There are always emotionally unstable, restless, lonely, and even crazy characters in Mike Lee's films. For example, the single mother Cynthia in this film, such as the tramp in "Naked", such as the lonely patient Mary in "Another Year" that everyone hates. In addition, Mike Lee also has a story element that is the estrangement and quarrel within the family, especially the families at the bottom of the society. The so-called grief for poor and lowly married couples, in fact, in a family, grief is sometimes not just a problem between husband and wife, but a problem that all family members need to face. In this film, Cynthia, who works as a factory worker, and her daughter Roxanne, a sanitation worker, almost quarreled from the beginning. The dark quarrel made people restless. This atmosphere almost exists in most of Mike Lee's works. Cynthia and her daughter had one of the most intense quarrels about contraception. Cynthia kept reminding her daughter to pay attention to safety when having sex with her boyfriend, using condoms and taking contraceptive pills, and even suggested that her daughter wear a contraceptive ring. Cynthia pays so much attention to her daughter’s contraceptive problem because of her own losses in this area. Through her confession to her daughter at the end of the film, we know that Cynthia used to be a very confused woman in personality and did not pay much attention to contraceptive problems. ...When the black daughter Horston came to the door, Cynthia’s first reaction was that she had never fooled around with a black man. It must have been a mistake. But after a while, she remembered that she had had a relationship with a black person and gave birth to a child when she was 15 years old, but because she was too young at the time, she abandoned this daughter... As a single mother, Cynthia was confused and slutty. One thing... Cynthia's acceptance of Horston was in stark contrast to Roxanne's attitude. Quarreling with Roxanne at home, unable to get along with each other, watching movies, eating, and chatting with Hoston outside. Cynthia has never changed. What has changed is the person she faces. Out of guilt, her attitude is gentle. Because of the lack of time to get along, they are more respectful and respectful. This can't help giving people a more understanding of family and companionship.
At the final birthday party, Horston attended as a colleague and friend of Cynthia. Her intellectual, calm temperament and black skin seemed incompatible with other personalities. At the dinner table, everyone was very interested in Hoston's college majors, while Roxanne always emphasized that he did not want to go to college. With two daughters, two skin colors and two classes, Mike Lee's role setting is quite interesting. Cynthia’s younger brother, the photographer Morris, is also a typical person. He takes care of all the affairs of the family, coordinates everything, and works hard. He is solely responsible for the birthday of his niece Roxanne, and he will also give Cynthia some living expenses to relieve the pressure of his sister’s life. But even so, his life with his wife Monica has many problems.
When Crosanne learned that Horston was his sister, the entire birthday party was ruined. Except for Croxanne, everyone else knows that Cynthia has an abandoned daughter. This is a secret only for Roxanne alone. At the same time, good husband Morris and his wife Monica also confessed the reason why the couple did not have children. Morris has always claimed that he does not want children, but it is to hide the fact that his wife is infertile. He wears a selfish hat to protect his wife. dignity. And Cynthia has always been worried about Monica instructing Morris to take away her father's inheritance. Morris said that his three loved ones hate each other, and he said to Hoston that he welcomes to join the family...Every family has unique problems and contradictions, and every relationship has something to do with it. The secret to telling people, everyone has a lie that they have to tell, this is the normal state of life. The secret is revealed, the knot is opened, Roxanne accepts Horston, and the mother and daughter get together, talking and laughing. This is the answer given by Mike Lee. This is the charm of the film, revealing life, higher than life.
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