Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999)

Questions

Questions for a Christian Audience 1. So, who needs to step outside for a breath of fresh air? 2. What is the significance of the initial clips? How are they used to frame the film? (if necessary, point out the narrator’s progression: “. . .like to think. . . .”/“I am trying to think. . . .”/”This is not just something that happened. . . please”) 3. In what ways is the film a critique of Hollywood? How is this accomplished technically in the film (i.e. the falling frogs in the reflection of the TV)? What does Hollywood stand for, and, thus, what is ultimately being critiqued? What role does music play in the film? Note that Anderson wrote the script around Aimee Mann’s songs. “It’s not what you thought when you first began it/You got what you want now you can hardly stand it, though./By now you know/It’s not going to stop, it’s not going to stop/it’s not going to stop./’Til you wise up.” 4. What’s the first connection you make between T.J. and his father, Earl? Does that affect the way you view T.J. at all? What is the significance of the rapper? In what way is this scene a critique of the justice system? 5. During the interview, T.J. says, “I am what I believe; I do as I am; I live by these rules as religiously as I preach them.” What do you make of this statement? What’s good and bad about it? As a believer, can you commend a non-believer for this sort of integrity? Where do you go from there? 6. In the bar, Quiz Kid Donnie Smith discusses “real love.” What is real love, and how do you know? Donnie mentions repeatedly that he has much love to give; do you think his intentions are sincere, or is his desire to give really his method of getting? Or is it a bit of both? What is the effect of leading or being led strictly by law? What happens to us without mercy? In light of this, how does the filmmaker present Officer Kurring? What does your answer about law and mercy reveal about your understanding of the way God treats us? 7. Phil says, “I think they have those scenes in the movies because they’re true.” What is the purpose of this line in the film? 8. How does our culture define maculinity? Where do we learn our definitions of masculinity? Do you think we live in a patriarchal society? Is the filmmaker criticizing this aspect of our society? 9. What is it about the reality of Earl’s impending death that changes Linda’s mind about the will? In what way is this the turning point of the film, when we see things falling apart in everyone’s lives? Why is this? 10. What is the connection between Earl’s confession (about leaving his sick wife with T.J.) and T.J.’s lifestyle? When you found this out, did your perception of T.J. change at all? As the entire story unfolds, how do your perceptions about any of the characters change? What does your response mean concerning the importance of listening? What sort of power does regret wield in our lives? Why do we suppress it? In what way does regret spark healing? How do you compare and contrast regret and repentance? 11. On their date, Officer Kurring and Claudia Wilson Gator make a deal to be transparent with each other. What is both good and bad about this? We spend much of our life trying to erect masks; do you think people really want to be known? If so, why do we spend so much effort hiding ourselves from people? At what point in life are we most likely to be ourselves? What happens if, having done this, we’re rejected? Depending on your answer, how does this impact your relationship with God? 12. How is Earl the prime factor, the rubric, in the film? What does Earl represent; how does he tie everyone together? What role does his death play in the sequence of the film? The film repeatedly states, “We may be through with the past, but the past ain’t through with us.” Do you agree? What is the significance of this line, and how do the characters exemplify this? What is the harm in trying to move forward without regard for the past? 13. Near the end of the film, Officer Kurring asks, “What can we forgive?” How would you answer? What does this question have to do with the frogs? How do you understand the frogs (you may want to mention the presence of the numbers 8 and 2 throughout the film, the references to Exodus 8:2)? Inspect your answer in light of the scenes after the frogs, especially in light of the last scene (what is the significance of Claudia’s smile). The exodus was, essentially, about God’s redemption of his people from oppressive systems, unjust paradigms. Do you think Anderson had this in mind as he directed this film? Are there “signs” in our culture that indicate injustice, oppression, and the present or coming judgment of God? What is the Christian’s role in society light of these things? 14. The characters are all dealing with personal sins; is that enough, or does God require more? Depending on your answer, how do you understand the inter- connectedness between the characters? Is faith a private thing? 15. If we take a closer look at what we label coincidence in our lives, do you think we’ll find anything more? What role does coincidence play in our interpretation of the world we live in? What are the effects of labeling our circumstances as mere coincidence? Questions for a Christian and non-Christian Audience 1. So, who needs to step outside for a breath of fresh air? 2. What is the significance of the initial clips? How are they used to frame the film? (if necessary, point out the narrator’s progression: “. . .like to think. . . .”/“I am trying to think. . . .”/”This is not just something that happened. . . please”) 3. In what ways is the film a critique of Hollywood? How is this accomplished technically in the film (i.e. the falling frogs in the reflection of the TV)? What does Hollywood stand for, and, thus, what is ultimately being critiqued? What role does music play in the film? Note that Anderson wrote the script around Aimee Mann’s songs. “It’s not what you thought when you first began it/You got what you want now you can hardly stand it, though./By now you know/It’s not going to stop, it’s not going to stop/it’s not going to stop./’Til you wise up.” 4. What’s the first connection you make between T.J. and his father, Earl? Does that affect the way you view T.J. at all? What is the significance of the rapper? In what way is this scene a critique of the justice system? What is the basis for social justice? 5. During the interview, T.J. says, “I am what I believe; I do as I am; I live by these rules as religiously as I preach them.” What do you make of this statement? What’s good and bad about it? On what basis can you critique that mindset? 6. In the bar, Quiz Kid Donnie Smith discusses “real love.” What is real love, and how do you know? Donnie mentions repeatedly that he has much love to give; do you think his intentions are sincere, or is his desire to give really his method of getting? Or is it a bit of both? What is the effect of leading or being led strictly by law? What happens to us without mercy? In light of this, how does the filmmaker present Officer Kurring? 7. Phil says, “I think they have those scenes in the movies because they’re true.” What is the purpose of this line in the film? 8. How does our culture define maculinity? Where do we learn our definitions of masculinity? Do you think we live in a patriarchal society? Is the filmmaker criticizing this aspect of our society? 9. What is it about the reality of Earl’s impending death that changes Linda’s mind about the will? In what way is this the turning point of the film, when we see things falling apart in everyone’s lives? Why is this? 10. What is the connection between Earl’s confession (about leaving his sick wife with T.J.) and T.J.’s lifestyle? When you found this out, did your perception of T.J. change at all? As the entire story unfolds, how do your perceptions about any of the characters change? What does your response mean concerning the importance of listening? What sort of power does regret wield in our lives? Why do we suppress it? In what way does regret spark healing (i.e. is regret alone enough to change us)? 11. On their date, Officer Kurring and Claudia Wilson Gator make a deal to be transparent with each other. What is both good and bad about this? We spend much of our life trying to erect masks; do you think people really want to be known? If so, why do we spend so much effort hiding ourselves from people? At what point in life are we most likely to be ourselves? What happens if, having done this, we’re rejected? Do you think this impacts the way that people think about God? 12. How is Earl the prime factor, the rubric, in the film? What does Earl represent; how does he tie everyone together? What role does his death play in the sequence of the film? The film repeatedly states, “We may be through with the past, but the past ain’t through with us.” Do you agree? What is the significance of this line, and how do the characters exemplify this? What is the harm in trying to move forward without regard for the past? 13. Near the end of the film, Officer Kurring asks, “What can we forgive?” How would you answer? What does this question have to do with the frogs? How do you understand the frogs (you may want to mention the presence of the numbers 8 and 2 throughout the film, the references to Exodus 8:2)? Inspect your answer in light of the scenes after the frogs, especially in light of the last scene (what is the significance of Claudia’s smile). 14. Do you think Anderson had the biblical exodus (God’s redemption of his people from an oppressive system) in mind as he directed this film? Are there “signs” in our culture that indicate injustice, oppression, and the present or coming judgment of God? 15. The characters are all dealing with personal sins; is that enough? Depending on your answer, how do you understand the inter-connectedness between the characters? Do you understand faith as a personal thing? If we take a closer look at what we label coincidence in our lives, do you think we’ll find anything more? What role does coincidence play in our interpretation of the world we live in? What are the effects of labeling our circumstances as mere coincidence?