Requiem For a Dream Communication Analysis
...e around when it arrives in a short, sarcastic tone and has a rigid posture. These gestures suggest that he is annoyed with Sarah for asking about the package. Sarah uses non- Caitlin Tapp Movie Analysis Tuesday/Thursday Speech 100 Page 2 verbal communication, specifically hugging Harry when he first comes and constantly patting his hand, to show her excitement over his visit. Harry also uses nonverbal communication repeatedly in this clip. First, he shows nervousness by sitting on the edge of his chair, slightly hunched over. Second, he repeatedly strokes his hair. Harry also does not look his mother in the eye when he apologizes to her. By not looking his mother in the eye, Harry suggests that he may not be sincere in his apology to Sarah. In Sarah's major monologue of the scene, she explains how her self-esteem has been validated since she has started the diet pills and received the phone call to be on television. She uses many devices of interpersonal communication to explain this. She talks about her reference groups and social comparison to explain why being on television is important to her. She notes how since she has been selected to be on television, she has been given the best seat out in the sun. She says to Harry, "I'm somebody now, Harry. Everyone likes me. Soon millions of people will see me and like me." This demonstrates that before she was offered the chance to be on television, she felt she was inferior to others and unloved. Sarah asks counterfeit questions such as why should she get up in the morning and what does she have left to draw empathy from Harry. The affect of these questions appear to work on Harry because he promises to return with his girlfriend Marion for a dinner. Caitlin Tapp Movie Analysis Tuesday/Thursday Speech 100 Page 3 A fourth element of interpersonal communication that is explored in this scene is conversational control. Harry controls most of the conversation by forcing Sarah to sit down and listen to him. He frequently changes the subject from how his mother is doing to his gift and how his life is doing. Harry habitually interrupts his mother, another way to hold conversation control. Another dynamic of interpersonal communication displayed in Requiem for a Dream is Harry's equivocating that borders on lying. Harry tells his mother he is a distributor for a large importer when he actually is a drug dealer. Harry does this because he wants his mother to be proud of him and to see that he has straightened his life out. By telling her he is a distributor for a large importer, he does not lie to her but he does not tell her the entire truth. Another element displayed, although not purposely, is hinting. He and Sarah both hint towards their drug problems. Harry does this by displaying his knowledge of amphetamines when he explains how they make you feel and where they can take you (‘do you want to be a dope fiend mom?’ and ‘you’ll get strung out’). Sarah hints toward a drug problem by telling Harry how she takes a pill to sleep at night. Sarah also hints at a drug problem with her bo...