MovieChat Forums > Que Horas Ela Volta? (2015) Discussion > SPOILERS: The subplot with the dad

SPOILERS: The subplot with the dad

posted 9 years ago by gortx
10 replies | jump to latest

SPOILER ALERT: DON'T READ UNLESS YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVIE!

I liked the movie quite a bit, but I thought the subplot with the Dad putting the moves on the daughter and even proposing to her stuck out like a sore thumb. I suppose, one could make the argument that it fit the theme by showing how the rich feel that they can own or buy anything including the maid's daughter (or, as some kind of 'mold the young girl' Pygmalian thing) - but, it just didn't mesh with the rest of the movie. Further, the Dad didn't seem like that kind of character. It's not a movie killer by any measure, still, it was a misstep.

[–] diewgong 9 years ago

I think this scene of him proposing to her was very funny, in some way a little bit awkward, I think it was nice just because he "don't seems like that kind of character" actually, all the family in some way misjudged the girl doing it in a better or worse way

[–] Skrbi 9 years ago

I agree with you gortx. The proposal scene was way too rushed. That and the amazingly quick turn-around that Jessica had with Val. The movie allowed only two scenes with the Dr. and Jessica together alone. Hardly enough to give him the idea that she would consider marrying the old goat. I certainly could imagine him propositioning her for sex but no way would a man of his experience make himself vulnerable to the financial and emotional risk of marriage proposal until he had more time to judge how desperate she might be.

[–] lucero65 9 years ago

I thought it came a bit out of left field, but I didn't think it was unbelievable. Especially since the father was quite different from the mother and seemed somewhat eccentric. I think that it was assumed that she was very desperate because of her position in society--a live in maid's daughter. This works well in the plot because even though he seemed "nicer" and less snooty than his wife, in the end he was just a typical male of the upper class who assumed that the young woman would jump at the chance to marry him. And definitely in a Brazil of the past he would be absolutely right.

[–] Batgirl_85 9 years ago

in the end he was just a typical male of the upper class who assumed that the young woman would jump at the chance to marry him

OMG thank you for pointing that up!!! We shouldn´t like the dad character that fast because in the end he was also trying to "buy" her, assuming that he has money therefore he has control of all things.

[–] rudykawa 8 years ago

That is what made it feel out for me.
It seemed like a scene whose purpose was solely to say that there was not one single soul in that family worth a dime.

It's like the complaints the native americans had with hollywood in the past when even when not necessary for the plot they were always painted in a barbarian, canibalistic, violent way.
SOme movies that have a left tendency also seems to need to show that if a person is rich, he should necessarily be a rapist, sex slaver, snob, racist, etc. Even though that is completely irrelevant for the plot.
And, in my opinion, it weakens the plot. If the character is that way, I can't relate with him, if I can't relate with him, I can't care for his fate, If i don't care for his fate, the movie looses the power contained in those characters.

[–] lucero65 8 years ago

I understand what you are saying. I didn't think the son was bad. Although he was spoiled--but he treated the maid and her daughter ok. (If I remember--a while since I saw it). Which also seemed to be part of the message, that the younger people were doing things differently and had a more progressive mentality than the older generation.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (64929284) 8 years ago

Yeah, the son was OK. Typical horny virgin teenager but he was tender with the old maid and treated her daughter nicely.

[–] Kissman 9 years ago

I didn't have any issues with it. In fact, it was one of the more interesting aspects of the movie. Jéssica coming to live there helped show the true colors of everyone in that household. How Jéssica carried herself around the house had a major affect on everyone.

Also, I think this part of this storyline was about showing just how independent Jéssica was and how mush she genuinely didn't like the idea of being lesser than someone else due to wealth. If she said "yes", many of her problems would have just went away, but instead, she was willing to turn him down and even leave the house than be controlled by the people with money.

[–] nalini-kluth-735-879554 7 years ago

I interpreted this scene quite differently: Considering his wife seems to be a dominating b++ch, he - hardly ever leaving the house, quite eccentrically following his hobbys at home - meets a person (the daughter) who is very different, intellectually (and physically) inspiring and appreciating his paintings. It simply shows his desperation to get out of this awful marriage / to get away from his wife. So he takes his first (and perhaps only chance) of getting away from her by proposing awkwardly and shyly to the girl. This is no display of male dominance, but just the opposite: a humble attempt revealing his weakness to somehow change an unbearable situation to which he had already more or less resigned. That he (and not his wife) has the money is simply a factor in so far as he is able to afford a divorce without any setbacks for himself. Giving her money before she leaves is just his socially awkward way of showing his gratitude for her temporarily having brought some light into the sombre life he is leading.

Nali*

My list: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls053994183/?start=1&view=grid&sort=created:desc&defaults=1&lists

[–] griffon652 7 years ago

I think you hit the nail on the head. I think the person who stated "there was not one person in the family worth a dime" misunderstood how the movie wanted us to view the characters. Barbara was the only one in the family who deserves to be described in that way. The father on the other hand is obviously in a marriage that is just a marriage by name only. He is a passive guy controlled by his wife. He has very little chance at interacting with other women.

So when this young, vibrant, energetic and independent minded woman comes into the house; he is smitten by her very quickly. This explains why he proposes to quickly. Many people forget that this is unrealistic because some couples get married sometimes within a month of meeting. I think he is smart enough to know that his age works against him when he is trying to vye for a young woman's attention. So him offering her "anything" is not him trying to "buy" her. That does not fir his personality. I believe he was trying to tell her "look I really want to be with you and I know you may not want to be with me yet but give me a chance. In the meantime I will give you anything you want to make you happy because I really want to be with you." This is no different then any guy trying to get a girl to like him by showering her with gifts.