Down in the Valley : who is joe?
Re: who is joe?
Reply |
The letters seem to have been written to Harlan's father, but that's just a guess.
The house he broke into appears to have once been Harlan's home, and so it would follow that his parents may still reside there. If that is true, it would (for Harlan, at least) make sense for him to attempt some form of communication with his estranged parent via the written word, breaking and entering notwithstanding. We can't know until later in the film that Joe is the name of his father, if that is true.
When seeing a film on my own player it's my habit to stop wherever necessary and review those scenes that aren't clear. This one came to be via cable. I'm probably not alone in wishing for clarification.
Maureen Adele Compton
The house he broke into appears to have once been Harlan's home, and so it would follow that his parents may still reside there. If that is true, it would (for Harlan, at least) make sense for him to attempt some form of communication with his estranged parent via the written word, breaking and entering notwithstanding. We can't know until later in the film that Joe is the name of his father, if that is true.
When seeing a film on my own player it's my habit to stop wherever necessary and review those scenes that aren't clear. This one came to be via cable. I'm probably not alone in wishing for clarification.
Maureen Adele Compton
Re: who is joe?
Reply |
Yes, Joe appears to be Harlan's father who left him when he was young.
When Harlan breaks into the house, he seems to know his way around really well. In a bedroom closet, he finds a box with the name "Marty" on it. The box contains miscellaneous mementos and pictures of a young boy. We find out later in the film that Harlan's real name is "Martin", so it makes sense that the house he entered was either his mother's or father's home, and the pictures of the young boy were actually pictures of him.
When Harlan breaks into the house, he seems to know his way around really well. In a bedroom closet, he finds a box with the name "Marty" on it. The box contains miscellaneous mementos and pictures of a young boy. We find out later in the film that Harlan's real name is "Martin", so it makes sense that the house he entered was either his mother's or father's home, and the pictures of the young boy were actually pictures of him.
Re: who is joe?
Reply |
My interpretation of it was that Joe was his foster-father.
After Harlan gives Twig his version of how Tobe was shot (i.e. "Come with me cause they will lock up your father and you'll be sent to a foster home")..that's the impression i got. Besides - Harlan didn't resemble any of the family in the photos in joe's house when he broke in. And? He took that one photo of himself from the boxif he was Joe's biological son, wouldn't there be boxes and boxes of photos of him? and not just one in a box in a closet?
And, the police report that Harlan was in a juvy hall previously.
Also, at no time does he address Joe as "Dad". He does say, "your son, Harlan". But addressing him by name, Joe, also leads to the foster-father theory.
Just my opinion.
After Harlan gives Twig his version of how Tobe was shot (i.e. "Come with me cause they will lock up your father and you'll be sent to a foster home")..that's the impression i got. Besides - Harlan didn't resemble any of the family in the photos in joe's house when he broke in. And? He took that one photo of himself from the boxif he was Joe's biological son, wouldn't there be boxes and boxes of photos of him? and not just one in a box in a closet?
And, the police report that Harlan was in a juvy hall previously.
Also, at no time does he address Joe as "Dad". He does say, "your son, Harlan". But addressing him by name, Joe, also leads to the foster-father theory.
Just my opinion.
who is joe?