Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Revolver66 (A) on July 05, 2011 at 11:46:04

In Reply to: RE: Is it germane to the film? I'd argue not. nt posted by tinear on July 05, 2011 at 11:07:28

Was the son much of a fighter? As with the music lessons, did the son try to live up to certain standards?

Did he go to war to prove something to his father, as one battling the world just like him?

Jack is an opposing force to the father's influence, and is in competion with the father for predominance (along with other Oedipal hints). Sean Penn's character is the sacrament of Reconciliation, ie, conversion, confession and celebration.

We don't know the full extent of the father's influence over the middle child however, but the idea of "fight" and "battle" does play into the film's thematic concerns of nature vs grace.