Missus Robinson anyone?

[Nut Butter]

So I watched The Graduate again yesterday for the first time in years. Loved it, as I did when I first saw it ten years ago. But I must admit to being confused by the ending and I'd like to hear what anyone who knows the flick has to think. So Ben just raided the church (bam bam bam ELAIIIIINE!!), made off with the hottie and they're sitting in the back of the bus. They both sorta smile, one after the other, ephemeral smiles of surprise and exhilaration. But those smiles quickly fade and give way to a more mitigated sorta "what in Jesus name have we done?!?" look.
Add to that the closing song, Hello Darkness my Old Friend... and you got yourself a pretty bitter-sweet ending. I wonder what the director was trying to convey with this closing scene. The end of a dream? Do they have a chance at something real? Are they doomed from the start? Will Elain never be able to rid herself of the mental picture of her husband raping her mother?
Is it unrealistic to think you can turn your back on your parents and live a happy life with your spouse?

Discuss.

 

[xfer]

I don't remember much about this film, but I think it was supposed to be pretty uncertain?

 

[kleo706]

Well, Mrs. Robinson is also the name of the older woman with whom Branwell Bronte had the affair that provoked his alcohol/opium abuse...

 

[avi]

mrs. robinson is my wife and mine's theme song. or was for awhile anyway.

 

[FalseTodd]

I love the ending to that movie. I think it just continues the ridiculousness of Ben's character. I think it speaks to his naive nature - thinking that this one thing (the girl) was the path out of all of his troubles, and the dawning realization (on both their parts) that the excitement of the "rescue" wouldn't live on forever. It's one of the only moments in the movie where Ben wakes up from his youthful persistence and bravado.

 

[Nut Butter]

I think it just continues the ridiculousness of Ben's character.

Ben's character is indeed quite ridiculous, and played masterfully by Dusty. I think it's one of his more memorable roles. His initial reaction to Mrs. Robinson's nakedness always cracks me up

thinking that this one thing (the girl) was the path out of all of his troubles, and the dawning realization (on both their parts) that the excitement of the "rescue" wouldn't live on forever.

Totally. It is, in essence, a movie about disillusionment, that limbo between adolescence and adulthood, and basically just growing the fuck up. For some reason, that "utopia shot down" feel of the end of the movie always succeeds in making me uneasy, like I just got punched in the gut without having flexed my abs .