The mystery pretty clearly autopsied in many threads here.
Yes, husband lied.
Most importantly, we learn the girlfriend was pregnant.
ENORMOUS omission to fail to tell your wife of 45 years something THIS huge (that you even got someone preggo, much less she then DIED).
Tell me that wouldn't be bothersome to EVERY person out there?
I am amused by those who think....no biggie. Right!!
Then hope you get put in such shoes someday.
Let's see that happen in YOUR life & how YOU will feel!!
To learn your spouse has secrets of such magnitude.
Doesn't matter IF it changes nothing, marriage is to be an honest & open communication without secrets from each other (least MINE is). Anything less is unacceptable & would challenge any foundation to a marriage.
But on to the "mystery" you can't understand!
HUH?
So as outlandish as apparently some might consider the thought (and it's NOT outlandish, all is plausible! Why? Because we are NOT told anything therefore, can conclude whatever we choose from sparse information given us), what else is there he is hiding?
Maybe that he did push her off & kill her?
Of course it's possible, how can one argue it "can't possibly be!" when WE don't know more than she does!!
They also have no children which assists the imagination to think he didn't want any.
Furthering the speculation.
Yes, that's all it IS...speculation.
But know this, WITH LIES, speculation follows naturally!
Trust me when I tell you, THAT is the mystery here, even if others refuse to consider it. Doesn't change the fact it could WELL be part of his secret past he's not come clean with.
If some simpletons refuse to subscribe to the fact persons don't get away with murder, then they are fools digging their heads in the sand. It happens more than you might like to believe. Why not here? Who's is to say? How is one sure?
Because look again. You will learn you can't be.
NOW, for the record, I also CHOOSE to believe it's not likely.
Still, all the same, they narrate this story to leave one wondering.
That's just a fact & done entirely by design. One may not like it, but it's there (and I've had repeated viewings).
That this could well be more than just a meditation on marriage & not knowing important truths (such as, if you are the greatest love of their life). It could also potentially be revolving about NOT knowing someone well enough to even be CERTAIN ---beyond any shadow of any doubt--they didn't murder someone before you met them.
People learn things ALL the time about others (usually spouse or family) they once thought person was "incapable" of.
OH...and for the record, THAT too, sadly, is more common that one wants to admit happening.
I find it all deliciously ambiguous & glad they went that route. Again, smartly woven, WE are completely left as much IN THE DARK as the wife is here.
And hey...that IS life. We don't know what others are capable of, are thinking (really!) or what they are going to do next.
We like to think we know it all.
We do not.
Lastly, I felt as betrayed as she was (whether it's murder or something far more benign, just frightful lying!) & loved the decision that was made for us to get the information as she did (no sooner). Made things far more emotionally impactful & resonated how life might actually work for some, realistically.
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chuck-526
7 years ago
You completely missed the point I was asking about. It has _nothing_ to do with "solving" -or even "understanding"- any mystery. My question (perhaps poorly expressed) was 'what was the INTENT of the filmmaker?'
My own answer to my question is the intent was to relate a character study, and that it turned out to include something of a mystery too was just an accident. And as nothing more than an accident, the mystery is not all that important to understanding the film.
(Obviously not everyone agrees with me.)
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shoutingagain
7 years ago
sorry, think I just hastily read entire thread.
SO then, given what you just added here, I agree with you.
Only area of disagreement was I believe script totally, by clear intent, wanted to create bit of a mystery for audience.
Otherwise, it would've been neither been written into the plot, nor, worse failed to be cleared up & resolved in some order, neat or otherwise (meaning ANY resolution to our protagonist about just this ONE issue---speaking of course of this "pregnant girlfriend" which unknowing-wife is rightfully blindsided by. Matters none how she learns that information but we do along with her at same point in film).
But hey, reading many posts, more than expected movie goers must be VERY inattentive as many apparently even totally missed--and yes, it IS a KEY--scene where she looks at pic of the pregnant wife/girlfriend.
In my mere, humble estimation, rather big piece to fail to register.
So to sum up, I believe there are truly NO accidents in script writing. So no alignment in our views there.
They knew this part would be pondered & discussed.
Even if like you suggest, it's not where you ended up (concluding, that is. Me too). Still very valid for most to question what is presented. I did.
I just prefer it (to me only, everyone has right to interpretation of material left ambiguous by choice of script!) NOT have this narration be at all about some murder.
Think that would cheapen an otherwise thoughtful reflection & musing on both marriage & relationships.
Certainly, in my mind, that interpretation plays best that way.
Of course I could be wrong.
That's the point here.
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