I have a question about "The Villiage" (don't read if you haven't seen it!!!)

[auntpolly]

Where the people on the council the only ones that knew the big secret? If so, where did all the other people come from? Or was it just the kids that were left in the dark?

 

[JustHolly]

I got the impression that only the Elders knew the big secret. I don't know how the rest of the people got there. Remember they were happy to hear that when the girl returned from the towns and reported killing "what must not be spoken of" because it kept the secret alive.

 

[elemusing]

I thought all the others were their children??? Remember the picture- they were all couples except for the actress who was on Alien (can't remember her name) and she had the baby - who was later Oaquin Phoenix (however you spell that ) .

I think the "elders" were the only ones who knew for sure.

 

[auntpolly]

I know - I got the same impression. But that doesn't make sense; does it? They couldn't have been born there. They had to know about the outside world; didn't they?

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by elemusing
I thought all the others were their children??? Remember the picture- they were all couples except for the actress who was on Alien (can't remember her name) and she had the baby - who was later Oaquin Phoenix (however you spell that ) .

I think the "elders" were the only ones who knew for sure.

But there were so many of them! How could those people have had all those kids?

 

[Kallison]

Good question -- I'm assuming they recruited others to come with them, because there were a lot of families. My friends family were extras.

 

[Robinrs]

I'm going back to see this movie on Friday.... tooo many unanswered questions and THIS time I can watch it without HIDING!!

 

[2BigKIdz]

My husband had the same question, this is my take: The other adults had the same philosophy and were allowed to join but the "elders" were only those that met at the counseling center and started The Village.

One thing I don't get is what difference the year made. They obviously didn't have any history books, so what difference did it make to the children what year it was? I guess it was to fool the audience into thinking it was the 1890's.

 

[KarenB]

I was trying to figure out the relationship between Walker (the blind girl's father) and Sigourney Weaver-can't remember her name on the movie. It was as if they were drawn to each other and she wanted more than he would give her. Did I miss something there???

Karen

 

[poohbear2]

I think he did not want to like her because it would have weakened him as far as being a leader. If there are any weak links, the secret is revealed. That's just my take.

 

[NMAmy]

Regarding Rev. Walker, I thought he was married? I assumed that was the reason that although they were attracted to each other, they kept their distance.

Excellent question about the other people, though, auntpolly! I never even thought of that.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by NMAmy
Regarding Rev. Walker, I thought he was married? I assumed that was the reason that although they were attracted to each other, they kept their distance.

I agree. He was married. They showed him with his wife a couple of times.

 

[AllyandJack]

I thought that the time period (i.e. the 1800's) was a psychological thing for the elders. They wanted to be back in simpler times, so they picked a time period that brought with it the simpler times and decided to live in it. If they couldn't REALLY live in those times, they re-created it for themselves.

My questions is this: if the father knew what Ivy would find at the end of the "invisible road" why did he send there with just a watch to pay for medicine? Did the note she gave the security guy say something that made him understand what he was supposed to do? Was there some kind of code for "help this girl and send her back to us and don't tell her what's really going on"?? Or did he assume that she would hit the barrier and just turn around and never get to the other side? That's what I don't get.

 

[eeyoreno1]

The wildlife preserve where they were living was called the Walker Wildlife Preserve......I figured that Rev. Walker owned the preserve (maybe bought with inheritance $$ from his millionaire brother that was shot and killed?)

That would explain why the guard looked so stunned when Ivy said her name was Ivy Elizabeth Walker.....(not that the sight of someone climbing over the wall wouldn't have been enough to stun him!)

Maureen

 

[2BigKIdz]

I thought I saw something that said Billionaire in a newspaper and assumed it was Walker's father, but I guess it was his brother. Didn't he say his father had been very wealthy? Also, he had paid for "restricted airspace" as well, to keep the village hidden.

Walker and Sigourney's character had the hots for each other, but an affair would pretty much undo what they were trying to create, a perfect society.

I just find it ironic that the "elders" were using mortal terror to keep the kids from the real world, and that murder found it's way into their cocoon.

 

[LisaZoe]

I'm pretty sure the billionaire was his father. Walker spoke of what a kind, caring and sympathetic man his father was... and that he was killed by someone he trusted (a partner?).

I also think the note was the key to why the guard was so willing to get what was needed. Although Walker told Ivy that it just said what was needed, I think it's safe to assume it was meant to seem there was more. I also came away with the impression that the guards knew people were living in the reserve and was, therefore, quicker to accept her story of needing help than he would have otherwise.

I also got the impression that the group in the photo were the ones started the village and became the elders. They seemed to all be in some kind of support group for people who'd lost a loved one to violence (the voice overs of each talking about what happened to the loved one). I don't think watching the movie again is going to clear up where the others came from because I bet there isn't anything even indicating that. I'd just guess these are others invited to join by the various elders and sworn to secrecy.

 

[Minniespal]

I got the impression that only the Elders knew the whole story about the thing that "must not be spoken of". That is why they were Elders.

It was a good story and kept me wondering until the final moments.

So refreshing to watch a movie that you don't know the story to.

 

[auntpolly]

My family and I were talking about this last night and I told them about about what you all had thought and we've come to the conclusion that the fact that the other townspeople are not explained is a flaw in the movie. To us, it's not kept out for the story's sake. It's not explained because it would take too much trouble to do it. And 2BIGKIdz made an great point about the the time period -- that <i>was</i> a really obvious device to trick the audience and not to help the story.

We had fun watching it but we think these flaws really detracted from the film. D I just wrote that like you were all <i>dying</i> to hear what we thought! I'd love to hear dissenting opinions!)