What Maisie Knew: Experiencing Dysfunction Through the Eyes of a Child
2 Comments
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Miroslava says:
When my brother was watching the movie, he asked me (I had already watched it) who the “good parent” was (out of Susanna and Beale). I told him Susanna cared about Maisie but was mentally unstable; and Beale was mentally stable but didn’t care about Maisie that much.
Though I do think that backing up from taking Maisie to England was actually a show of decency from his part: it seemed to me that at that moment he realised that taking Maisie’s word on the matter, when she wasn’t fully aware of the implications of that decision (not being able to see her mom, or anyone she knows in a very, very long time), does count as “undue influence”. I don’t remember if he says she might go live with him when she gets older (and with better understanding), but anyway, I kind of think it was actually in this moment when he first showed decency towards her (but I do agree that trying to charm Maisie later to keep his self built image of the cool parent was his narcissistic self again).
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reagan@yourfilmprofessor.com says:
First of all, I think you sum up the parents just right! In terms of your specific point, so you’re saying that by ultimately rejecting Maisie’s desire to go live with him was Beale revealing some “decency” in him? I think that’s a great point! In my analysis, I suggest that we get some tiny “shred” of humanity from Beale in this moment, a very brief authentic desire for Maisie to come with him and moments later, his seeming regret that he can’t be a good father for Maisie. Your point here adds to that reflection, that there is some tiny bit of good in Beale, brought out by Maisie and perhaps some tiny bit of love for her. And, to my mind, as I suggest about Susanna as well, that’s part of the complexity of the film, that it gives us complex parents and doesn’t just make them wholly reprehensible! Thanks for the great insight!
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