A question about a relationship in the movie "My Beautiful Laundrette"
May 16, 2005 7:25 PM Subscribe
After watching "My Beautiful Laundrette" for the hundredth time - I had a question about one of the relationships in the movie.
I have always wondered about the nature of the relationship between Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his former friend / gang member Genghis. I get the impression that perhaps they were romantically involved and that part of Genghis' anger at Johnny leaving the gang is that Johnny dumped him for Omar. Am I just reading way too much into that fight scene between them in front of the laundrette?
I have always wondered about the nature of the relationship between Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his former friend / gang member Genghis. I get the impression that perhaps they were romantically involved and that part of Genghis' anger at Johnny leaving the gang is that Johnny dumped him for Omar. Am I just reading way too much into that fight scene between them in front of the laundrette?
I first rented the film after finding it in the Gay/Lesbian section at a local video rental store. Netflix also has it listed in their G/L Drama & G/L Romance genres( http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=60010689&trkid=181026 ).
Good film, and you're not reading too much into it.
posted by nenequesadilla at 10:59 PM on May 16, 2005
Good film, and you're not reading too much into it.
posted by nenequesadilla at 10:59 PM on May 16, 2005
I didn't get that impression about Genghis and Johnny, more of a sense of anger from Genghis that he was leaving the "family" of their gang. But I saw it several years ago. Your question makes me want to see it again, though, keeping an eye open for that possibility.
posted by PY at 11:06 PM on May 16, 2005
posted by PY at 11:06 PM on May 16, 2005
I didn't find the tension as specifically-motivated as you did, but I don't think you're too far off the mark. Hey, betrayal/loyalty is a complicated enough issue without throwing sex in there as well.
For the record, I had put it down to a combination of the aforementioned "leaving the family, let alone for one of *them*" issue, and the "[insert gay slur here] vs. what do you mean, you find him hot and not me!" problem.
posted by desuetude at 6:25 AM on May 17, 2005
For the record, I had put it down to a combination of the aforementioned "leaving the family, let alone for one of *them*" issue, and the "[insert gay slur here] vs. what do you mean, you find him hot and not me!" problem.
posted by desuetude at 6:25 AM on May 17, 2005
Response by poster: yes, I guess I should have opted for the vaguer "Sexual Tension" between the characters rather than full on ex-lovers. Thanks for the points of view.
nenequesadilla - I caught parts of it at various times on cable years ago and then watched it every other time I could, then I just caved and bought it on DVD last year, so I could watch Johnny and Omo whenever I wanted. It is one of my favorite movies.
posted by Julnyes at 6:34 AM on May 17, 2005
nenequesadilla - I caught parts of it at various times on cable years ago and then watched it every other time I could, then I just caved and bought it on DVD last year, so I could watch Johnny and Omo whenever I wanted. It is one of my favorite movies.
posted by Julnyes at 6:34 AM on May 17, 2005
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Sorry my answer wasn't much help!
posted by elisabeth r at 8:30 PM on May 16, 2005