Revolutionary Road
Has anyone seen Revolutionary Road?
I felt this movie. Winslet and Dicaprio represented the 'American Dream' gone sour. A tale we're all familiar with. Women in my generation have been raised to turn our noses to the stereotypical 'housewive'. We've been challenged to get jobs. We've been told that we're equal. And can work as hard, and in fact, should work as hard. (The work-hard mentality brings its own set of problems of course, but that's another story. ) Anyways, taking a look at the truth behind the 'American Dream' is not revolutionary. However, this film digs deeper and exposes the truth of many relationships. WInslet and Dicaprio's realtionship is timeless. Their story represents the painful, beautiful, painful truth of many relationships.
The couple were equal in their misery. They both had legitimate arguments. They were both unreasonable. Except I think she had more guts. More spark. More backbone. Did the movie set it up that way? Or do I only relate because I'm a woman? I loved how they set her up to be 'crazy'. When WInslet tries to speak to her husband about an abortion he says 'we can get you a shrink'. I could relate to WInslet's mood swings. Her quiet boiling rage. Her beauitful, honest charm.
What I couldn't relate to was the infidelity. After seeing this film I know in my heart of hearts that I can not cheat on someone. Winslet sleeps with the neighbor who is her husband's best friend. It's ironic which is disgusting. We hear about this happening. I could feel the truth in the siatuaion and I found it repulsive. But Winslettdid have a good point. Her husband confesses his affair. She asks him why he told her.
Why would you confess about an affair? One reason: you feel guilty and want to 'get it off your chest'. Well in that case, you're only doing yourself a favor by coming clean. You tell the person she you can feel better. So you don't have to rot in your own filth. This makes me think that people shouldn't tell. Therefore the cheater has to suffer with the secret, alone. And alone is one of the worst places to be. That is the person's punishment for cheating.
However, a lot of people aren't built with a conscience. For some reaons these people can live happily with their secrets as along as no one will find out. I don't have an answer for these people. . .
Another reason to come clean: For the sake of honesty. A relationship is about being honest and open, right? So if you keep something in then in a way you are lieing to your partner. And that's no good. Plus, if you're keeping a secret, it's bound to come out in other ways. Keeping a secret is like keeping a sheet of plastic between you and your person. You can't quite put your finger on it, but there's always something between you and him, keeping you apart.
Once you cheat, how can your partner trust you not to do it again? I hope I am never in that situation.
Should they have gone to Paris?
No. Wherever you go, there you'll be. We take our problems with us everywhere. They would have the same relationship problems wherever they moved.
Yes. It's not about ging to Paris, it's the whole formula. It's about her getting out of the house and working. It's about him taking some time off to take care of himself. It's about a challenge. It's about new scenary.
So there's the possibility they're screwed whether they move or not. So why not move and try it out!
They should have done it. A woman supporting the family. A stay at home dad. It's revolutionary.
One more thing about crazy. I could also relate to the crazy guy. Like she said, he was the only one that understood their plan to go to Paris to get away from the 'emptiness and hopelessness.' He says to them "most people can see the emptiness, but it takes courage to see the hopelessness." (courage or guts I forget). He was there to make a mockery of the lame, lieing suburban life. People who need to please, apologize, keep up appearances, fit the mold, etc. So he represented the other side, which happens to be a dark side, and the side I know I lean towards. This guy was was quriky, and honest. He analyzed situations. He could read people. He saw the truth everywhere. And he 'went crazy'. It get it. I get him.