Still Image Analysis

This scene embodies the struggles of Jim, Judy, and Plato. All three characters are presented in a dark, dilapidated mansion. The condition of the house and the darkness of the setting represent how each of them is lost in their dysfunctional lives. Continuing with this notion, we see Plato holding a candelabra that has three burning candles. Each flame represents a character trying to find their way through life. Their lives are rife with teenage drama and family conflict. The length of the candles symbolizes their lives. The burning candles represent the gradual but inevitable transition to adulthood. At the same time, the candles also symbolize the fragility of life. Towards the end of the film Plato is shot and killed, his candle blown out. Their struggles with the transition are evident in the roles each of them takes on: Jim and Judy a newlywed couple and Plato a real estate agent. They take on these personas as a way to cope with the expectations of adulthood.  They also express their family tensions through roleplaying. In the following scene, they head to an empty pool Plato calls a nursery. They mention how annoying crying children are and that it is best to stow them away. The dialogue suggests they believe that their parents do not love them. This is understandable considering that Plato’s parents are absent, Judy’s father does not reciprocate affection, and Jim’s submissive father fails to be supportive when his mother rebukes him. Their positioning reveals similar symbolism. Plato is hidden in the shadows and Judy’s face is not visible. Jim, on the contrary, is centered and illuminated. This symbolizes his importance to them as a father figure. He is genuine and kind and is always there for them. In a similar sense, Judy is positioned above both Jim and Plato, acting as a maternal figure. This is evident in a later scene where Jim’s head is nestled in her lap while she sings Plato to sleep. Plato, being the most troubled, looks up to both of them as his parents. His attachment to them is clear when he later finds himself alone with the gang in the garden, calling out to Jim and Judy for help. Also in this scene, all three of them are wearing coats. The coats act as barriers to the world around them and hide their insecurities. Although this still image appears to be insignificant at first, upon deeper analysis it is rich with insight into the complexity of their characters.