The chemistry between Camille and Petra is off the charts. I love how the vulnerability shines through in both characters. There's the excitement and fear, the insecurity and wonder of being attracted to and in love with another person and hoping they are as well. Which is always made harder when it's two people of the same sex.
Having said all that, I first saw this movie years ago and absolutely hated it. I felt that neither Camille nor Petra respected each other very much let alone each other's boundaries and wishes.
But at the same time I agree with the sentiment presented in the movie that some actions may be uncalled for, but if you wait for what's called for usually nothing happens.
Still, I hated how Camille asked Petra to be friends only to treat her like she didn't matter in front of people of the church. How she seemed to be ashamed of her. I understood it but hated it nonetheless.
Now, years later, I have more empathy and understanding for this move and these characters.
I've realized it's hard to be honest about who you are in front of the people who's opinion has meant a lot to you thus far. Especially when you're terrified they won't like who you are. So it's easy to make up lies that hurt those you care about instead.
I also thought that Camille actually died at the end of the movie, to me at the time evidenced by Bob coming back to life after Camille and Petra got together. I thought Petra and Camille being together basically represented Camille's afterlife. And that Bob being alive was meant to hint at that.
Now I realize that Bob was never just a dog. He represented Camille's sexuality. We first meet Bob in bed with Camille. She's naked, content and being woken by Bob with licks to her face.
Camille finds Bob's dead body in an alley soon after and can't explain his death. And yet it happens right after her fiance gets his promotion. A promotion that for her will mean having to marry him. Which symbolically would mean the death of her (not straight) sexuality.
There are a lot of hints throughout the movie that support this. The fact that Petra and Camille meet when Camille is openly mourning the loss of Bob, saying he was what she loved more than anything. Even though in front of the fiance she acts like his death doesn't matter. The fact that she doesn't actually bury Bob, she preserves him as best she can. The fact that Petra makes it clear she's attracted to Camille and can therefore not be friends with her. Camille reacts to this by saying that they aren't animals that are unable to control their urges around each other. Only, they end up giving in anyway.
The fact that a big deal is made about the fiance finding Bob in the fridge and it's connected both to the fiance's promotion and the impending nuptials in the subsequent conversation Camille and the fiance have. A subtextual conversation about Camille's sexuality with Bob on the table as the not really talked about elephant in the room. And the most glaring, the fiance promises Camille to help bury Bob twice during that conversation only to leave without doing so. Never mind that Bob has been dead and on ice for days now and is now decomposing on Camille's dining table. She ends up burying Bob herself in a shallow grave after which she almost dies as well.
We also get an indication of Camille telling the reverend about her sexuality. And he tells her that putting a name to it allows us to control it. And I believe Bob, the dog, was born. Whether Bob was also an actual dog and not just a metaphor is anyone's guess.
Bob coming back to life from his grave after Camille almost died and we see Camille and Petra together-indicating Camille chose Petra- drives home that Bob represents Camille's sexuality that has now been resurrected.
All of which I didn't get the first time I saw the movie. If I'm right it's pretty brilliant to be honest. And a great movie with a great ending.
Having said all that, I first saw this movie years ago and absolutely hated it. I felt that neither Camille nor Petra respected each other very much let alone each other's boundaries and wishes.
But at the same time I agree with the sentiment presented in the movie that some actions may be uncalled for, but if you wait for what's called for usually nothing happens.
Still, I hated how Camille asked Petra to be friends only to treat her like she didn't matter in front of people of the church. How she seemed to be ashamed of her. I understood it but hated it nonetheless.
Now, years later, I have more empathy and understanding for this move and these characters.
I've realized it's hard to be honest about who you are in front of the people who's opinion has meant a lot to you thus far. Especially when you're terrified they won't like who you are. So it's easy to make up lies that hurt those you care about instead.
I also thought that Camille actually died at the end of the movie, to me at the time evidenced by Bob coming back to life after Camille and Petra got together. I thought Petra and Camille being together basically represented Camille's afterlife. And that Bob being alive was meant to hint at that.
Now I realize that Bob was never just a dog. He represented Camille's sexuality. We first meet Bob in bed with Camille. She's naked, content and being woken by Bob with licks to her face.
Camille finds Bob's dead body in an alley soon after and can't explain his death. And yet it happens right after her fiance gets his promotion. A promotion that for her will mean having to marry him. Which symbolically would mean the death of her (not straight) sexuality.
There are a lot of hints throughout the movie that support this. The fact that Petra and Camille meet when Camille is openly mourning the loss of Bob, saying he was what she loved more than anything. Even though in front of the fiance she acts like his death doesn't matter. The fact that she doesn't actually bury Bob, she preserves him as best she can. The fact that Petra makes it clear she's attracted to Camille and can therefore not be friends with her. Camille reacts to this by saying that they aren't animals that are unable to control their urges around each other. Only, they end up giving in anyway.
The fact that a big deal is made about the fiance finding Bob in the fridge and it's connected both to the fiance's promotion and the impending nuptials in the subsequent conversation Camille and the fiance have. A subtextual conversation about Camille's sexuality with Bob on the table as the not really talked about elephant in the room. And the most glaring, the fiance promises Camille to help bury Bob twice during that conversation only to leave without doing so. Never mind that Bob has been dead and on ice for days now and is now decomposing on Camille's dining table. She ends up burying Bob herself in a shallow grave after which she almost dies as well.
We also get an indication of Camille telling the reverend about her sexuality. And he tells her that putting a name to it allows us to control it. And I believe Bob, the dog, was born. Whether Bob was also an actual dog and not just a metaphor is anyone's guess.
Bob coming back to life from his grave after Camille almost died and we see Camille and Petra together-indicating Camille chose Petra- drives home that Bob represents Camille's sexuality that has now been resurrected.
All of which I didn't get the first time I saw the movie. If I'm right it's pretty brilliant to be honest. And a great movie with a great ending.