The Slap is a film that is based on the novel by Christos Tsiolkas. The story is presented from the vantage point of eight characters by highlighting their reactions after an incident in which a man called Harry reprimands his friend’s three year old son Hugo by slapping him in a social event. The slap was motivated by the fact that the child was misbehaving and the parents did not intervene to stop him. Harry is an adulterous businessman and the cousin of the person hosting the barbecue. His son Rocco, who is slightly older than Hugo, is also being threatened by Hugo. Harry’s act stirred a debate in which the characters agonized and argued about whether such an act, against a child can ever be justified. Some characters thought that it was important for a naughty boy to be disciplined. However, others condemned the act and maintained that the police should be involved in investigating the common assault (The Slap). Generally, different people had different views about the issue. This essay seeks insight on the film titled The Slap by exploring what it teaches about people, the society, and mankind, the characters and how they are connected to each other, and how the setting defines these characters.
The movie teaches us that each people will always raise their children differently and each of them will believe that their method of child nurturing is the best. Thus, parents judge their child’s behavior differently. Social events that involve children and parents are a good place for analyzing the different methods of child upbringing and discipline. A parent may feel that somebody’s child is misbehaving. However, the child’s parent may consider that act of bad behavior as normal and may find no reason to discipline them. The movie highlights the importance of the society and how it can break or make you depending on your character. The society will accept and acknowledge when you do that which is considered right by a majority. However, they can turn against you and change your fate completely when you step on their toes through acts that are considered unacceptable such as passing judgement on the behavior of children.
The movie teaches us that mankind will mostly judge you based on your bad side. Also, when the society finds reason for condemning your act, their thoughts do not go beyond you. For a moment, the society forgets that what they do for you may not only affect you but your entire family. That act of discipline from Harry is now regarded as an assault and Garry and Rosie resolve to call the police and take the matter to court. If Harry lands in jail, his entire family which depends on him will pay dearly for the decision since this man does his business so as to provide their basic requirements (The Slap).
Hector is a middle aged man who is having an affair with a teenager named Connie. He spends most of his time assessing his achievements through his work and relationships. Anouk is a woman approaching her middle age who makes a living by writing soap operas. She likes her social life and constantly indulges in drinking and smoking. She has a relationship with a young actor known as Rhys and this leads to pregnancy. Anouk decides to have an abortion since she feels like she still has a lot to do with her socially. He stops writing soap operas and decides to focus on writing a novel. On the other hand, Harry is a busy businessman who has a lot going on in his life. He is not a descent and sympathetic man like he appears to be. He even has a mistress with whom he does a cocaine business (The Slap). These three characters are strangely alike since they both have affairs which they strive to hide from the public eye.
The settings in this movie define and enhance the personalities of the different characters in numerous ways. The setting of the barbecue is a place that encourages people to indulge in alcohol. Thus, the judgement that some people pass on Harry’s act may not have come from a sober mind. Also, some of the communal activities give people the perfect chance to slip away from the crowd and do the unthinkable. The barbecue diverts everyone's attention and gives Hector the perfect chance to see Connie when he is sent to collect some final supplies. Anouk writes soap operas and this gives her the chance to interact with many young writers. This could have fuelled the relationship that he had with one of the young actors known as Rhys. The setting traps them and does not allow them to be who they want to be. At some point, Anouk decides to quit writing soap operas and focus on writing a novel. Garry makes a living as a laborer, even though he desires to be a visual artist (The Slap).
Generally, the film is daring and controversial and centers on the personal relationships within the society. The film brings out the important aspect of child rearing by focusing on the dilemmas and tensions that it brings with it. A child may misbehave, but when individuals with something to rectify the behavior, different reactions come up from the society. Different people have their own ways of bringing up their children and each of them believes that theirs is the right way. The people that make a society also have varied characters. Some may engage in illegal business and some may be trapped into careers that they hate, but still have to do to earn a living.
Work Cited
Tsiolkas, Christos. The Slap. 2015. DVD.
