BLUE VALENTINE
US, 2010, 120 minutes, Colour.
Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Faith Wladyka, Mike Vogel.
Directed by Derek Cianfrance.
Director Derek Cianfrance has said that one of the major fears of his childhood was his parents getting a divorce. This is evident in the film with passionate sequences of love and the loss of love, even of hatred. The title gives it away as does the song that the husband sings when wooing his wife but is sung again, most ruefully, over the final credits, ‘You always hurt the ones you love...’.
The screenplay has action that takes place over 24 hours in the present but, within that framework, retraces the early history of Dean and Cindy, their meeting, love, his saving her, their marriage. The counterpoint of both periods highlights the contrast, often quite harrowingly.
So, in a way, nothing new. The strength of the film is in the episodes and in the performances – though at times they seem to be improvised and somewhat repetitive and strained. However, Ryan Gosling as Dean and Michelle Williams as Cindy really enter into their roles with vigour and empathy which makes the break-up more tragic, especially for their little girl who loves them both so much. If only Dean could have read the situation and Cindy’s latter feelings better, and if only Cindy had had the patience and understanding that Dean deserved.
1. The portrait of a marriage, a brief marriage? Love, the loss of love, break-up?
2. The structure: the present moving to the past, the counterpoint of each episode, the contrast? The insight into reality, what happened? Possibility of reconciliation or too late?
3. The musical score, the songs, the ending, especially ‘You Always Hurt the One You Love’…?
4. The style of the film, the strong dialogue, improvisation, impact?
5. The introduction to Frankie, crying for Megan, the introduction to Dean and Cindy, the situation of the loss of the dog, not telling Frankie, watching the videos of the dog? The burial of the dog?
6. The linear effect for Dean: from Florida, coming to Pennsylvania, the job interview, getting the job, carrier and removalist, his cheerfulness with his workers, his courtesy for the customers, fixing up the room to suit the old man returning? Meeting Cindy, the attraction, singing and her dancing, ‘You Always Hate the Ones You Love’? His card, his response to her, her having the baby, his support, taking her to the abortion clinic, taking her home, the proposal, the wedding ceremony, the hopes? His being a caring father for Frankie? Life at home, his drinking, his own timetable for work, painting rooms? Cindy’s comment about his potential and not fulfilling it? His seeing that he had fulfilled his potential? A loving man and father?
7. The linear effect for Cindy: the local girl, at school, the attraction of Bobby, the wrestler, the affair, her pregnancy, not being able to depend on Bobby? Her parents? The meeting with Dean and their accepting him? Her giving the card to Dean, the issue of the abortion, the detailed presentation of the abortion process, her stopping it, saving the baby? The proposal, marrying Dean? Her studies, wanting to become a doctor, becoming a nurse? Her family’s support? Her cantankerous grandmother and her ironic comments? Her father and his support? Her work, skills at the hospital, relied on? The difference at home?
8. The day of tension, Frankie and Megan, her taking Frankie to her parents, going shopping, meeting Bobby?
9. The decision to spend the night away, Dean and his forcing a decision for Cindy, going to the Future Room, the drive, Cindy talking about Bobby, feeling that her words were the wrong ones, Dean and his reaction, analysing what she was saying? The room, bizarre, the evening, the sexual encounter, Dean and his gentleness, the argument, Dean in the bathroom locked in, Cindy going to the hospital, responding to the call?
10. Cindy at the hospital, the doctor wanting her to move, her disillusionment with him? Dean waking, coming to the hospital?
11. At the hospital, the scene, the staff, the argument, the fight and fists, calling the police?
12. Dean and his plea to Cindy for understanding, Cindy and her not understanding his not developing his potential, wanting a divorce? The possible reunion, the embrace, Frankie and her role?
13. The two going their separate ways, the pain of failed love, especially on the part of one person and not on the other? The separation? Their future?
