The Breakup: A silence crept across Larrys London flat. It broke with a confession. Larry had slept with a woman on his recent trip to New York. Anna, his wife, answered back with a quick word of forgiveness, followed by a vacant stare. Larry knew his marriage hadnt been well, but was still willing to believe that love would redeem what once shined. Anna knew that she was going to leave Larry that night. His admission of infidelity had only made it easier. She couldnt be upset about Larrys fling because shed fallen in love with another man. Shed been with him only hours before, playing out her own martial indiscretions on the living room couch. Still, she felt overcome by guilt. There was inequity in their transgressions, or so he thought. Where Larry had sex, Anna made love. Over the next few minutes, Larry interrogated her about the details of her affair. He wanted to know everything. Was this interloper a better partner? A better lover? Did he kiss her as passionately, hold her as tight, and love her as oft? He demanded explicit answers. Thats what he received. But were happy arent we? Larry tepidly asked. Anna replied with a look, and the answer was no longer in doubt. What Makes It So Brilliantly Devastating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M_P7rSWA4E Closer is a film about relationships that fall apart, and the brutal, deliberate steps their participants take to harm each other. None of the couples intend to harm initially. They only commit to emotionally destroying one another when they feel backed into a corner. It is the type of break-up you cannot come back from. Larrys insistence on knowing every detail of Annas affair is borderline sociopathic. He pushes her to reveal deeply personal information in hopes that she feels guilt like white heat. He doesnt necessarily take pleasure in the act, but indeed feels retribution for exerting control over her one last time. In forcing her to purge every disgusting detail of her affair, Larry cleanses himself of any sympathy or desire for Anna. Relationships built on passive-aggressive emotional abuse are bound to escalate. After taking a few verbal blows, Anna began using her answers to inflict damage back. They cut each other repeatedly, using verbs like knives, with hugs and tears interspersed. Is there any doubt theyll repeat the process?
