There were so many threads in this film which ended up being unanswered that, apart from the comments made elsewhere, made this film disappointing for me. I can see that from an artistic viewpoint the unanswered questions allow the viewer to come up with alternatives, and allow for discussion between people as to the motives and reasons why each character behaved as they did.
However, the one unanswered question that I found irritating more than anything else was the young violinist. Seeing no more of him other than the broken violin in the puddle was so sad. It brought back memories of my own teenage years when I played the cello and was regularly chased or verbally abused because of the instrument. My sexuality was brought into question too but to me, it wasn't as important. Getting home safely with the cello in one piece was my main aim. Fortunately, my cello was never taken away from me and damaged.
That story line alone raised various questions that were never answered: who were the boys outside the window; was he gay; did he survive the incident that resulted in the broken violin; did he ever play violin again?
The whole film was a bit like that, raising so many questions but answering none.
With regards to the older/younger man story, to me, it was a 50/50 chance that the older man was a paedophile. It was only gossip that said he was. He was seduced by the younger man and tried so hard to get rid of him but succumbed in the end. I don't know if I'd have done any better under the circumstances.
The "gay-beater" story was interesting too. Was he gay? Did he try to beat up the man at the end and was beaten himself or was that why the other man was there? Was the other man a friend of the first victim getting revenge? Did he hate himself so much he attacked others to make himself feel better?
I feel that, at the end of the day, despite the progress we've made in becoming accepted as gay, and our lives are made more visible to everyone else, all of these things - cottaging, drug taking, self hatred, murder - still happen every day to gay men and the film simply showed them. In the main it wasn't judgemental about it, even the Robin (?) character trying to get the closet case to phone the police.
In summary, an enjoyable and thought-provoking film that, for me, didn't tie up enough loose ends to satisfy me.
I'm glad to find another constructive positive comment. I would have to agree and state that I thought it was fantastic.
Yes there were a good deal of unanswered threads. But to me, they didn't matter and they weren't important. The drama was simply a snapshot of various points in the mens lives.
I loved the boy with the violin, even though the violin music grated on me throughout. To me, it didn't matter whether or not he was gay, it simply told the story of many young schoolchildren that are bullied for simply being different. When I was at school anyone that didn't fit into the mould used to have a rough time. Additionally many were accussed of being gay whether they were or not, especially boys that didn't play football.
I used to think that you were marvellous Swin but your comment about the violin music grating on you has put you down in my estimation. I am a violinist; movements from the Bach partitas and sonatas for solo violin, Heaven!!!
Does it make you feel better that I actually appreciated the music the second time I watched it yesterday? Not sure why but it actually seemed fitting and helped create the atmosphere, maybe because I was watching with a different perspective this time.
Btw I used to play the violin too! He actually reminded me of myself at that age, although I was never as talented.
Sorry Swin!! I was feeling facetious and flippant. I had made a number of serious and I hope thoughtful posts. I read yours in this thread and it elicited that silly flippant reponse. It was not intended to be a serious criticism. I was was serious when I said the music was heaven.
The boy reminded me of myself too. I was at least 3 times an outsider. An effeminate, german, gay, violinplaying, nonsporty boy; growing up in macho South Wales was hell. On the subject of talent; whoever was playing the violin music was supremely talented. It was not the actor. He was miming and not very well. His bowing technique could not have produced that sound. What please does LMAO mean?
