The Graduate

In my effort to watch the AFI's top 100 movies, at least the ones that are on netflix, which is actually not all that many, I watched The Graduate. I found it pretty horrifying--I don't have a high tolerance for a lot of sex, and when sex involves several different members of the same family, my tolerance shoots way down.

Admittedly, it was well made. It's use of impressions was remarkable--for instance, in the way that the film cuts back and forth between the hotel bed and the pool to symbolize Brad's growing experience and self-confidence. In this way, it resembled a much tamer Tree of Life. The music was wonderful--Simon and Garfunkel are great (I just hope this film hasn't ruined "The Sound of Silence" for me forever).

I think that my biggest complaint is that the plot was so simple. Apart from Brad, the characters were not that well developed , especially Elaine--Why does she decide she wants to be with Brad? I mean, I understand why she didn't want to. I understand that her motivations were questioned when she found out that her mother lied to her. But the film just wasn't compelling: she changed her mind about 40 times about who she wanted to be with--"Maybe I'll marry you tomorrow, I don't know." Elaine's passive indecision is really not the stuff of tragedy. Elaine just isn't a strong enough character to contribute to the grand dilemma that is set up when she realizes that the man she likes has been having an affair with her mother. It's just not tragedy, people.

It's just a psychological exploration of an insecure boy/man who is taken advantage of by an older woman. And it chronicles the first real action of his life--chasing Elaine down and stealing her away from her own wedding. Oh the symbolism when he picks up a cross from the church and uses it to fend off the guests and then uses it to lock them in the church. The thing is, he's figured out how to act, rather than simply passively respond, but he acts in a way that seeks to coerce Elaine, who has been manipulated by her mother, Mrs. Robinson, in the same way that he has. What Brad really needs to learn is to act in a way that encourages others to make free choices, too (I mean, I know the whole stealing-the-bride-away-from-the-church scene makes good television, but is that really the best time to ask someone to marry you?).


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