Finding the Silver Lining

        Silver Linings Playbook is a layered and complex film, which is why it is one of my all-time favorite movies. Released in 2012, the movie was an instant box office sensation. The movie is premised around Pat, a former high-school teacher, who suffers from severe mental illness. Pat is what most would refer to as a “lost soul”, until he meets Tiffany. Tiffany was recently widowed and also seems to be suffering from mental illness; however, these two individuals find friendship and love with one other in this nontraditional love story.

 

            There are two primary female characters in the movie. Tiffany, the female lead, and Dolores, Pat’s mother, who plays a supporting role. These two women are distinct in their personalities, interactions with others and manner of dress.

            Tiffany is a different type of women than we typically see in films. She is a dynamic and complex; however, Tiffany can be viewed as somewhat promiscuous. For example, when meeting Pat, she openly mentions having various sexual partners, including other women. Tiffany is honest and upfront about her sexuality. Her upfront regard to her sexuality is reflected in the way she dresses and her conversations with Pat. Her type of clothing is edgy and typically shows some amount of skin; however, it is difficult to peg Tiffany as the stereotypical “slut.” As we find out more about her character, the audience is able to unveil her other personality traits, aside from her sexuality. Analyzing Tiffany at a distance, her character seems difficult to relate to, but after looking at her character, her personality seems “normal.” She has internal demons that she struggles with, like her mental health, which affects her relationships with other. But, don’t all women have internal battles that affect our relationships? Personally, I take Tiffany for a woman trying to find herself and her own identity.  

           

            Dolores is the other supporting female role. Her character plays the stereotypical homemaker. For example, throughout the film, Dolores is urging her husband and Pat to eat the food she has carefully prepared. She dresses modestly, like a typical housewife at her age would dress. Her most endearing characteristic is that she tries desperately to keep her family intact, even though Pat is causing havoc within their family unit. It is evident that Dolores wants everything to appear normal from the outside, even though her family is having a difficult time. Even though Dolores is a static character, she is normal because she is what one would typically think of when picturing a middle-aged housewife. 

 

           

Surprisingly, this film passes the Bechdel Test. Tiffany and her sister Veronica, a minor character, have an in-depth conversation about life, in general terms, and fail to mention Pat. This conversation allows the film to “pass.” When initially re-watching this movie, I forgot about this conversation between Tiffany and her sister, so I assumed that like most blockbuster hits, it would not pass. I assumed this because the film is different variation of a story of love, with the main focus being Pat. 

While this film does pass the Bechdel Test, many hits fail to do so. My hope is that one day filmmakers and writers can illustrate women as complex beings. Maybe then they we will find the “Silver Lining.”