Re: A "Strong" Alice?

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Posted by Marcia on August 07, 1998 at 14:35:39:

In Reply to: A posted by Rich on August 07, 1998 at 12:11:15:

Hi, Rich! In case you haven't figured it out from my posts on this subject, I agree with you 100%. I don't really understand why any viewer would want to change poor Alice. In case it got lost below, here is my exact thought again in that regard:

In reply to Katherine:
"Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. My only problem with the Alice you describe is I honestly
don't think that was what Mann was trying to say about "his" Alice. I really believe he wanted Alice
to look utterly lost & shell-shocked, without a bit of inner strength to help her through. This is not to
say I don't have sympathy for her. I do, indeed, understand that what she has been through has
pushed her over the edge, and I suspect it would have done the same to most young women of her
time/station. This is what I think makes Cora's character so wonderfully extraordinary, in
comparison.

I believe Mann's intent & Jodhi's wonderful portrayal were supposed to show this contrast between
the two women, and think the movie is the better for it. But I also believe that as we each watch a
film, we are bringing to it part of ourselves and our personal life experiences. Therefore, we each
take away something a little different, as demonstrated by the many viewpoints expressed on this
board."

Having said that, I must add one more thing: it seems to me that it is doing a disservice to Michael Mann and to the wonderful Jodhi May to embellish upon and/or change completely what they worked so hard to portray. It doesn't lessen the impact or importance of Alice's character to the theme of the story, or reduce the love that Uncas had for her. Why would we want to change what was such a perfectly drawn character?

Color Me Confused,
MMMM

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