.
A relationship with those age differences can be very merky, but I do agree that she treated him as an equal, and it seemed very consensual, and not at all taking advantage of him. They say you attract to yourself what and where you are in your life and as a person.
I also quite liked this film. Dark and a little depressing, but very real.

[–] WandererFromYs 10 years ago

Your opinion on the law is irrelevant, it is what is. Mel, because of her profession is forced to report any abuse that she has knowledge of, or she will lose her job. Leighs relationship forced Mel to have to turn in her best friend. It's obviously not something she wanted to do, but something she had to do, to cover her own ass. Leigh did owe Mel and apology for putting her friend in such an awkward position.

[–] AimC 9 years ago

Not just abuse but, depending on the laws in CT, most likely a crime. In turn, makes Mel a criminal for not turning them in.

[–] Wuchak (8116) 4 years ago

Mel, because of her profession is forced to report any abuse that she has knowledge of, or she will lose her job.

Then Mel should report herself for smoking pot & drinking with students from the school, otherwise she's a hypocrite.

And she didn't HAVE to report squat since she had freedom of discretion. Besides, little Jason wasn't being taken advantage of and therefore no abuse or crime was being committed. He knew what he wanted and got it. Why do you think both Jason & his father refused to cite names? Moreover, Jason was no longer a part of the school Mel was working at as VP. The events take place during the summer and little Jason was about to move to Vermont at the end of summer.

What Leigh did was immature and foolish, but no abuse was committed since little Jason wasn't forced into the relationship. In fact, he got what exactly what he wanted -- a hot 29 year-old lifeguard and a summer he'd never forget.

[–] windkirby 10 years ago

Thanks for replying guys. This board is really negative so it's nice to know there are other people who liked the movie too.

Anyway the way you put it made sense. I think I just take away from that scene that Leigh was sorry about everything she had done, and that she was apologizing to Mel for all of it, not just for putting her in that position. To me that seems pretty extreme. Even though some terrible stuff happened, I still think there was something pretty beautiful about Leigh's "being a teenager for the second time," and it's a sad to me that she would turn back, in a sense, rather than just move on. I get the impression that she regrets all that she did throughout the movie and I don't think that all of it needs condemned.

[–] Tmalva03 10 years ago

I also agree with ur post! They were both lost souls, and they found some happiness! She didn't target or groom him!

[–] crazy_drunk_pedestrian 10 years ago

It's really good to see that someone other than myself actually understood the film! Beautiful movie; honestly, one of the best I've ever seen. Anyone who has the gall to reduce it to some sort of "pedophilic propaganda" obviously doesn't have the mental capacity to comprehend what life is really like. People are flawed. They screw up. They learn. They grow, and they stumble, and if they're lucky, they pick themselves up again. Leigh was apologizing to Mel for putting her in the situation; she had no obligation to apologize for having had the relationship with Jason. No one has the right (or should, anyway) to make decisions for others, and Jason's father obviously understood that. Fantastic piece of film. It's just unfortunate most people, it seems, will never realize it.

[–] DnB614 10 years ago

"she had no obligation to apologize for having had the relationship with Jason."

She wasn't apologizing for her relationship with Jason, she was apologizing for putting Mel in the uncomfortable position of having to report her. Because of Mel's position as Vice Principal she is a Mandated Reporter. As a Mandated Reporter she was legally required to report them.

[–] Wuchak (8116) 4 years ago

Well, if you want to get technical about this "Mandated Reporter" crap, then Mel should've reported HERSELF for being an idiot smoking pot & drinking with the students while in the position of Vice Principal. Besides, Jason was of consensual age and had the right to make his own decisions on who to have sex with. Not to mention he was technically no longer a student at Mel's school; it was still summer and he was about to move to Vermont.

Furthermore, having the responsibility of being a "Mandated Reporter" doesn't mean you don't hold the power of discretion. No one's sticking a gun to the VP's head forcing her (or him) to report something that would be better left ignored and allowed to run its course since NO ABUSE WAS OCCURRING.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]