The Royal Tenenbaums: Richie's Suicide Attempt
The Royal Tenenbaums is a hilarious film due to the odd, yet relatable characters and their dialogue. The storyline follows members of a dysfunctional family that make even my crazy family look sane. One Tenenbaum kid, Richie, falls in love with his adopted sister Margot, which has a comedic affect. Richie's desperation grows and grows throughout the film, but one scene becomes very morbid. It is controversial as to why Anderson included a suicide scene in a comedy, but I think it makes a very powerful statement.
The song "Needle in the Hay" by Elliot Smith sets a melancholic tone during this scene. The lyrics such as "I'm taking the cure so I can be quiet" suggests that the song itself is about suicide, which matches Richie's actions. This is a pivotal moment for Richie's character because he not only goes through a physical change, but also an attitude change. Even though the film starts when the children are young, they are still wearing the same outfits 22 years later. The first time we see Richie not in his usual costume is during this scene. He takes off his sunglasses and headband, and shaves his face and hair. This reveals his character change and shows how he has given up being himself.
Another powerful technique used during this scene was the use of a montage. As blood pours out of Richie's wrists, we see flashes of all the things he loves. We see Mordecai flying away, his mother holding a birthday cake, and most frequently, Margot. The shots of Margot become longer as the montage progresses which reveals how she became more and more important to Richie. This montage makes the scene very realistic because it has been said that as one dies, their life flashes before their eyes.
Overall, I thought Richie's suicide scene was very powerful and effective. Since it was in a comedic film, it made it stand out even more. Do you think that this scene took away from the comedic aspect of the film, or do you think it belongs in the film?
I completely agree with you about how this scene belonged in the movie because it was very powerful like you said. I don't think that it took away from the movie being so funny and very comedic because it showed how he was really feeling on the inside. It wasn't giving us a fake representation of who Richie is trying to be. It shows who Richie really is and whats bothering him. It also adds a bit of tragic comedy I believe because everything that he wants to die for ends up going back to Margot which is a little confusing and gross. Richie is in love with his step sister Margot, and even though they're not blood related they grew up together. Overall I don't believe that it takes away from the comedic affect of the movie.
ReplyDelete