Inspired by
the many posts of food in film, I decided to look at a dinner scene from the
movie Doubt (2008). For those of you
have not seen it, the film is based on a Pulitzer-Prize winning play that is set
in 1964 at a Catholic school in the Bronx. The school is run by the austere
principal Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep), who believes in the power of
fear-based discipline. Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a recent arrival
at the church, has completely the opposite view. He is personable and believes
that priests should make more of an attempt to interact with the students
rather than remain as aloof moral exemplars. The plot is centered around a conflict
that arises when Sister Aloysius notices Father Flynn paying special attention
to one of the students and suspects sexual abuse. Throughout the film, Meryl
Streep’s character attempts to find solid evidence to destroy Father Flynn.
The truth is, the first and last time I saw this film was
about five years ago. I remember the content being dark and the actual scenery
being very dull to match this sentiment, but other than that not very much.
However, there is a scene that came to mind when I thought about how food has
effectively been used in film.
There are two clips below. Because the first clip is cut off
early, I figured I’d add the second to get the full comparison.
From these clips, is can be seen that there is a very
distinct contrast between the atmosphere in which the priests and nuns have their
meals. The difference is reflected in the content of the conversation (or lack
of), the food and drinks on the table, the manner in which the food is being
eaten, the lighting and overall color scheme.
In the portion with the priests, they are smoking, drinking
red wine, and eating red meat dripping with blood. There is music in the
background, which is difficult to hear over the laughter and conversation. There
is a conversation regarding a “fat lady” which is rather disrespectful,
especially for a priest. In a sense, these holy figures seem kind of impure and
barbaric.
The movie then cuts to a scene of the nuns, in complete
silence, being served milk. The table cloth is white, the plates are white, the
glasses of milk are white. There is just a lot of white. Unlike the previous
scene, everything on the table is perfectly aligned and although I cannot tell
exactly what is on the plates, it’s definitely not a big slab of bloody meat. In
the beginning of the second clip, the table is again completely silent except
for the clanging of utensils on the plates. I don’t know if anyone else felt
this, but I was even uncomfortable watching the awkward silence.
In a way, I think this scene is trying to contrast the personalities
of the main characters, Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn, but also illustrate
how priests held a different place in the church hierarchy. It was not unusual
for a priest to smoke and drink, but for a nun, it was unheard of.
For anyone who has seen the film, or has just watched the
clips, feel free to disagree with my analysis. Maybe someone got something a
bit more out of the clips.
I like you analysis because it makes a lot of sense when considering the historic and even present-day power struggle between the priests and sisters. The foundation of the Church is one of hierarchy, which not only entails greater power as you climb upward but often greater access to wealth. By contrast, sisters are often associated with doing the work of the people, working with the poor and always being surveilled and under the thumb of clergymen.
ReplyDeleteWhen considering this power play, your analysis makes perfect sense and shows what, perhaps, the director was trying to relate to the audience: the strict, simple and conventional ways of the nuns versus the proud, unafraid priest who perhaps (in this film) cares more about being heard and making changes than abiding to a moral code ?
One popular theory is that the type of meat Fr Flynn was consuming was of a young animal, not fully mature, thus implying Fr Flynn's possible pedophilia.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think Fr Flynn was not guilty in the stage performance, but he is guilty in the movie.
They purposely threw in more hints to imply that either Fr Fynn, or another priest might have exploited Donald Miller, William London, Jimmy, or Mr Conroy.