Talk:The Sweet Hereafter (novel)

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Ok, so why did she lie?

why she lied
This post seems to conclude that she lied as a means of revenge against her father for having a incestious relationship with her. However, I don't agree. As wrong as it might be, Nicole was a willing participent in that relationship, and never appeared victimized by it. What did change though, was the way her father treated her after the accident. She makes the comment that she's a wheel chair girl now, and not the up and coming pretty musician they both thought she'd be. I think she was hurt more by the loss of her relationship with her father, and i'm not talking the sexual relationhip, but as friends and partners in her potential music career. Along with the use of her legs she lost a friend and a lover.

As for why she lied, i think it could be partly be due to the hurt of losing her relationship with her father. However, it was clear that her father wanted to profit from her injury... i think she recognized that and the fact that the town was being torn apart by this lawyer and the lawsuit... and in a moment of clarity she realized this and put an end to it.

The fact that all these things are open to interpretation is what made me love the movie. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WHY SHE LIED 2 Im not sure what the movie said, I did not watch it, but in the book she most certainly was not a willing participant in the relationship. She often times stated how places alone with her father were unsafe places. At one point after the accident when she gained control over her father by holding the secret over him, after she lied about Dolores, she looked at her father and realized hed never smile again and she was happy. I think in a way the accident freed her. It made it so her father didnt abuse her anymore, and they could be a family. I believe she lied, not only to get back at her father, but also for many other reasons. Some were selfish, so she could have control and get away with it, some were moral, she realized it was wrong to place blame and no one wanted what happened to happen, and some were model, with Billy comming by, a person she looked up to so much, stating how wrong he thought the lawsuits were and how much they hurt him. However, getting back at her father most certainly was a reason among many, and she morned the loss of her family and father, but not the loss of a friend and a lover, that is just rediculous. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Restlessroots (talk • contribs) 01:59, 18 November 2008 (UTC)

The Sweet Hereafter was a very gripping, very disturbing movie. I agree that the girl lied as revenge against her father's sexual abuse and his shallowness in pursuing the case out of greed. This movie has stayed with me for many years. I think I remember it so well because it was so traumatic--many details still stick and play back in my mind. I would recommend it to people interested in exploring multiple moral perspectives and the ways that different people respond to traumatic events. I would not recommend it to anyone wanting to enjoy a relaxing night watching a movie. For more intense, and very unusual, family sagas, that speaks volumes about the human psyche, watch Atom Egoyan's other movies. They are amazing.Denverbabushka (talk) 23:58, 6 January 2010 (UTC)