Kimberly Mendoza66 said:At the very least, this is a film defined by a question mark. It leaves so much unsaid, which I suppose is baked right into the title itself. The unspoken truth here is that the protagonist is haunted by something from his childhood—something that refuses to stay in the past and continues to bleed into his adult life. If you ask me, the root of all these traumas is Brandon himself; he’s a sexual addict, and that’s a heavy diagnosis to carry. When Nevolko lets Sissy move in, it feels less like hospitality and more like a sense of obligation—as if he simply owes her that much. As for the underlying incestuous undertones between them, you don't really need to spell it out; their casual nudity suggests a physical intimacy that clearly existed before. I don't think anyone forced their hand; it feels more like Brandon was the one who initiated things with his younger sister. That's what’s destroying him. He fled to New York to escape it, he carries the shame of it, he avoids Sissy’s calls, and he breaks down whenever she starts singing New York, New York. But he just can't help himself. Let's be honest: he's deeply unwell. His drive is so primal that he could probably find gratification in anything, and that one gay scene doesn't change the fact that he isn't necessarily gay or bisexual—his libido is just pure, raw mechanics, devoid of actual emotion. That explains why his budding relationship with Marianne fails to stir him. On the flip side, you have to wonder why Sissy would repeatedly attempt to take her own life, judging by the scars on her arm. Why does she go back to live with her brother? Does she feel she has no other choice, or is it pity? Is she forgiving him? Is she trying to save him? Their closeness feels far too intense for a typical sibling bond, and I almost get the impression that Sissy is the one constantly pursuing him. I don't know, but regardless, the lead actor delivers an absolutely brilliant performance! This is definitely a film worth watching a second time 🙂
I'm with you on everything—especially about Sissy hitting on him. In those scenes where he walks into the bathroom while she's showering, or when she climbs into his bed... I got that exact same vibe. She's pushing him, and he's clearly enjoying it even while he's fighting himself. He's caught in this loop of loving it and hating himself for loving it at the same time. 😁
The movie was okay, but the ambiguity bugged me a bit. Reading the synopsis didn't really grab me, but I watched it because I love Carey Mulligan and Michael Fassbender.
That restaurant scene was the highlight for me—just a classic, super awkward first date 😁 I think anyone can relate to that scene.
As for the part where he couldn't get it up with her—I took that to mean he's become so used to sleeping with strangers that actually liking her was what threw him off.
