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davem · 01-06-2004, 03:42 AM

I still can't understand the moviemaker's decision re Faramir. Faramir is, admittedly a very subtle character study. He is, as i said in the Psychological depth thread, both an individual, & a kind of 'living symbol' of Gondor/Numenor. We've seen, up to that point, what the west is fighting
against - Orcs, the Balrog, the Nazgul, we've heard a great deal about the 'Glory of Gondor' & the 'Wisdom of Numenor', but we've seen precious little that's in any way admirable. In fact, we see very few likeable Gondoreans - Imrahil, Beregond. We need to see Faramir, a living symbol of what is being fought for - wisdom, compassion, self sacrifice. We need to know that Gondor can still produce men like him. The War of the Ring is not just a simple fight for survival. Its a fight to preserve a way of life, a philosophy. Faramir shows us what Gondor can be. Faramir's example inspires his men & his people far more than the haughty dignity of Denethor, & even more than the victories of his brother. Faramir inspires them with a vision of how the world could be after the War. I think they fight because they have him as an example - he shows them that there's a full life to be had after the war - that war, the sharp sword & the swift arrow, the heroics of Boromir are not the point of life. Faramir is wiser, more spiritually aware than either his Father or his Brother.

He refuses the Ring because as a Numenorean he remembers how seductive the weapons of the Enemy are. He knows enough to see that using the Ring is the same thing as Ar Pharazon bringing Sauron to Numenor. He knows the Ring will bring about the destruction of Gondor. As Galadriel does, even knowing that the choice seems between one form of destruction - being destroyed by Sauron in war by not using the Ring - or another - using it & going the way of Numenor by replacing him, he is forced to choose. And his choice is that if he must see everything he loves destroyed he can at least achieve a moral victory, by not giving in.

I think the film makers made a major mistake in what they did with Faramir. He is a sad, pathetic character in the movie - too 'delicate' even to look while his men beat Gollum. How could such a man effect the real healing of Eowyn, leading her to see that a 'glorious' death in battle is both primitive, simplistic & barbaric? Faramir is a healer, as Aragorn is, as Sam is, as Gandalf is. Tolkien's wisest characters are healers & stewards.

01-06-2004, 03:42 AM	#13
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	I still can't understand the moviemaker's decision re Faramir. Faramir is, admittedly a very subtle character study. He is, as i said in the Psychological depth thread, both an individual, & a kind of 'living symbol' of Gondor/Numenor. We've seen, up to that point, what the west is fighting against - Orcs, the Balrog, the Nazgul, we've heard a great deal about the 'Glory of Gondor' & the 'Wisdom of Numenor', but we've seen precious little that's in any way admirable. In fact, we see very few likeable Gondoreans - Imrahil, Beregond. We need to see Faramir, a living symbol of what is being fought for - wisdom, compassion, self sacrifice. We need to know that Gondor can still produce men like him. The War of the Ring is not just a simple fight for survival. Its a fight to preserve a way of life, a philosophy. Faramir shows us what Gondor can be. Faramir's example inspires his men & his people far more than the haughty dignity of Denethor, & even more than the victories of his brother. Faramir inspires them with a vision of how the world could be after the War. I think they fight because they have him as an example - he shows them that there's a full life to be had after the war - that war, the sharp sword & the swift arrow, the heroics of Boromir are not the point of life. Faramir is wiser, more spiritually aware than either his Father or his Brother. He refuses the Ring because as a Numenorean he remembers how seductive the weapons of the Enemy are. He knows enough to see that using the Ring is the same thing as Ar Pharazon bringing Sauron to Numenor. He knows the Ring will bring about the destruction of Gondor. As Galadriel does, even knowing that the choice seems between one form of destruction - being destroyed by Sauron in war by not using the Ring - or another - using it & going the way of Numenor by replacing him, he is forced to choose. And his choice is that if he must see everything he loves destroyed he can at least achieve a moral victory, by not giving in. I think the film makers made a major mistake in what they did with Faramir. He is a sad, pathetic character in the movie - too 'delicate' even to look while his men beat Gollum. How could such a man effect the real healing of Eowyn, leading her to see that a 'glorious' death in battle is both primitive, simplistic & barbaric? Faramir is a healer, as Aragorn is, as Sam is, as Gandalf is. Tolkien's wisest characters are healers & stewards. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."