Anyone see Away We Go? - Page 2

[Mulvah]

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

Originally Posted by sunnmama

The thing is, the Gyllenhaal character is really extreme. I mean, I nurse my 2 yo, wear my babies, and share a family bed with my 2 yo and 8 yo, but I didn't recognize myself in Gyllenhaal's character. For one thing, I have tact and boundaries

Thank you!

[St. Margaret]

That's good to know. It's so hard to tell from previews, even when they give away half the story!

[SlackerDad]

Wow, I'm shocked

With a couple exceptions, hardly anyone posting on this thread seems to have seen the same movie I just did, that was vile and hateful and dripping with contempt for people who attachment parent, use midwives and doulas, etc. To me, it was like blatant misogyny or racism on screen, except toward those of us who parent this way.

I am utterly stunned that (again, with a couple exceptions) posters here have blithely stated they really enjoyed the movie. Huh?!? I mean, yeah: if the Maggie Gyllenhal portion was edited out (or even just the portion starting from when they go upstairs in her house--I don't mind a little mild teasing of "crunchy" AP type parents), I would have liked it too. But those scenes are hateful and unforgivable. People on these forums get (justifiably) outraged when mothers are told not to breastfeed in restaurants and other public places, and they get frustrated with friends and family who tell them to stop spoiling their children, etc. But a representation like this in the media strongly feeds into those negative social norms, and it should be challenged, not shrugged off.

[Poogles0213]

Originally Posted by SlackerDad

With a couple exceptions, hardly anyone posting on this thread seems to have seen the same movie I just did, that was vile and hateful and dripping with contempt for people who attachment parent, use midwives and doulas, etc. To me, it was like blatant misogyny or racism on screen, except toward those of us who parent this way.

I am utterly stunned that (again, with a couple exceptions) posters here have blithely stated they really enjoyed the movie. Huh?!? I mean, yeah: if the Maggie Gyllenhal portion was edited out (or even just the portion starting from when they go upstairs in her house--I don't mind a little mild teasing of "crunchy" AP type parents), I would have liked it too. But those scenes are hateful and unforgivable. People on these forums get (justifiably) outraged when mothers are told not to breastfeed in restaurants and other public places, and they get frustrated with friends and family who tell them to stop spoiling their children, etc. But a representation like this in the media strongly feeds into those negative social norms, and it should be challenged, not shrugged off.

I think a PP poster said it best when they said you have to be able to laugh at yourself/your community. The character was supposed to be an extreme stereotype, not so much in the sense of her practices (although to some this will seem extreme, lol), but in the way she talked to the main characters and had a "crunchier-than-thou" attitude. I totally think the reason the two main characters reacted so much more strongly to the continuum family than the "mainstream" family (which was also an extreme stereotype!) had everything to do with the crunchy mom being condescending and judgemental (ie "*sad face*Do YOU plan on hiding your lovemaking from your children? Do you know what that DOES to a child?") where the "mainstream" family just did what they did and didn't really care what others were doing.

That's how I saw it anyways

[tinyblackdot]

I just posted in the TV forum ( i was redirected here) about the same thing!

Im not all that "crunchy" but i found it kinda offensive to say the least. Even DH (who i have had to fight daily about cruchy decisions) said that even he found it a bit out of line. That it made ppl that did live like that look crazy, or excessive for their decession. Glad i wasnt the only one.

[mata]

watching now-love it!

[dirtyhipegirl]

I'm overseas and just now got to see it. I wished it had been better overall. I had a friend say the crunchy character reminded her of me. I hope people don't really see me like that. At my baby shower last weekend I received a stroller, even after I specifically said I did not want one, I couldn't help but think about that scene from the movie in my head and laugh as I was pretending to be happy about getting it

[phoenix78]

Just watched it - disappointed

I watched it last night after much anticipation and jumpedon the forum search to see what others thought. While I laughed during a few parts and found it relatable to my own life in parts, I join the sentiments of others who were saddened by its treatment of the AP lifestyle. While I certainly think we should be able to laugh at ourselves/our community (DH thought the portrayal was hilarious), because this is a "mainstream" movie, I think it just served to reinforce stereotypes about AP parenting as something only "crazy" people do. I already have to explain myself and my parenting choices to enough people in my life. I can already hear people starting with the "did you see that movie...." when I wear the baby outside in a wrap or talk about my midwife. Although I suppose it is always a good in for a "set the record straight" discussion about AP practices. I do have to say that I LOVED Maggie Gyllenhall's house and interior decor in the movie (did you notice the West elm chairs?)

[terrordactyl]

i loved it i thought all of it was over the top so i didnt take any of it too seriously

[tammylsmith]

I hated this movie with a passion and thought it was just awful in it's mean-spirited treatment of AP (not to mention depressing landscape devoid of any loving family or friend connections that seemed actually meaningful). I thought it would be quirky, thought-provoking and somewhat sweet but funny. It was sweet in parts, and I did laugh in some, but it left me with a very bad feeling at the end. I can take a joke, and thought the stroller part was funny. My dh, whose support of AP is tenuous at best, commented that he worried that "other people" thought of US that way. That underscores why I hated that scene. Mainstream folks already have misinformation and ideas about AP. Do we have to feed vicious, disgustingly sexual stereotypes? I just know that based on the reaction I got, there are those who don't think that character is so far from the "usual" when it comes to AP. This movie did the AP community no favors in my opinion and I'm glad I didn't waste my $$ in the theaters.

[NovemberMom2]

I don't think the movie was criticizing the type of parenting practices the LN character espoused as much as it was commenting on the couple's condescending attitude toward parents who don't share their beliefs. In this sense, I feel the film made a very valid point. If we take our belief systems too far and believe that we are somehow better than, more intelligent than, or more loving than parents who don't share our values and practices (i.e., loving, peaceful parenting), we are guilty of hypocrisy. On the surface, LN and Roderick seemed so peaceful and loving, but they were insensitive and downright rude to the main characters. The peaceful exterior masked a great deal of hostility. I listened to a director's commentary for that scene, and LN and Roderick were described as having reasonable beliefs that they rammed down everyone's throats. So the problem was with their belief that they were right and somehow better than those who didn't buy into their parenting philosophy. An important point, IMO!

[rockycrop]

Just watched this last night, it seemed a little cartoon-y and the "indie rock" soundtrack (and Burt's hair and beard...) totally ruined it for me.
I agree with NovemberMom about the LN character! It wasn't the beliefs themselves that were so bothersome (I admit I cringed in a couple parts and wondered if I ever come off like her), it was her condescending attitude and faux-peacefulness. Although I thought it was odd when our hero couple just stormed off.
My favorite part was the old boss in Phoenix! I thought she was the only good actor in the movie, I totally know people like that.