norfious wrote: ↑July 7th, 2023, 10:14 pm
I just watched "Tea and Sympathy" and I think it is interesting how many of the reviews of the film state that the plot revolved around homosexuality. Perhaps the original play did, and perhaps I am just projecting, but I got the impression that the character Tom in the film was demisexual or asexual. Those identities probably weren't well understood back when the film was made, though.
The film did a good job at showing that "different" does not mean "bad," especially since Tom was, in my opinion, the only likable character in the entire film. All the other men, with the exception of Al to some degree, were inconsiderate, judgemental, and sexist. Who would want to be "normal" if that's what was considered "normal?"
The character of Laura was quite creepy. I know she was trying to help Tom and felt sorry for him, but the ending was, in my opinion, completely inappropriate. I guess Tom was
technically an adult at 18, but Laura was way too old and Tom way too young for her to go after him in that way. Yikes.
I also really disliked the fact that after Laura was with Tom, he was magically "better." Like he needed to have that experience to be considered acceptable as a person.
Gonna have to take exception with a few of your points here, norfious.
First, I've never thought the plot of this film says anything about the sexual preferences the Tom character might have...and nope, I'm very sure I'm not in any way purposely turning a bling eye to this possibility. Nope, I instead have always believed that the Tom character is presented only to consider the contrasts between his ingrained sensitive nature and with that of almost all the other male characters in it who have bought into the traditional idea of what constitutes a "real American man".
I think your second paragraph up there actually well explains why that sort of macho mentality shared my the rest of the males in this story can be looked at as being unenviable behavioral traits.
And re the Laura character's actions...Sorry, but I've never thought of them as being "creepy", but actually more nurturing.
I also don't think that after Tom and Laura's relationship is consumated that the viewer is supposed to get the idea that he is "better", as I take by your use of the word "better" in this case that you're implying that if Tom had in fact been gay, Laura had somehow "cured" him of that. Nope, what I think Laura gave to Tom in this case was more a greater confidence in himself, although I suppose this could indeed be considered as becoming "better".
(...okay, and now with this being said, I'm off to other threads to spread my devil-may-care attitude...gettin' serious like this ain't usually my bag, ya know)