Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Can't help who you are!
I thought one of the most powerful scenes in Mildred Pierce was when Mildred returned home from her one month trip to Mexico. Of course this trip was the result of her stand against Veda and her wanting to get away from it all. Upon returning, she took on some "mannish" qualities in her appearance and behavior. This included: a shorter hairstyle, wearing a pant suit, drinking during the day, and drinking the alcohol straight up. She also inquired of Ida about how HER business was doing in her absence. It was almost like she went through a transformation during her trip. Before this trip, she was always dressed and looked lady-like, rarely drank, and ran her business from an employee point of view. After the trip, I wouldn't have been surprised if she put her hand down the front of her pants like Al Bundy. I would have loved to have seen more of this transformed Mildred, but Veda was never far from her mind. It was not long before she returned to old ways of obsessing about Veda.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thats an interesting observation that I failed to make while viewing the film. It could be questioned as to whether or not Mildred dressed in her lady-like manner for personal reasons, or to please Veda and feed into her upper class fantasies.
ReplyDeleteGood eye, though the image we see after return is merely the culmination of the transformation that has been taking place throughout the film. See further discussion of the change above.
ReplyDeleteMildred's wardrobe changed as she changed throughout the film. It was interesting to see how she was first dressed as a mother/homemaker and then evolved into suits. Mildred's role was not only mother but breadwinner.
ReplyDeleteNot only that, but her wardrobe really expresses her life situation and the progress of the film. It helps us determine where and how we see her character from start to finish.
DeleteTo add, when Mildred fails as a mother, which at the time was what being a woman was, she has to resort to more male like habits and traits.
ReplyDeleteI agree Juan she was mother and breadwinner but all she wanted to be able to do was please (Veda) just like the beginning of the movie how Bert told her she was doing to much for Veda she needed to scale it down ...... she said right then and there that the kids were more of a priority then her or him, that right there is a problem because if you don't take proper care of yourself and marriage Bert told her that (Veda) would be her downfall and it happened.
ReplyDelete