tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post2316246813541142686..comments2024-03-25T15:38:16.880-07:00Comments on Surrender to the Void: Favorite Films #2: Ghost World (10th Anniversary Essay)thevoid99http://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post-17556423407161369932015-01-15T18:07:07.747-08:002015-01-15T18:07:07.747-08:00@Andrew Sidhom-Well, it was sort of like the endin...@Andrew Sidhom-Well, it was sort of like the ending of the original graphic novel which was quite bleak.<br /><br />Enid is a complicated character as she was jealous of Seymour being with someone else as she tried to fit in to society. The reason she stayed away from him is because she feels like she would ruin whatever chance of happiness he might have as she's already a mess herself.<br /><br />After all, there's nothing for her to latch on as she and Rebecca are pretty much on the outs while Enid couldn't cope with her father marrying a woman she never liked. Her leaving could be a step towards adulthood. It's left ambiguous which is why I think the film's ending is great.thevoid99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post-55179792549650863482015-01-15T18:01:55.395-08:002015-01-15T18:01:55.395-08:00@thevoid99
I appreciate your response, but I think...@thevoid99<br />I appreciate your response, but I think in Enid and Seymour's last scene in the hospital, it was clear that they got past that prank. He was willing to admit he's "just a dork" but she told him no and showed him all the other pictures and said "You're like my hero". But then she just leaves?<br /><br />Hollywood happy endings are often criticized for being forced but what about a forced bleak ending? I thought Ghost World was an instance of that, where I felt it would have been more natural for the characters to reconnect but instead maybe the filmmakers wanted a bleak ending for the sake of a bleak ending.<br /><br />Also, even before the whole truth of the prank comes up (before Rebecca shows the drawing to Seymour), Enid's behaviour became inexplicable. She clearly wanted to further her relationship with Seymour (yes she was drunk that night but the feelings were there). The whole movie shows you how these 2 characters are able to connect because they exist on the fringes of society. But when Seymour breaks up with his girlfriend for Enid to move in with him (at her suggestion), she just starts ignoring him for no apparent reason?<br /><br />I mean, I would have been fine if something was mentioned or alluded to like the issue of age difference or whatever but there was nothing in the storytelling to inform Enid's actions in the closing scenes. At least none that I picked up on.Andrew Sidhomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post-92172449705912578612015-01-09T19:44:43.538-08:002015-01-09T19:44:43.538-08:00@Andrew Sidhom-The reason they didn't end up t...@Andrew Sidhom-The reason they didn't end up together was because of the prank Enid and Rebecca did on Seymour definitely created a sense of guilt for Enid as she had burned too many bridges with people she was close with. She had no choice but to leave.thevoid99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post-11366350984036742712015-01-09T16:42:15.360-08:002015-01-09T16:42:15.360-08:00Interesting read. Why do you think Enid and Seymou...Interesting read. Why do you think Enid and Seymour didn't get together at the end? After all the film did bring them together in this one-night stand, after which Seymour leaves Dana for Enid. Then it doesn't happen for no particular reason stated.Andrew Sidhomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post-17042975032082632922014-02-04T23:00:01.177-08:002014-02-04T23:00:01.177-08:00@The Vern-Thanks. I really think it's a film ...@The Vern-Thanks. I really think it's a film that needs to be in the Criterion Collection. I hope to write more essays this year as I have a few ideas but there's a bunch of things I'm doing right now.thevoid99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post-31363596583600547572014-02-04T20:33:31.978-08:002014-02-04T20:33:31.978-08:00UMMM WOW!!!! That was an amazing essay on a mov...UMMM WOW!!!! That was an amazing essay on a movie that I really love. I had no idea that Johannson was only 15 when she made that. She is way beyond her years and shows a lot of maturity. I like what you said about the fate of Enid at the end. I took the whole bus ride she takes at the end literally. I thought Seymour seeing a shrink was just about Enid dumping him. Now I'm thinking something else happened to her. Damn this movie got a lot more insightful. AN amazing EssayTheVernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00712756384665520547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post-3299682230579394562014-02-04T20:24:25.083-08:002014-02-04T20:24:25.083-08:00@blackcgriffin-It's not the type of film that ...@blackcgriffin-It's not the type of film that will win people over but it did make an impact as I heard Diablo Cody used the screenplay as her template for <i>Juno</i>.<br /><br />@flightstightsandmovienights.com-I think the ending is more about her accepting that the world she lives in isn't going to change and she couldn't cope with it as there was no choice to either die or to just leave town for good.thevoid99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post-4033351808021671312014-02-04T19:49:29.434-08:002014-02-04T19:49:29.434-08:00Interesting read, I just recently watched this for...Interesting read, I just recently watched this for the first time and found my way here via Vern's review. It's a fascinating film for sure and one that I really want to watch again soon to dig deeper. For me, the ending feels way too blantantly about death. Especially due to the way she words her comments before the one night stand. She says she wants to not tell anyone where she is going and disappear. Only after saying that does she suggest that Seymour and her should leave town.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21463545.post-61279993211624170832011-07-14T14:38:08.567-07:002011-07-14T14:38:08.567-07:00I haven't seen this since it was in theatres a...I haven't seen this since it was in theatres and I remember just hating it. But my filmic tastes have changed considerably since then. I should give it another try. I like how you mentioned it paved the way for films like Juno. I didn't really put that together, but you're totally right.blakecgriffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17612666244388206101noreply@blogger.com