Meryl Streep's performance in this film was really unsung. Kidman and Moore deservedly got praise for their performances, but Streep really knocked it out of the park as well as Clarissa. She made her so layered and vulnerable, like she leaves me in awe.
@@hazelrae4555 Kidman won for leading role, while Moore was nominated as supporting actress, and lost (outrageously, in my opinion) to Zeta-Jones. One of the controversies of that edition is that actually both Kidman and Moore could have been nominated in the leading role, since both of them had similar running time in the film
Every time I see this film, I suffer so horribly that I promise myself never to see it again. After a few months I do it again. This is sublime. This scene is absolutely perfect.
''Suffer horribly''? Do you even know what horrible suffering is? Severe depression, grief, war, abuse, trauma, crippling illness etc. I understand that films can and do make impact, they make us feel various emotions, including pain. But ''suffer horribly''? Don't be so melodramatic. If THAT's horrible suffering for you, then you're lucky in life.
@@hennamuliyana1771 Virginia did NOT ''want'' to choose death. That was untreated illness that drove her to it. Called severe clinical depression. So maybe she wanted to choose life but illness did not let her. If she had gotten help from doctors, she might have been able to choose life.
How the hell haven't she won a goddamn Oscar for this performance? I mean, she and meryl had a common scene and she was way better........ Such a deep movie.....
My argument would be it would be better to abandon a family than stay with one if miserable, thus making them miserable. Of course, her son was miserable in her absence because she never explained to him why she left. Complicated. In a weird way if she had killed herself it would have at least allowed her son to understand that she could not bear her life. Is it cowardice? Lack of responsibility? This film has no easy answers, and that is why it was great.
It was selfishness and unwillingness/inability to sacrifice for something she did not find contentment with, her choice though impacted her child, and while understandable, she needs to take stock of that.
@@valeria-militiamessalina5672 You make it sound too easy. When you’re at a point of being suicidal, is not that you can just put up with the situation. She even says it “it’s what you can bear, it was death, I chose life”. I feel your comment lacks any sense of empathy.
@@danielchalabi658 sorry for my bad english. But I a good part of my life I be like the son of Laura, I know the situation. But a explanation its necesary to bring a little peace, I never had I explanation. I only can live and wait something good. Its my only hope.
It was too much to handle : offspring she didn't want to ; not being able to work since it's the 50s ; it is implied she is bisexual / lesbian because of the scene with Kitty... No wonder she wanted to kill herself. She chose life, instead
It's difficult to me sympathize with Laura, when many scenes of the movie shows that her choice of leaving her family to "live" probably was the cause of the death of her husband and children - including Richard, that seems to became a fragile man because he loosed her mother's presence at a very early age. And the worst is that she talks about it in a very cold way, without any trace of remorse or sadness.
Incidentally, some enterprising writer ought to write that in-movie novel "by Richard Brown," essentially fill in the gaps of the somehow foundational back story of the Wellfleet summer rental(?) in the 1960s, Richard's ultimately killing off his mother figure in the novel, his private Mrs. Dalloway, and barely anything about "the weird" Louis Walters. I'd love to read it, if only for the pleasure of seeing how the author's creative mind has managed to bridge the many in the movie alluded-to narrative crumbs…
I don't know what to think of Laura. I'd be lying if I said I couldn't relate to her because I absolutely could. I've always been the girl content to sit by herself and read, but I don't understand why she had to abandon her children? Couldn't she have become a librarian in her own town? Maybe she thought she was helping her family by not letting them see her anguish. I do feel sorry for Richard though, Laura too.
It's obvious that Laura was ''forced'' into her marriage and life out of conformity. She felt like there was a certain social role she had to fulfill, something which a lot of people do and/or struggle with. At a certain point, she probably realized that it wasn't the life she should be living and decided to escape. How she did it was terrible for everyone involved but you only live one life and you go to live it to the fullest. I also think Laura most probably could have been a lesbian. She felt a romantic/sexual desire towards her female friend and she didn't care much for her husband, especially when he wanted to have sex with her.
yes !! after the war, women were kind of expected to marry servicemen by society and when dan proposed to Laura, there was the social pressure to accept that and it's not what she truly wanted, and that's why she gets really embarrassed when Dan talks about her because to her, it's a reminder that she's living a life she never wanted in the first place. The kiss was more a motif throughout the whole film that symbolises the need and desire for understanding and is used to represent reaching out to connect and be understood :-)
@@OpheliaNL I think it is easy to say she was a lesbian, she was just a woman struggling with life...be it a lesbian, a heterosexual, and whatever...it could be the story of so many people...
The fact was that her choice of "life" meant the death of all her family, including Richard, that became a very fragile adult. And the worst of all was that she told it in a very cold way, without any trace of remorse or sadness.
Elijah Stevenson I believe many great actresses are as good as Meryl and sometimes they’re better just like Julianne Moore in this movie, she was much better than Meryl Streep!
Zeta-Jones did not deserve the Oscar. Her role was showing not acting. It is like Jolie in Girl Interrupted. The supporting actress winners are full of that. Just doing a lot of ridiculousness to be noticed
Even in 1950 women were expected to stay at home, produce children, wait for their husbands, cook and play with the kids, then be all smiley and happy so their tired husbands would feel better after a long day at work. Laura was already 40 so there probably weren't many opportunities for women in her age. Her being a librarian assistant doesn't sound as a "dream job" to us now, but for her it was a big step and the point was that she started to lead the life she always wanted. For once in her life she decided for herself, not her husband or society. She wanted to be an independent woman and playing wifey was making her depressed. (It's also hinted that she might have been a homosexual because she kissed Kitty but it might also be that she was trying to console her). Anyway, the point is that after leaving her family she was finally happy because she was in control of her life. She had no choice... "It [her life] was death. I chose life"
Julianne Moore's performance is perfect as the movie itself.
Julianne Moore played this role to perfection! She's incredible!
"What does it mean to regret when you have no choice.... "
Meryl and Julianne in 1 movie... and it was amazing!
This is my all time favorite movie. Can't express how much I love this...
PV Donitsi oh my god me too! I love this movie. Julianne Moore's performance, Meryl Streep's, Kidman's, Harris', I mean 😍😍😍
Me too
I learned so much about soundtracks when I saw the movie…. and I heard for the first time Jessey Norman and the Strauß
Meryl Streep's performance in this film was really unsung. Kidman and Moore deservedly got praise for their performances, but Streep really knocked it out of the park as well as Clarissa. She made her so layered and vulnerable, like she leaves me in awe.
I don't know how Julianne doesn't get the Oscar for this role. One of the Academy's failure.
Julianne is amazing, but Catherine is Superior!!!
@@viantzpradz4771 you could say that in 2002 but not in general.
I think Nicole Kidman won that year.
@@hazelrae4555 Kidman won for leading role, while Moore was nominated as supporting actress, and lost (outrageously, in my opinion) to Zeta-Jones. One of the controversies of that edition is that actually both Kidman and Moore could have been nominated in the leading role, since both of them had similar running time in the film
@@MrMartinportnoy moore was nominated for "Far from heaven "
The hours - her explanation of why she had to abandon her children - very powerful moment in the film
love it
Every time I see this film, I suffer so horribly that I promise myself never to see it again. After a few months I do it again. This is sublime. This scene is absolutely perfect.
''Suffer horribly''? Do you even know what horrible suffering is? Severe depression, grief, war, abuse, trauma, crippling illness etc. I understand that films can and do make impact, they make us feel various emotions, including pain. But ''suffer horribly''? Don't be so melodramatic. If THAT's horrible suffering for you, then you're lucky in life.
"It was death. I chose life."
Just for that "it was death" phrase with Julianne Moore staring to the side, the movie is worth watching. The perfect movie. 1:54
Nice observation on her gaze, adds a different meaning once you notice that
it is a profound moment, solving many things and entangling the narrative even further... she "chose life" when it was "death"
On the other side virginia wants to choose death than Richmond! There is Contradiction between writer and reader .
And her chosing of "life" signified the death for all her family.
@@hennamuliyana1771 Virginia did NOT ''want'' to choose death. That was untreated illness that drove her to it. Called severe clinical depression. So maybe she wanted to choose life but illness did not let her. If she had gotten help from doctors, she might have been able to choose life.
Having these two in a scene together is just perfect. I love this movie.
Julian Moore is extraordinary in this role and movie. It's extraordinary movie. Each detail of it
Meryl and Julianne two of the most amazing actors. Great movie thank you for clip
She chose life... And everything changed. Those eyes. Beautiful. 🖤
Meryl says so, so much with her eyes at 0:47. She wouldn't have planned that, either...that would have been one take of several different reactions.
It was death I chose life ! Words can’t describe this scene .
such a perfect scene, i love them both
Movie known for the performances.. This best scene of the movie.. Crux
How the hell haven't she won a goddamn Oscar for this performance? I mean, she and meryl had a common scene and she was way better........ Such a deep movie.....
Teljes mertekben egyet ertek.
Well, Meryl did not say a thing in that scene.
Yea they left one of the finest scenes for last ,what a spectacular job done by Juliena Moore , absolutely stunning
A MASTER CLASS BETWEEN 2 LEGENDS!! THEIR TECNIQUE IS BEYOND THIS WORLD
My argument would be it would be better to abandon a family than stay with one if miserable, thus making them miserable. Of course, her son was miserable in her absence because she never explained to him why she left. Complicated. In a weird way if she had killed herself it would have at least allowed her son to understand that she could not bear her life. Is it cowardice? Lack of responsibility? This film has no easy answers, and that is why it was great.
It was selfishness and unwillingness/inability to sacrifice for something she did not find contentment with, her choice though impacted her child, and while understandable, she needs to take stock of that.
@@valeria-militiamessalina5672
You make it sound too easy.
When you’re at a point of being suicidal, is not that you can just put up with the situation. She even says it “it’s what you can bear, it was death, I chose life”.
I feel your comment lacks any sense of empathy.
@@danielchalabi658 sorry for my bad english. But I a good part of my life I be like the son of Laura, I know the situation. But a explanation its necesary to bring a little peace, I never had I explanation. I only can live and wait something good. Its my only hope.
It was too much to handle : offspring she didn't want to ; not being able to work since it's the 50s ; it is implied she is bisexual / lesbian because of the scene with Kitty...
No wonder she wanted to kill herself. She chose life, instead
Sadly, most people don’t understand and empathise with others having suicidal tendencies…
Best performance in the film.
Julianne Moore was outstanding as well as Meryl. We don’t see these type of movies anymore.
Nicole Kidman was freed by this movie role, by not having to look like herself
This is my favorite scene. I wonder if Clarissa forgives her at the end?
amazing! two brilliant actors for all time!!!
I think Julianne Moore > Nicole Kidman > Meryl Streep in this movie
The movie was about different kinds of depression
It's difficult to me sympathize with Laura, when many scenes of the movie shows that her choice of leaving her family to "live" probably was the cause of the death of her husband and children - including Richard, that seems to became a fragile man because he loosed her mother's presence at a very early age. And the worst is that she talks about it in a very cold way, without any trace of remorse or sadness.
This is like Meryl talking to an older version of the character she played in Kramer vs Kramer.
One of the best 💯
Incidentally, some enterprising writer ought to write that in-movie novel "by Richard Brown," essentially fill in the gaps of the somehow foundational back story of the Wellfleet summer rental(?) in the 1960s, Richard's ultimately killing off his mother figure in the novel, his private Mrs. Dalloway, and barely anything about "the weird" Louis Walters. I'd love to read it, if only for the pleasure of seeing how the author's creative mind has managed to bridge the many in the movie alluded-to narrative crumbs…
You have to wait 10 years.
I love it, is perfect
Excellent cast
I don't know what to think of Laura. I'd be lying if I said I couldn't relate to her because I absolutely could. I've always been the girl content to sit by herself and read, but I don't understand why she had to abandon her children? Couldn't she have become a librarian in her own town? Maybe she thought she was helping her family by not letting them see her anguish. I do feel sorry for Richard though, Laura too.
It's obvious that Laura was ''forced'' into her marriage and life out of conformity. She felt like there was a certain social role she had to fulfill, something which a lot of people do and/or struggle with. At a certain point, she probably realized that it wasn't the life she should be living and decided to escape. How she did it was terrible for everyone involved but you only live one life and you go to live it to the fullest.
I also think Laura most probably could have been a lesbian. She felt a romantic/sexual desire towards her female friend and she didn't care much for her husband, especially when he wanted to have sex with her.
yes !! after the war, women were kind of expected to marry servicemen by society and when dan proposed to Laura, there was the social pressure to accept that and it's not what she truly wanted, and that's why she gets really embarrassed when Dan talks about her because to her, it's a reminder that she's living a life she never wanted in the first place. The kiss was more a motif throughout the whole film that symbolises the need and desire for understanding and is used to represent reaching out to connect and be understood :-)
I assume she discovered she was a lesbian, and leading a lesbian life was not an option at the time, that's why she says 'it was death, I chose life'
@@OpheliaNL I think it is easy to say she was a lesbian, she was just a woman struggling with life...be it a lesbian, a heterosexual, and whatever...it could be the story of so many people...
The fact was that her choice of "life" meant the death of all her family, including Richard, that became a very fragile adult. And the worst of all was that she told it in a very cold way, without any trace of remorse or sadness.
Are you sure that Meryl Streep is the greatest actress ever ???!!!
We are. Greatest LIVING ACTOR at least.
Elijah Stevenson I believe many great actresses are as good as Meryl and sometimes they’re better just like Julianne Moore in this movie, she was much better than Meryl Streep!
@@muhanadmuhanad7019 yeah IN THIS movie in particular.
@@muhanadmuhanad7019 Well she had a juicier part than Meryl in this film. Just think if Meryl had played that role.
@@muhanadmuhanad7019 Well if Meryl had Julianne's part I am sure she would have done just as good of a job if not better than Julianne
CREDITS:
TM & © Paramount (2002)
Cast: Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore
Director: Stephen Daldry
😔😔😔😔 sad scentences talk mother guess🙄🙄
Catherine Zeta-Jones deserved the oscar win but I wouldn’t be surprised if Moore have won it instead.
Meryl Streep deserved to win for Adaptation. One of her best performances to date.
Moore should have won outright
Zeta-Jones did not deserve the Oscar. Her role was showing not acting. It is like Jolie in Girl Interrupted. The supporting actress winners are full of that. Just doing a lot of ridiculousness to be noticed
Why does Laura Brown leave?
She chose to live the life she always wanted.
As a Canadian librarian assistant? o_O
Even in 1950 women were expected to stay at home, produce children, wait for their husbands, cook and play with the kids, then be all smiley and happy so their tired husbands would feel better after a long day at work.
Laura was already 40 so there probably weren't many opportunities for women in her age. Her being a librarian assistant doesn't sound as a "dream job" to us now, but for her it was a big step and the point was that she started to lead the life she always wanted. For once in her life she decided for herself, not her husband or society. She wanted to be an independent woman and playing wifey was making her depressed. (It's also hinted that she might have been a homosexual because she kissed Kitty but it might also be that she was trying to console her). Anyway, the point is that after leaving her family she was finally happy because she was in control of her life. She had no choice... "It [her life] was death. I chose life"
Ah, good point! :)
Some Curiosities It's just my interpretation but I love this film so I had to express my opinion ! :)
This movie is practically my biography.
What happened to you?
I left both my children. I abandoned them 💔💔❤️🩹❤️🩹😭😭😭😭😭 I’m crying over this over and over. Cuz I understand her but the pain of her kids too