One of the dynamics of the Jarrett family is that Buck was the motherÆs favorite, and probably the fatherÆs as well. Beth felt that Buck was more like her, and after his death she started to resent Conrad, the son who survived the boating accident. Both brothers were on a lake when their boat tipped over, and Buck fell beneath the water and died. BethÆs unresolved emotional attachment to her dead son adversely impacts her relationship with her surviving son, as well as with her husband. A cold person in general, she becomes even more withdrawn after BuckÆs death. An interesting comment is made by Calvin that neither Beth nor Conrad cried at BuckÆs funeral. Conrad attempts to deal with his depression and grief by entering psychotherapy with the psychiatrist Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsch), and as his mental and emotional state improves, he tries to get closer to his pare

Calvin tries to intercede between Beth and Conrad, hoping to make Beth understand how much her son needs her. He tells Beth, ôHe (Conrad) just wants to know that you donÆt hate him.ö Beth replies, ôHate him! How could I hate him? Mothers donÆt hate their sons! Is that what he told you? You see how you believe everything he tells you? And you canÆt do the same for me, you canÆt! God, I donÆt know what anyone wants from me anymore!ö This scene portrays a woman in great emotional stress and denial.

Peterson, J.V. and Nisenholz. Orientation to

ts. His father also starts to see Dr. Berger and eventually makes a genuine connection with Conrad. But his mother refuses to go into therapy, and continues to angrily reject Conrad, as well as growing angrier with her husband.

Toward the end of the movie, Calvin tells Beth that he doesnÆt know if he still loves her because of her coldness, and withdrawal from Conrad, and her open hostility toward Conrad and him. She cannot deal with open emotional confrontation, and her response is to pack her bags, and leave her home, a physical as