Psychological analysis of characters in Sex, Lies and VideoTape
Geo Swan
think she would be interested. She has asked me to post an article for
her. Replies should go to alte...@watdcs.UWaterloo.ca. Her review
follows:
Although Sex, Lies and Videotape has been out of the theatres for some
time, people are starting to watch it in home video, so perhaps you
will be interested in my comments:
I find the characters in this movie completely comprehensible and I
feel that the movie makes important statements. If you want to discuss
it, please write directly at me at alte...@watdcs.uwaterloo.ca since
I'm not on the Usenet.
I am a woman but I identify strongly with Graham. His problem is not
gender-specific. His problem is that he blamed himself for the failure
of his important relationship with Elizabeth. Like many people, he lied
about his true feelings. Perhaps he was once much like Ann's husband
John - lies just flowing automatically.
I used to think that the definition of a 'compulsive liar' was one who
volunteers an lot of boastful lies about being a movie star, or rich
etc. I now know that I myself tend to be a compulsive liar, which is
one who feels compelled to escape from the pressure of confrontations
through misrepresenting the truth. Usually the problem develops within
a family that encourages dishonesty by punishing truthfulness.
Like Graham, I set out to become very sincere, in order to save myself
and the world. It was like a crusade against lies - which is no so
strange since Christians all believe that lies are the root of all
evil. The devil is called "the father of lies". Note that Ann wears a
cross very prominently throught the film. There are many deliberate
religious implications here.
Like Graham, I have blamed myself totally for all relationship failures
- and like him I made relationships my special study - my personal
project - for years. I studied love and sex by deliberately adopting a
technique of empathic listening in order to feel what others feel and
so truly appreciate them. Note that when Graham listens, he almost
become the speaker, adopting their emotions and body posture, totally
drinking them in to the point of almost becoming them.
This makes Graham a powerfully effective character - since society
produces few good listeners who care enough to truly appreciate and
draw out another. Graham has a catalytic effect on the lives he
touches.
We don't know how effectively Graham was able to catalyse other lives
before he decided to return home to present his new and improved self
to the woman who inspired the whole effort - Elizabeth. But Graham is
at the peak of his powers as a listener and finds an ideal field to use
his special gifts in the mess of lies and hostilities between John, Ann
and Cynthia. Within a week he has exploded the entire situation - for
the better.
Cynthia is an example of a person who has got herself in a rut of
hostility and resentment towards her sister. As a result she goes after
Ann's husband purely as part of that conflict and her need to feel as
valuable as Ann.
Curiosly enough, Graham helps raise her self esteme and her energy
generally, allowing her to throw off John. Graham also helps to
release Ann from her denial far more effectively than her official
therapist could.
Ann is not as passive as she appears. Only she is strong enough to
control Graham's remarkable strong personality. Ann and Graham's
sexual disfunction is partly as a result of Graham's desire to be
somewhat dominated sexually and Ann's need to somewhat dominant and to
control her partner in order to feel pleasure. Neither of them had
been able to find a compatible partner until they met each other,
perhaps because society encourages men to believe that they enjoy
dominance and women to believe that they enjoy submission. This is not
always the case.
A miracle occurs in their lives as a result of Graham's honesty raising
the essential strengths in Ann and Cynthia. In the end, Graham is saved
from his apparently hopeless guilt. Ann is saved from her monstrous
marriage and frigidity. Cynthia is saved from her reactive hostility
and Ann and Cyn (Sin?) are reconciled. Only John is cut out,
deservedly, from their affection. He could learn from this if he choses
to do so.
John unwittingly serves good and demonstrates the saving power of
honesty. When he tells Graham that Elizabeth was also a liar, he
unwittingly frees Graham from his guilt. Graham realizes suddenly that
he was never entirely responsible for his failed relationship to
Elizabeth. That discovery, combined with Ann's help, frees Graham. In
trying to hurt Graham, John saves him. There is so much more I could
say about this wonderful film. Write to me if you have any questions.
Ann Hodgins alte...@watdcs.UWaterloo.ca