For women of certain age and history the storyline of Who You Think I Am can feel uncomfortable. It reminded me of single years when J was little and how I tried to date men under conditions that made a real relationship an impossibility. My reason was that I had to be present for my child as I was the only parent she had and if that presence was impaired in some way by a serious relationship then I would fail at my primary and only job.
Truth is that being alone was hard, I longed for company and love and more. My efforts to deny myself all that did not always serve J well but no one could have talked me out of that entrenched way of thinking about what was right and wrong for my family unit of two. In the movie, the character of Claire is mentally absent while physically present for her sons - it is uncomfortable to watch how that works out for the children.
Even more uncomfortable to know that there were days in my child's early life where my worn out physical presence without mental engagement was not the way to do my parenting job right. I am grateful to have had resolution in my life and for it to have made things much easier for J. The other theme in the movie is one of loss of youth and becoming invisible and replaceable.
I loved the scenes in the railway station where the young man Alex who is completely infatuated by the concept of Clara simply does not see this very attractive but older woman right in front of him. It is as if age gives her invisibility that intelligence, wisdom and even real beauty cannot overcome. This is a reality women of that age know too well but it is makes for an impossible situation when that woman is alone and needs to be visible if she ever hopes to find love and companionship.
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