10-23-2014, 01:17 PM
Thanks for the vid. had not seen it (nor the follow up).
Something about the woman's accent (or the topic at hand) reminds me of that scene from THTC.
Always admired that movie's way of intertwining a story arch, some serious JA topic, and humor (or irony).
In this case Ivan's move from ripped-off country boy to struggling for work, to dejected human forced to beg.
The humor/irony (to me) is the wife's reaction at the very end.
Movie is diff't from book (IIRC), but something like this:
-----------------------------
Ivan, after searching (and failing) to find work as laborer, sleeping on streets, etc. enters the ground of upper-class house and approaches the wife on the porch.
IVAN: How do you do?
WIFE: What are you doing there?
IVAN: I'm looking for work.
WIFE: I don't have any work to give you.
IVAN: I could wash your car you know, ma'am.
WIFE: My husband gets the car washed downtown.
IVAN: I could do your gardening.
WIFE: Look, we have a gardening service to do that.
IVAN: I can do anything, you know, ma'am. Anything.
WIFE: Look, there's nothing you can do for me. Nothing.
IVAN: Beg you for ten cents then, ma'am.
WIFE: What's the matter with you young, healthy boys? All you know to do is beg, beg, beg. That's all you can do just beg?
WIFE: How you got in here, anyway?
IVAN: The gate was open, ma'am.
WIFE: Well, when you go outside, you make sure you lock the gate behind you.
....waits...
Who left the gate open!!!
-------------------------------
Who knows what T. Rhone (or Perry Henzell) meant by this scene for sure, but to me it tries to paint Ivan
as person struggling to find honest work and in the end is forced to beg (or acquiesces to that choice).
Back to this MB topic. We've never recieved "the call", but have certainly had our share of in-person begging in JA.
Whether they felt forced into it, culturally find it reasonable, or whatever reason; we don't know, but we don't acquiesce.
From shoes, high heels, pretty new dress, watch on wrist (and of course $), all has been asked. None given.
Do we have friends in JA? perhaps. Certainly persons we are friendly with and feel a high level of trust for.
The only person we ever gave our phone # to, gave his # to us 1st. We called and caught up after a trip. Never asked us for anything.
We talk every now and then for the past 10+ years. Sometimes he calls, sometimes we do.
Disclaimer that after a few years of meeting him (maybe 3 or 4) he approached me once and started to say "I need 5 dollars...".
I cut him off, said "no, don't do that" w/ my best stare down. He dropped it and we went on to another conversation.
He has never asked for a thing since. I am aware that he struggles somewhat financially, but he works his job.
Never had to explain myself that, either hearing him ask, or my complying, would permanently alter whatever realationship we have.
There have been plenty of other 'friends' that have straight-out begged for $ from us in person.
Or the "Come w/ me to the country to see the real JA". Me: "and what makes you think i've not seen it?"
It is certainly disappointing to be begged, but in general we won't shun those people (unless it is a complete-ass higgler),
we just don't hang around them.
Something about the woman's accent (or the topic at hand) reminds me of that scene from THTC.
Always admired that movie's way of intertwining a story arch, some serious JA topic, and humor (or irony).
In this case Ivan's move from ripped-off country boy to struggling for work, to dejected human forced to beg.
The humor/irony (to me) is the wife's reaction at the very end.
Movie is diff't from book (IIRC), but something like this:
-----------------------------
Ivan, after searching (and failing) to find work as laborer, sleeping on streets, etc. enters the ground of upper-class house and approaches the wife on the porch.
IVAN: How do you do?
WIFE: What are you doing there?
IVAN: I'm looking for work.
WIFE: I don't have any work to give you.
IVAN: I could wash your car you know, ma'am.
WIFE: My husband gets the car washed downtown.
IVAN: I could do your gardening.
WIFE: Look, we have a gardening service to do that.
IVAN: I can do anything, you know, ma'am. Anything.
WIFE: Look, there's nothing you can do for me. Nothing.
IVAN: Beg you for ten cents then, ma'am.
WIFE: What's the matter with you young, healthy boys? All you know to do is beg, beg, beg. That's all you can do just beg?
WIFE: How you got in here, anyway?
IVAN: The gate was open, ma'am.
WIFE: Well, when you go outside, you make sure you lock the gate behind you.
....waits...
Who left the gate open!!!
-------------------------------
Who knows what T. Rhone (or Perry Henzell) meant by this scene for sure, but to me it tries to paint Ivan
as person struggling to find honest work and in the end is forced to beg (or acquiesces to that choice).
Back to this MB topic. We've never recieved "the call", but have certainly had our share of in-person begging in JA.
Whether they felt forced into it, culturally find it reasonable, or whatever reason; we don't know, but we don't acquiesce.
From shoes, high heels, pretty new dress, watch on wrist (and of course $), all has been asked. None given.
Do we have friends in JA? perhaps. Certainly persons we are friendly with and feel a high level of trust for.
The only person we ever gave our phone # to, gave his # to us 1st. We called and caught up after a trip. Never asked us for anything.
We talk every now and then for the past 10+ years. Sometimes he calls, sometimes we do.
Disclaimer that after a few years of meeting him (maybe 3 or 4) he approached me once and started to say "I need 5 dollars...".
I cut him off, said "no, don't do that" w/ my best stare down. He dropped it and we went on to another conversation.
He has never asked for a thing since. I am aware that he struggles somewhat financially, but he works his job.
Never had to explain myself that, either hearing him ask, or my complying, would permanently alter whatever realationship we have.
There have been plenty of other 'friends' that have straight-out begged for $ from us in person.
Or the "Come w/ me to the country to see the real JA". Me: "and what makes you think i've not seen it?"
It is certainly disappointing to be begged, but in general we won't shun those people (unless it is a complete-ass higgler),
we just don't hang around them.