Post by jmelbourne1 on Aug 2, 2017 15:51:23 GMT
Hello I have tried to find a discussion on what I consider to be some major challenges in the plot when it comes to showing aspects in the behaviour of some of the characters in film version of West Side Story, namely Anita (Maria's friend) Maria and Bernardo (Maria's brother). [Edited]
Everyone I know will try to defend the idea that we are expected to root for a character like Maria, and agree that she can be with whom she pleases,
but I particularly find hard to swallow the fact that Anita is won over by Maria's heartfelt love for tony ("I Have A Love") (and agrees to let Maria be with him), when she remembers she felt the same way about Bernardo. Just one song and Anita is all: “ok you can date that Tony but I think I should tell Maria that Chino is trying to kill Tony so my daughter can risk her life attempting to alert him”.
Remember that at this point Anita has returned to the flat and entered Maria’s room where she has seen Tony run away, and, it would not hard to imagine that she suspects Maria could try and run away with Tony, I would expect Maria's mother to think about:
1. Maria with a runaway, away from her mother’s protection.
2. Anita knows that Chino is searching for Tony with a gun trying to kill him after being informed of Chino intentions by Anybodys. What could happen if Maria is around Tony and he is assaulted?. Why would her more mature friendr allow for this teenage girl to risk her life trying to alert Tony, What does Anita actually tell Maria she should do, something on the lines of: “Maria, since you’re going to be holding hands with Tony in the coming weeks, if you hear gunshots, please duck down darling, because those shots will probably be heading your way!” (to kill Tony who will be beside her) ;-).
Anita's advice to Maria!
Is it not just simply sensible to expect Anita will try to protect Maria from that real danger and
3. Since Maria will not realise being around Tony is a dangerous situation: (i.e. the fact a large group of violent thugs will seek revenge and even if one gets arrested, someone else will take his place to carry out the revenge), this would probably mean that in a real world situation Anita just simply stops listening to Maria’s naïve mirage of normality and could try to make arrangements for Maria to be taken away from this environment of violence where she could not find Tony, so she would probably phone someone (old friend, couple etc.) to look after Maria until after the situation has calmed down and arrests are made.
When calling those friends, Anita’s desperate plea could sound as compelling as follows,
Maria's brother has been murdered. Maria is in danger too. She is trying to run away with the guy who killed her brother, because she is infatuated with him. A gang of violent criminals is seeking to shoot him in revenge and she could die in the attack as she is with him all the time! I have already lost my son who was the world for me. I simply do not know if I could cope with the loss of my Maria too!
I just cannot help to think that if Anita reacted like this, in the film I could really sympathise with this character.
Preventing Maria risking her life when by alerting Tony, instead of encouraging it, would actually show how she actually cares about her safety.
Maybe expecting point 3 is a bit too much to expect from a friend but I feel horrified by Anita actually encouraging Maria to put herself in danger!
Everyone I know will try to defend the idea that we are expected to root for a character like Maria, and agree that she can be with whom she pleases,
but I particularly find hard to swallow the fact that Anita is won over by Maria's heartfelt love for tony ("I Have A Love") (and agrees to let Maria be with him), when she remembers she felt the same way about Bernardo. Just one song and Anita is all: “ok you can date that Tony but I think I should tell Maria that Chino is trying to kill Tony so my daughter can risk her life attempting to alert him”.
Remember that at this point Anita has returned to the flat and entered Maria’s room where she has seen Tony run away, and, it would not hard to imagine that she suspects Maria could try and run away with Tony, I would expect Maria's mother to think about:
1. Maria with a runaway, away from her mother’s protection.
2. Anita knows that Chino is searching for Tony with a gun trying to kill him after being informed of Chino intentions by Anybodys. What could happen if Maria is around Tony and he is assaulted?. Why would her more mature friendr allow for this teenage girl to risk her life trying to alert Tony, What does Anita actually tell Maria she should do, something on the lines of: “Maria, since you’re going to be holding hands with Tony in the coming weeks, if you hear gunshots, please duck down darling, because those shots will probably be heading your way!” (to kill Tony who will be beside her) ;-).
Anita's advice to Maria!
Is it not just simply sensible to expect Anita will try to protect Maria from that real danger and
3. Since Maria will not realise being around Tony is a dangerous situation: (i.e. the fact a large group of violent thugs will seek revenge and even if one gets arrested, someone else will take his place to carry out the revenge), this would probably mean that in a real world situation Anita just simply stops listening to Maria’s naïve mirage of normality and could try to make arrangements for Maria to be taken away from this environment of violence where she could not find Tony, so she would probably phone someone (old friend, couple etc.) to look after Maria until after the situation has calmed down and arrests are made.
When calling those friends, Anita’s desperate plea could sound as compelling as follows,
Maria's brother has been murdered. Maria is in danger too. She is trying to run away with the guy who killed her brother, because she is infatuated with him. A gang of violent criminals is seeking to shoot him in revenge and she could die in the attack as she is with him all the time! I have already lost my son who was the world for me. I simply do not know if I could cope with the loss of my Maria too!
I just cannot help to think that if Anita reacted like this, in the film I could really sympathise with this character.
Preventing Maria risking her life when by alerting Tony, instead of encouraging it, would actually show how she actually cares about her safety.
Maybe expecting point 3 is a bit too much to expect from a friend but I feel horrified by Anita actually encouraging Maria to put herself in danger!
....