Rodrigo Garcia’s Mexican interconnected anthology film The Follies is centered around a handful of women whose agitation and hot-tempered reactions were immediately judged by those around them, but the reasons behind their agony and suffering were ignored and hushed up. One of the central figures who connects all the characters in the film is Renata, a woman who was under house arrest. According to her father, this was the ‘worst episode’ she’d had so far in life, and although Renata was told she was bipolar, she didn’t think that was the right diagnosis. She felt too many things, had too many thoughts, and spoke a little too much, but she believed that wasn’t reason enough to be bipolar. This was not the first time she had an episode, and she believed it too would pass. Renata’s reaction, or ‘episode,’ wasn’t just something that happened at random; the trigger is the most crucial element here, and when we discover it, we realize that as a society, collectively, our focus is always on silencing the ‘odd’ and pretending as if everything is alright.
Spoiler Alert
Why did Penelope break down?
Renata enjoyed being a discomforting spectacle for the passersby. She amused herself by making sexual noises, prancing like a monkey, or even acting as if she was abducted. He wanted to see the reaction of the passersby, and she enjoyed the discomfort she brought them. Penelope was with Aurelio, her work partner and romantic interest, when she saw Renata begging them to rescue her. They soon discovered that Renata wasn’t a hostage, and all she really wanted was a phone to contact someone. She used Penelope’s phone to make a call and tried to sneakily keep it, but of course, Penelope figured out her trick. Although Penelope continued with her day, she couldn’t forget a statement that Renata made when she discovered that Penelope and Aurelio were veterinarians who specialized in euthanasia. Since Penelope had mentioned that she was afraid of dying, Renata had stated that maybe she chose her line of work to manage her fear of death because it helped her maintain a sense of control. Was that really the reason why she did what she did? Penelope repeatedly thought about it. They arrived at their client’s apartment; their dog was thirteen and had been diagnosed with bone cancer a year ago. The couple had decided to put him down to end his suffering. The woman chose to stay in her room, while the man stepped out with their dog and asked Penelope and Aurelio to continue with the procedure. Aurelio emphasized that it was important that they both consent to the procedure, and eventually the woman stepped out and held her dog close to her heart. After an emotional farewell speech, Penelope pushed the sedative through the dog’s vein. When Penelope was ready to inject the final dose, she froze when she discovered that the dog’s name was Penelope. It was a routine procedure, yet when she heard her name, she found it impossible to not get emotional. Suddenly, she started to care; she possibly wondered if she would’ve wanted to be drugged and killed if she was sick or just at the sheer thought of being completely helpless like the little dog who didn’t realize that someone had already chosen between painful existence and peaceful death for him. Perhaps what struck Penelope the most was how indifferent the dog parents were. Soon after the grueling process of having to part ways with their companion of thirteen years, the couple dressed up and were ready to attend the carnival. They wore elaborate costumes and masks, as if nothing really had happened. Penelope was afraid that her death too might be just as insignificant; her loved ones will overcome her absence perhaps sooner than she would want. She was petrified of the thought of not having control over her death or how those around her would react in her absence. Aurelio thought she was overreacting and that she must have some control over her emotions. He advised her to move on, but Penelope thought that was just an extremely heartless thing to say, especially when she was experiencing a lot of emotions. The fact that Penelope felt strongly about things way more than he did made Aurelio wonder if she thrived on crisis. But for Penelope it wasn’t as simple—she couldn’t turn off her feelings when she wished to, and she feared that just because she felt too much, men like Aurelio would consider her weak. For Aurelio, Penelope was too invested in her emotions, in the grief and darkness, while for Penelope, he was too level-headed to understand her emotional turmoil. Frustrated, Penelope stepped outside in the rain; Aurelio watched from inside the building and begged her to forgive him. The lovers felt passionate for each other, but at the same time, they were divided by the way they experienced the world around them. Aurelio would never manage to completely grasp what was going on in Penelope’s mind and heart, and that was the tragedy of their love story.
How was Miranda related to Renata?
Miranda, a middle-aged woman, voiced her disapproval when her mother stated that she wanted a divorce from her husband and complained about his lack of sex drive. When her mother asked her if her marriage was alright, she lied. Her decision to self-censor in the presence of her mother, who perhaps was just done pleasing the world, unlike her daughter. Miranda wasn’t yet ready to face the prejudice that she knew she would be subjected to if those around her discovered that she was having an affair with a woman. It had only been ten days since Miranda crossed paths with Renata, yet she couldn’t keep her mind off her (she was the wife of Renata’s boss). There was something so enchanting and addictive about being in her presence that she couldn’t say no when Renata called her and asked her to stop by her house. Her mother just had a cataract operation, and she needed to be home, but Miranda prioritized quenching her sexual thirst. Miranda watched a man steal her mother’s purse while she fell asleep in the car, she also figured that her driver would ask for some more extra since it was already more than his work hours, but none of it mattered. Her urgency to just reunite with Renata and make love was so maddening and intoxicating that she had no choice but to surrender to her libido and just ignore everything else.
How did Irlanda deal with the ‘crisis’?
Irlanda was Renata’s psychiatrist, and she was tasked with determining if her client was stable or not. If she decided Renata was doing alright, she would have to face trial, and if she diagnosed her as bipolar, then Renata would face minimum charges, but she would have to take her prescribed medication. None of the options was favorable for Renata. She was pregnant, and she couldn’t afford to either be in prison or have her senses dulled by the medication. She believed that either way, the system was built to punish her.
Irlanda had been dealing with her own set of troubles. It was her late father’s birthday, and she was invited by her mother to join the family to celebrate the day. Evidently, Irlanda was the black sheep of the family. Why? Because she never minced her words or tried to fit in at the cost of her mental well-being. Irlanda’s sister, Galicia, was quite hostile when Irlanda showed up; we later discover that Galicia and Irlanda’s ex-husband had a brief affair that Irlanda had found out about. Although her mother welcomed her with open arms, we soon find out that she had an agenda. Irlanda was furious when she was told that they’d invited Facunda. She couldn’t believe that after everything she’d been through, her mother thought it was okay to call him in the hopes that Irlanda would forgive him. Facunda was an alcoholic, violent man who’d tortured, punished, and assaulted Irlanda for over eleven years. He’d cheated on her with every other woman who remotely showed interest in him; the list included a minor as well. Irlanda couldn’t believe that her mother expected her to forgive the man just because they had exchanged vows before God. Irlanda declared that there was no God, and she refused to forgive the man who’d turned her life into hell just because he’d finally decided to be sober. Irlanda was called ‘arrogant’ and ‘stubborn’ when she chose to be the ‘disobedient daughter.’ Her mother was a self-righteous woman whose patriarchal mindset ran so deep that she couldn’t even sit back and reflect on her actions. She insulted her daughter, called her unworthy of love, bitter, and selfish, and didn’t hesitate to state that even her father didn’t love her and he only pretended. Her mother thought she’d done a favor by inviting Irlanda and encouraging her to listen to Facunda. Irlanda walked up to the kitchen, chugged on two beer cans, and walked out into the dining area. She grabbed hold of a cloth and took a slice of the birthday cake. Before leaving, she announced that Galicia’s husband, Homero, was gay and he was sleeping with Oscar, Italia’s (one of the three sisters) husband. She casually pulled the tablecloth and destroyed the gala lunch that the family had prepared. Her family tried to shame her, but she refused to bow down. Protecting one’s dignity, honor, and sanity wasn’t selfish, albeit it was the most challenging thing to do considering the decision often requires going against society/family and the patriarchal machinery as a whole, and that can never be easy. It’s an isolating experience that can result in severe depression and self-doubt, yet it’s the only path towards self-preservation. Irlanda’s family desperately wanted to pretend that their lives and relationships were perfect, whereas in reality, they were hiding dark secrets because they were too afraid to disappoint. Before she left, Irlanda made sure that her family didn’t get to spend a joyous afternoon at the cost of her dignity; she also ensured that they were left with a bunch of uncomfortable truths that they would either collectively choose to ignore and continue with their lives as usual or that could probably break the family completely.
What made Soledad feel uncomfortable?
Renata’s sister, Soledad, was an actor who’d recently enrolled in a workshop, and the experience had been enriching so far. Soledad didn’t share a warm relationship with Renata because sometimes she found her sister’s expressions too direct and bitter to put up with. After she left Renata’s house, she went to the workshop, and she noticed a new student. She was immediately attracted to him, but she also found him difficult to comprehend. During one of their sessions when the students pretended to be animals, the guy hopped towards Soledad and bit her in the crotch. The act caught Soledad offguard and she thought it was important to raise a complaint. Her mentor, Martina, didn’t seem bothered; she believed his action was spontaneous and exactly what the workshop was supposed to be about. She reminded Soledad that they were meant to imitate all of life’s unexpected situations. Soledad also discovered that he was a student at Juilliard. She finally came to the conclusion that she perhaps overreacted, so when Martina called her and Valentin for a joint impromptu act, she didn’t step back. They both had masks that helped them get in character. Soledad chose to be a sexually starved, pompous man who had taken an interest in Valentin’s submissive character. But things escalated into a mortifying situation that Soledad had no choice but to run away from. The characters had sexual tension between them, and Soledad preferred being the dominant one, but then Valentin’s character took control and pinned her to the ground and thrust his body against her. Soledad couldn’t believe that even her friend, Amaranta, thought she was overreacting and that Valentin was actually talented. Soledad decided to have a word with Martina again. She thought she was being targeted and that Valentin had behaved inappropriately with her. Martina reminded her that she and Valentin had constructed that reality and he simply followed his instincts during the act. When she repeatedly asked Soledad what she felt when she was pinned to the ground, she stated that she felt as if she would lose control over her body and she feared that she would enjoy being dominated. Soledad asked Martina why she’d paired Valentin with her, and she replied that Valentin saw potential in her. On her way home, when she boarded the underground train, she noticed Valentin. He was just about to enter, but the gates closed. They simply waved before the train left the station. In the crowded metro, Soledad was surrounded by men, and she felt a hand creeping onto her body. She screamed out in protest, which explains why Soledad reacted the way she did. Her everyday experience with men involved being groped and assaulted, and the thought of her losing control of her body was terrifying for her. Although I’m not an actor, thrusting or humping a fellow co-actor in the garb of practice or an impromptu act felt extreme and revolting. It’s surprising how such behavior is normalized, and one is taught to not be defensive about it just because the actor was trained at an established institute. For an actor it’s important to immerse themselves in their character? But to what extent? Can one truly detach their feelings, especially considering the situation Soledad was in? Isn’t that the whole reason why we have intimacy coordinators these days? I interpreted the ending as Soledad finally releasing her repressed anger and frustration in the crowded train. There is a sense of duality in her reaction, on one hand she chose to be cordial with Valentin in the end because she wanted to believe he was just a brilliant actor who stayed true to the idea of method acting but there was a part of her that knew she was violated yet she didn’t know how to deal with it and that contributed in the final outburst.
Why was Renata under house arrest?
During The Follies’ ending, Renata was locked in her room when she heard Alba’s (her father’s lover) client enter their house. Serena had come for a tarot reading session, and she thought she’d left her earrings in the washroom. She was disappointed when she didn’t find them, and she settled for the cup of coffee that Alba offered to make. Serena showed interest in buying Ismael’s ancestral house. She had her own brokerage firm; for her recreation, she bought old properties and worked on them. It was her way of keeping herself busy. She was keen on checking the living room where Renata was staying, so Ismael hurried to tidy up the place. Perhaps Serena was also curious to meet the young woman she’d heard screaming from the room.
Ismael had come to realize that he didn’t have any savings left, especially after bailing Renata. Ismael also regretted not doing enough with his life, and selling his ancestral property was a way to start afresh without having to worry about making ends meet on his deathbed. Renata used to work for a brokerage firm as well, so when Ismael mentioned Serena, she immediately recognized her. Renata introduced herself to Serena and mentioned that she was a fan. They were both hardworking women trying to make space in a man’s world, so Serena immediately took a liking to Renata. She was also impressed with her negotiation skill and ended up offering way more than Ismael had ever anticipated. Just when it seemed Serena had made up her mind about buying the house, she noticed the ankle monitor Renata had on.
In The Follies’ ending, we finally discover why Renata ended up in jail (Renata had mentioned that when narrating a story one must arrive at the beginning, and her story is told in a similar way). Renata was at a supermarket when she noticed the employees hurling racist slurs at a woman with dark skin who was visibly from a low-income group. She was accused of stealing, and Renata was the only one who came to her defense and asked the employees to prove that she’d intended to steal an item. Renata started to lose calm when the abuses got worse, and she also figured out that the entire humiliation episode was unfolding in front of the woman’s daughter, who couldn’t stop crying. The hostility only got worse—the woman was stripped naked in front of her little child, and when they couldn’t find anything, one of the cashiers suggested that they conduct a cavity search. Renata recalled that the moment she heard those words, she blasted. She refused to accept the injustice happening in front of her. She intentionally made a scene so that the woman and her daughter would be allowed to leave. When she saw them literally kick the woman out of the store, Renata’s fury knew no bounds. She started to throw things from the aisle, and when she arrived at the liquor aisle, she poured the liquid all around and started a fire. Renata made it very clear that she didn’t regret her actions, and Ismael added that he too supported her. Renata felt strongly about the injustice around the world; she’d once mentioned that instead of creating a system that would benefit every individual, just like in ant colonies, humans have created a social structure that only benefits those on top of the hierarchy.
Renata noticed Serena’s expression when she cursed the rich, so she immediately mentioned that she was serious when it came to business and she wouldn’t interfere in Serena’s project once she took over. Before leaving, Serena used the washroom again, and this time she found her lost earring. When Alba asked her if she would come for her session the first of the month as usual, Serena hesitated. She left saying that she might be out of town then. It was evident that Renata’s strong emotions scared Serena, and the fact that she despised the rich was all the more reason why she chose to drop the idea of buying the house. She didn’t care to understand where Renata was coming from and how her argument was completely sensible; she was comfortable in her bubble, and she preferred to keep it that way.
What does the final scene suggest?
In The Follies’ ending scene, Ismael realized that Renata had run away. He called out to her, but she didn’t respond, and it was evident that Renata had just left. The door was left open finally, and Renata couldn’t stop the urge to escape. Maybe she will search for Miranda, or perhaps she will just ditch the ankle monitor and move somewhere far away. She will possibly always search for a place where she would hurt a little less or simply exist without any constraints. Since she was clearly not interested in taking her medication, the only option she had was to escape. But can she survive without any worldly possessions? Hopefully, all she needs is some time to live with her feelings before returning to the fake world and adjusting to its rules because practically there was no escape, but if we choose a more magical interpretation, then maybe she escaped to a world where all were equal and her big emotions weren’t considered hysteria.
