Havent been moved like this in quite a while.
I have a tremendous respect for most individual's that I meet. I respect their choices, their thoughts, and their feelings, regardless of whether they are self destructive or not. I try to understand this feeling and when I meet someone like Chris, I usually morph into something like one of the sensitive, caring people who all put great effort into pulling Chris back to us.(Us= those of us who choose to cultivate our gardens)
Mostly this works, as most people want to be pulleed back to the fray. However I have met some people who have chosen to live "out there" and can't find their way back.
This film made me examine the parts in me that sometimes wants to" let go" and see what happens. I think that Sean Penn so beautifully and respectfully depicted this type of inner and outer journey.
The critic thought Chris was idealized, I thought, rather, that he was exquisitely understood. She also referred to the last chapter of his life as unforgivable, which I think is unforgivable for her to have said that.
I am a parent as well, and can only imagine the torture that his family went through, but who are you not to forgive? Did you detect blame as well? I did not. As parents we are all human and we all make mistakes along the way.
The real problem can be, that you just may be raising one of these extremely sensitive children whose ability to from strong attachments to others is not adequate. As for Chris' sister, my heart goes out to you , wherever you are. It must have made you feel better to take part in teling the narrative of Chris' life, as you knew it.
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