Daily Dialogue — June 16, 2015

Martin and ancient Sister Hildegard are arguing as Philomena enters the room.

Philomena: Stop, stop! I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bring him in here like this to make a scene.
Martin: Why are you apologizing? Anthony was dying of AIDS, and she still wouldn’t tell him about you.
Philomena: It happened to me, not you. It’s up to me what I do about it, it’s my choice.
Martin: So, what, you’re just going to do nothing?
Philomena: No. (beat) Sister Hildegard, I want you to know that I forgive you.
Martin: What, just like that?
Philomena: Not just like that, that’s hard, that’s hard for me. But I don’t want to hate people. I don’t want to be like you. Look at you.
Martin: I’m angry!
Philomena: It must be exhausting… Sister Claire, I wonder, would you be so kind as to take me to my son’s grave?

Philomena exits with Sister Claire. Martin exits, and then turns.

Martin: Well, I couldn’t forgive you.

— Philomena (2013), screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, book by Martin Sixsmith

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Wisdom. Today’s suggestion by Melinda Mahaffey.

Trivia: In the United States, the MPAA gave the film an ‘R’ rating for ambiguous usage of the “F-word” (usually, only one non-sexual utterance of the word is permitted for ‘PG-13’). A lengthy appeals process ensued, with producer Harvey Weinstein and actor/writer Steve Coogan testifying at the hearings in Los Angeles. The Weinstein Company won their appeal for ‘PG-13’ on November 13, 2013, nearly a week before the film’s scheduled theatrical release.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Melinda: “Both Martin and Philomena are in turmoil at the beginning of the movie — his career is in shambles, she’s looking for her long-lost son. She’s been a bit ditzy throughout the film, going on about her romance novels and whatnot, and had her religious faith shaken, and this scene at the end so quietly and powerful demonstrates how far she’s come. And how far, at this point, Martin hasn’t. Great bit of wisdom.”