MovieChat Forums > Harold and Maude (1971) Discussion > Why doesn't SUNSHINE continue luncheon d...

Why doesn't SUNSHINE continue luncheon date with Harold if she didn't...

posted 9 years ago by mcintyro
5 replies | jump to latest

Many posts say that SUNSHINE doesn't die.

I can never tell. Just watched it again today, and it looked like she did. Everything pointed to it in a subtle way including Harold's body language.

It's just that I never can tell.

Many posts agree she doesn't die, and I can't argue one way or the other.

But why doesn't she just get up and continue the date.

Also, people think Harold should, after a period of grieving, look SUNSHINE up.

That might have been interesting so have her appear at the end to say she doesn't die, but I liked the ending as is.

But always curious as to why she didn't continue date if she did live.

[–] TheManInOil 9 years ago

I think we're meant to understand that his mother can't conceive of it not being over, and he wasn't interested in the first place, so likely Sunshine just went home.

[–] spaceagegal 9 years ago

When I look at it I think she died -- and that's where the dark humor comes in. Everything considered, if she didn't die, she's the closest thing to Harold and his craziness he'll ever find (after Maude, of course). 

[–] alaninho 9 years ago

She used the same trick knife as Harold. It folds into itself. Also she is an actress, so she is pretending to be dead.

I thought nobody would be confused about this.

[–] aaustin-10 8 years ago

Before she puts the knife into her chest she checks it against her palm and it's clearly a retracting, stage knife. She didn't die. Most likely she just went home when she realized Harold wasn't into her.

[–] Lunchbox-3 8 years ago

The question is: why isn't Harold into her? She seems to share his love of theatrics. I know he was already in love with Maude but when that doesn't work out, maybe he should look up Sunshine.