"The American": WTF? (SPOILERS, IMMEDIATE)
Fleshy Brunhilde
it. I did--until the end, which I find totally incomprehensible. 1)
*Was* Clara in on the killing after all? 2) Why did Pavel kill Matilde
(or did he)? 3) If Pavel did kill Matilde, why did he kill her before
she shot Jack? 4) Who shot Jack? Did Pavel get off a shot, or was it a
Swede, or--WHO!!!
Holy shit, I don't understand a thing.
Mr. Hole the Magnificent
wrote:
I liked the film a lot when I saw it, defended it to many people who
claimed to hate it elsewhere, but I can't remember any of the film's
details right now. But others should see this film!
Fleshy Brunhilde
<classic.mr.h...@gmail.com> wrote:
> But others should see this film!
Yes, it's a great film.
Okay, I rewatched the ending and figured it out. Someone correct me if
I'm wrong. Jack, suspecting from the git-go that Mathilde is going to
kill him, designs the rifle so that that special ugly-looking bullet
will fire at *her* rather than at anyone. Pavel shows up in the
village to make sure things go as planned, and Pavel does get off one
shot that ultimately kills Jack. (But what the hell does Ebert mean
when he says that "once, and only once" the endearment "Mr. Butterfly"
is said by the wrong person? Dude's getting as recondite as a freshman
film major.)
art...@yahoo.com
wrote:
There is a scene in which the prostitute calls him Mr. Butterfly, but
the butterfly association is with the assassin. I got very confused
(Unless he was sleeping with the assassin?)
Fleshy Brunhilde
> There is a scene in which the prostitute calls him Mr. Butterfly, but
> the butterfly association is with the assassin. I got very confused
> (Unless he was sleeping with the assassin?)
Yeah, I know; I couldn't figure out what the purpose of the assassin
was, because the suggestion definitely is that they slept together.
Also, the assassin and the prostitute physically resembled each other.
Confusing but good movie, definitely better than several nominated for
best picture.
tumbleweed
> (But what the hell does Ebert mean
> when he says that "once, and only once" the endearment "Mr. Butterfly"
> is said by the wrong person?
It is the assassin (Mathilde) who calls him Mr. Butterfly on their
picnic. So when Clara uses the same phrase, it hints that she and the
assassin are connected somehow (as does the scene where Jack watches
Clara through a long-focus camera).
Bill Anderson
But they aren't connected, and that's Mathilde, not Clara, that he sees
with the telephoto lens.
--
Bill Anderson
I am the Mighty Favog
Fleshy Brunhilde
>
> But they aren't connected, and that's Mathilde, not Clara, that he sees
> with the telephoto lens.
That scene is the most confusing in the film, because earlier, Mister
Butterfly *had* seen Clara with the telephoto lens.
God, I loved this movie. :)
pmes...@yahoo.com
Bill Anderson
> It is Clara and the two men were police officers talking about the murdered prostitutes. She says that after he asks her about why she keeps a gun
>
me I now can't remember very many details. So I searched Google Groups
to find the rest of this thread and to my surprise I see I participated.
What I do remember is that I am convinced Ebert got the part about
"Mr. Butterfly" totally wrong. But how was he wrong? I don't remember.
Something about the young girls on the sidewalk mentioning "M Papillon"
early enough in the story to indicate his nickname was known around
town, so the woman's use of the term shouldn't have been unexpected.
And as I said in the thread, "that's Mathilde, not Clara, that he sees
with the telephoto lens." And how was I so sure? I don't remember.
Something about confusing the two because of blonde and brunette wigs?
What I do remember is this is one smart movie.
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