I was shocked at the scene showing Henry injecting the morphine, he had seemed like he was sort of holding it together up to that point.
Agreed, although I suppose this scene was important in that it doesn't make it such a leap to understand later on why he offers to write prescriptions for Moses. He's obviously been doing it for his wife for some time, and self-medicating must have been the next logical step in an attempt to not fall apart.
yep, to me it was more about Moses than Milla. I was captivated by him - and by the way Toby Wallace played him. He was torn between his addiction and his growing feelings for Milla. Initially I don’t think he loved in in a romantic sense but I think by the end he was falling for her. I loved the night out/party sequence- of them holding hands on the train and her dancing and putting on the lipstick in the pharmacy- the way he was looking at her - it was just beautiful. the way the party scene was set up was great with the music and the lights, and then Moses looking out for her and getting her out of the party - the hint of jealousy when he saw her dancing with the other guy.
Definitely! Toby really deserves more praise for this role than he's received. I found it nuanced - especially like you say, the way he looks at Milla and you realise that's the point where things could get messier than they already are. It's the point where he realises she's far more than easy access to drugs and even though he leaves her on the rooftop, him sobbing and breaking down when her dad comes to find him afterwards demonstrates his feelings have grown, because he was terrified that she had died.
The party scene was just beautiful - the way the firework projections flit across her face and how it was timed to the music... And speaking of music, I love the soundtrack. Every piece was just perfect for the scene. The bit where they're walking through the subway station together and their movements are almost synced, because they're in an easy rhythm with each other by then. And the colour co-ordinated outfits was a nice touch!
Agree. I personally didn’t feel it needed the loss of the tooth scene at all. I found the suffocation scene quite hard to watch, and more so how if it had been successful how that would have impacted on Moses for the rest of his life.
That would have been hard to watch in any context but definitely so here. I hated the fact that Moses picked up the pillow so readily - it did make me wonder whether he did that because it was (supposed to be) an act of love, or if he really was nothing more than a no-good junkie who was actually capable of that. I want to believe the former rather than the latter, because I do think that Moses is an inherently good person, in spite of his addiction. His questionable behaviour and previous crimes were all as a result of needing to feed that addiction.
I’m glad the sex scene between them wasn’t explicit and was more implied. It felt very much like Moses saying goodbye to her, and allowing her to experience something that she wouldn’t have lived long enough to do so within a more appropriate relationship.
I hadn't considered this, but agree 100%. Until this point, their affection was intimate and tender but never (in my opinion) sexual, I don't recall even seeing a kiss before this. Their hugs, arms around each other, play fighting... I think it was about comfort for them both more than anything, and I think having sex was about that too, rather than true desire.
I think she passed away in her sleep. I think the scene where she gets up in the early hours of the morning and looks up at the birds in the tree was symbolic to show her transition from life to death. I don’t think Moses killed her, I think she knew she was going to die soon and after the suffocation attempt & the sex with Moses that was probably enough for her body to take.
This makes perfect sense. It was a bit shocking to hear Milla ask that of him, because aside from losing her hair, we really have no idea how sick she actually is - the focus of the film is on the way the four of them are trying to cope with the situation, and her condition and treatment are only touched upon. Having the beach scene appear at the correct point in the timeline might have set this scene up a little better, but then it wouldn't have had a fraction of the emotional impact that it does. We wouldn't realise that she was saying her goodbyes to her dad without knowing that she was already dead.
I think there definitely should have been a scene or two to explain why Issac was allowed to see Moses. When we had seen Issac and Moses and their Mother earlier in the film there was no way she was going to allow any contact so I do feel they should have shown how that was resolved, I think that would have been important to let the audience see.
Like I said, this is pretty much my only niggle with the film. Either give the other characters the development they deserve, or cut them out altogether. Of all the events in the film, I felt like this was the only implausability. Even in comparison to the parents of a dying child inviting an older, drug-addicted love interest to come and live with them!
