In the final scene after Joe walks out of his daughter's room he goes back to the window and stares at the flashing bar light, my question is was he going to start drinking once more, was he going to resist the temptation or was it left up to the viewer thoughtr
shareIt meant that the illness (alcoholism) is chronic, and that you are never off the hook. The temptations will always be right in front of you.
I don't think Joe was going to relapse at the end, but that he was thinking about it (and decided to resist). Kirsten is most certainly going to continue drinking, though.
I think the flashing BAR light also meant that Kristi did not disappear into the night. Joe knew exactly where she was -- in that bar.
B
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I think the flashing BAR light also meant that Kristi did not disappear into the night. Joe knew exactly where she was -- in that bar.
Well, she might have crossed the street, but then she likely changed her mind and went back to the bar. He was away from that window for a bit, and when he went back, he didn't see her at all. I'll need to watch those final moments again, but seems to me that if she was still walking, he would have seen her. Therefore, the only thing she could have done was to turn back to the bar. At least, that's the impression that I got.
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Jim Hutton (1934-79) and Ellery Queen =
I think so, too. She was just going to get boozed up again.
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Jim Hutton (1934-79) and Ellery Queen =
I think they were just showing us the "bar" sign will always be flashing in his head.....one day at a time
shareThat's the way I took it, too: your downfall will always be as close and as easy as crossing the street.
But I like the idea that not only is the booze there beckoning to him, but also his beloved. Makes the scene even more powerful--double temptation, doubly hard to resist.
I went to a dinner once, to celebrate the anniversary of a friend's first year sober. The waiter misinterpreted the occasion as a birthday party and brought the guest of honor a glass of champagne. The glass got passed down the table to me because everyone else was in AA, but I didn't want to celebrate my friend's sobriety by drinking champagne, so I just ignored it. I didn't realize it was such a big deal, but at the end of the evening, that's all anyone could talk about. How does she DO that? I don't know, she didn't even touch it. It was right there and she didn't even CARE. Wait, she's not in AA? Are you telling me she could have drunk that champagne and she DIDN'T?
Wow, I suddenly had a very clear picture of how alcohol seems to always be in your face when you're alcoholic and how you have to constantly fight your desire for it.