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Post by lemacd on Sept 11, 2017 18:50:21 GMT
  Since I missed last week, I thought we could do a two-fer. Let's talk about Maria as she's leaving the Abbey vs. Maria as she arrives at the villa. The song, "I Have Confidence" describes her thought process and certainly explains the transformation. Is this a pep talk Maria has to give herself often, do you think? She seems pretty confident when she's causing trouble at the Abbey... |
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Post by absurdlittlebird on Sept 12, 2017 3:50:37 GMT
I think this scene highlights Maria's fake it til you make it approach to things, the strength for which she gets from her faith. I don't think she really feels confident by the time she gets to the house, but she's instead too stubborn to let her nerves get the best of her. Also rewatching this scene recently I couldn't help but notice just how heartachingly young she is here. Her appearance yes but just her overall manner. I don't know this for fact but I'd bet a large part of designing this scene was done to show her growth of character. Like compare this to the two other times she arrived at the villa. I mean compare above to this:   To this last time:    The character growth and Maria's maturity by this last scene is astounding. And I think that largely is due to the I have confidence scene, because she is just so completely innocent and young there. I know a lot of it also has to do with the costuming, which was deliberate. But If you watch these three scenes back to back, you can see so much how she changes and matures. |
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Post by lemacd on Sept 12, 2017 4:09:33 GMT
There is some article about the clothing/costumes of TSOM that was so interesting... one of the things they said was that the ugly dress the poor didn't want was really meant to give off a "little child" vibe, suggesting it is very school girl uniform looking... well, here. I found it, read it for yourself, it's really an amazing analysis of the costumes and character development. Film Fashion & Character Development: Maria in The Sound of MusicI agree with what you said about her fake it until you make it way of doing things... though she is not above admitting she knows nothing about being a governess and asks for advice (which was not a good idea but she survived). In some ways, she is fearless and in others, a bit naïve. Interesting, and as you pointed out, her real confidence does shine through after the wedding. The scenes you indicated, when she comes out of the house to meet the children, shows this as well as her chat with Liesl. She's speaking as a mother as well as a confidant, but more importantly as one who now knows the turmoil the heart experiences because of love. |
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Post by absurdlittlebird on Sept 12, 2017 4:23:40 GMT
There is some article about the clothing/costumes of TSOM that was so interesting... one of the things they said was that the ugly dress the poor didn't want was really meant to give off a "little child" vibe, suggesting it is very school girl uniform looking... well, here. I found it, read it for yourself, it's really an amazing analysis of the costumes and character development. Film Fashion & Character Development: Maria in The Sound of MusicI agree with what you said about her fake it until you make it way of doing things... though she is not above admitting she knows nothing about being a governess and asks for advice (which was not a good idea but she survived). In some ways, she is fearless and in others, a bit naïve. Interesting, and as you pointed out, her real confidence does shine through after the wedding. The scenes you indicated, when she comes out of the house to meet the children, shows this as well as her chat with Liesl. She's speaking as a mother as well as a confidant, but more importantly as one who now knows the turmoil the heart experiences because of love. Ohh I love this article! Thanks so much for sharing it  |
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Post by indigoblue on Sept 16, 2017 22:20:45 GMT
There are so many subliminal currents running along in TSOM, most of which we are not consciously aware of, but the way the costumes develop is one way we learn that Maria is learning and maturing as a character. Fascinating article.
From what I have read, Producer Saul Chaplin and Robert Wise weren't happy with the first song that Richard Rogers wrote for this part of the film, so with his permission they rewrote the piece to show more of Maria's ability to bolster herself after her initial lack of confidence leaving the abbey, so that when she arrives she is determined to make a go of her time at the villa. I think it is the only song which RR didn't write.
I must say, it helps you identify with her, the way she shows how she lacks confidence at various points on the journey; maybe the song ought to be called 'I Lack Confidence..!'
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Post by clarinetjamie on Sept 23, 2017 19:47:11 GMT
I agree with the stubbornness. She's so stubborn that she really doesn't give herself any other option but to move forward. She's nervous and not very confident because there is an element of the unknown future. She's been essentially kicked away from the abby and doesn't really have any other choice except to go to the villa. I think she also feels like this a mission project for her especially once she gets there and meets the children and their father.
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Post by augiesannie on Oct 1, 2017 22:56:16 GMT
LOVE this group and this discussion. Agree with all that's been said about her character, and I think it's reinforced by the frantic and somewhat nonsensical lyrics. "When you wake up ... it's healthy?"
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Post by absurdlittlebird on Oct 2, 2017 7:45:36 GMT
LOVE this group and this discussion. Agree with all that's been said about her character, and I think it's reinforced by the frantic and somewhat nonsensical lyrics. "When you wake up ... it's healthy?" I never ever realised that she sung "it's healthy!" What a funny lyric! |
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Post by clarinetjamie on Oct 3, 2017 21:26:02 GMT
A funny lyric yes, but also very much in character for her.
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Post by reverendcaptain on May 30, 2020 16:44:03 GMT
LOVE this group and this discussion. Agree with all that's been said about her character, and I think it's reinforced by the frantic and somewhat nonsensical lyrics. "When you wake up ... it's healthy?" I always thought this line was "When you wake up, wake up, it tells me..all I trust I leave my heart to..." Not that this makes any more sense. The whole song is a little frantic, but I guess that's the point. |
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Post by reverendcaptain on May 30, 2020 16:47:31 GMT
What is Maria thinking in this moment? She looks like a bull ready to charge. She's given herself a pep talk the whole way there, she's seen the house and realized she's not actually confident at all, then her determination returns and she's about ready to charge for the door (and hit that FABULOUS ending note of the song). Is she actually confident? Or is she scared to death? Attachments:
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Post by chezlui on Jun 7, 2020 20:10:27 GMT
Scared to death. But she’s talking herself I to it and grabbing her fear by the horns.
(Also: she’s singing already and has no time to whistle a happy tune, so no one will suspect, she‘s afraid.)
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Post by reverendcaptain on Mar 27, 2023 19:38:17 GMT
I had an absurd thought today as I checked my Ring doorbell app to see who was at my door. I pictured Georg getting a motion detection and checking the doorbell camera on his phone only to see his new governess running up the driveway singing and then practically collapsing on the front steps before Franz opened the door. haha.
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Post by indigoblue on Mar 28, 2023 0:05:53 GMT
If that had happened, M wouldn't have had time to go into the ballroom, so we would have missed out on all that lovely stuff. Thinking about it, that hall scene wouldn't have been nearly so amazing without the ballroom section, it's really gripping!
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