Stay (2013) is a very deep movie that has less to do with the actual events that occur and more to do with the underlying theme. There is no big reveal or surprise, just a few stitched parts that lead to the inevitable ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie not just because I am a fan of the country -vs- city surroundings (I travel for work), but its also a story about simply getting over it! Often times people believe that the universe is about them and not the fact that they are merely players, performers and portrayers in a much bigger stage. This movie will not lead to good conversations on a date night, but I recommend seeing it (alone) :-)
8 Reviews
This made me think
whitekp-5871922 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
So, women (or this woman) usually says that I like a movie where they stay together. Enough of us break up, who wants to see them break up? And this movie gives you that, but it doesn't exactly feel satisfying. I think that actually makes one think of their perspective on this issue and on relationships and abortion and having children.
So, you don't quite know what happened in the end. You see her go to the clinic, but she's looking back at the women with her mom- and she has this pause, and this look on her face that's admiring their relationship. You don't, as the viewer, know whether she enters the abortion room or not. You also see him deliver and hold a baby while also befriending a kid and thinking he needs to move back to Dublin FOR Abby. Something he DID NOT want to do before.
Did they compromise in the middle? Did they both concede to the other? Did one of them completely concede? Who knows? Maybe the writer left it to each of us to decide. But, even though they ended up together, the ending feels hollow to me when I should be happy that they stayed together.
I am totally pro-choice, but it felt like they were (if she had the abortion) cutting off parts of themselves that were both open to exploring - why didn't couldn't they just talk about it. It makes the relationship seem unworkable in the long run- and whatever the resolution at this point - it seemed they cut off an opportunity to grow closer together by making a joint decision or resolving their own stances - and deciding to split. Though they are together - is it really resolved?
So, you don't quite know what happened in the end. You see her go to the clinic, but she's looking back at the women with her mom- and she has this pause, and this look on her face that's admiring their relationship. You don't, as the viewer, know whether she enters the abortion room or not. You also see him deliver and hold a baby while also befriending a kid and thinking he needs to move back to Dublin FOR Abby. Something he DID NOT want to do before.
Did they compromise in the middle? Did they both concede to the other? Did one of them completely concede? Who knows? Maybe the writer left it to each of us to decide. But, even though they ended up together, the ending feels hollow to me when I should be happy that they stayed together.
I am totally pro-choice, but it felt like they were (if she had the abortion) cutting off parts of themselves that were both open to exploring - why didn't couldn't they just talk about it. It makes the relationship seem unworkable in the long run- and whatever the resolution at this point - it seemed they cut off an opportunity to grow closer together by making a joint decision or resolving their own stances - and deciding to split. Though they are together - is it really resolved?
Ambiguous and beautiful, if you discount the gungy language
Franklie3 October 2015
Throughout this movie, we were never quite sure what was going on. This was annoying at first, until we realized that that seems part of the theme. In the end, even though not all the questions got answered, we were left feeling like all might work out for the best.
The same annoyance came with the way characters were treating each other and barely communicating, yet without the yelling and drama often seen in film today, these characters were able to forge closer bonds with one another.
The movie does move very slowly and we've never been fans of the imagery that gungy language creates, so those were downers. Otherwise, we liked it. And we loved the locations.
The same annoyance came with the way characters were treating each other and barely communicating, yet without the yelling and drama often seen in film today, these characters were able to forge closer bonds with one another.
The movie does move very slowly and we've never been fans of the imagery that gungy language creates, so those were downers. Otherwise, we liked it. And we loved the locations.
Disciplined humanity
richard_ferdman28 June 2023
I was impressed with the unraveling of the humanity of each character as they take hold of their own lives and futures. It is rare for each and every character to be so raw, human, combining compassion, passion, fear and experiences without needing to use a gun or knife to express themselves.
The simplest of gestures and emotions help the characters come to life in their human form despite the horrific past. Earlier tonight I saw a movie with no life or feeling (despite good acting (Mortdecai) and this is 180 degrees from that.
Well worth seeing. A commenter said this is not for date night and I feel the opposite. It is what relationships should discuss- life, feelings, and how the past shapes us but does not have to.
The simplest of gestures and emotions help the characters come to life in their human form despite the horrific past. Earlier tonight I saw a movie with no life or feeling (despite good acting (Mortdecai) and this is 180 degrees from that.
Well worth seeing. A commenter said this is not for date night and I feel the opposite. It is what relationships should discuss- life, feelings, and how the past shapes us but does not have to.
half plus half
SnoopyStyle23 May 2020
Abby (Taylor Schilling) falls for her former professor Dermot Fay (Aiden Quinn) and moves to Ireland with him. The locals do not approve. She gets pregnant and he does not want to keep it. She goes home to Montreal to visit her father (Michael Ironside). Dermot starts drinking, befriends young Sean Meehan, helps a pregnant woman, and gets into a dig. Finally, secrets are revealed.
One never gets to fall in love with this couple. The movie starts and they're just there. When they split up, there is no trauma since the audience never gets invested in their relationship. It becomes two separate stories, two slow moving stories. Quite frankly, I rather follow one or the other. Quinn's half probably has the most meat and could have gone a variety of ways. This is really two movies adding up to less than one.
One never gets to fall in love with this couple. The movie starts and they're just there. When they split up, there is no trauma since the audience never gets invested in their relationship. It becomes two separate stories, two slow moving stories. Quite frankly, I rather follow one or the other. Quinn's half probably has the most meat and could have gone a variety of ways. This is really two movies adding up to less than one.
Nothing much of note here, the big draw in this movie is Taylor Schilling in her first movie since she broke out in Orange Is The New Black.
cosmo_tiger20 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
"He loves you and you love him, what is the problem?" Abby (Schilling) and Dermot (Quinn) are happy together and in love. Things are going great for them until Abby tells Dermot she is pregnant. He gets angry and forces her to make a choice, she chooses to leave Ireland and go back home to the states. While they are apart they begin to evaluate the way they feel and live. This is a movie that is hard to review and talk about, mainly because this is not really sure what it wanted to be. The plot of the movie says it is about a woman who tells her boyfriend she is pregnant and he hates the idea so much he would rather live alone. The movie is actually about how Dermot responds to this situation, but the baby aspect is never discussed. When you watch you will see what I mean. Not to give anything away but I expected this to be a cookie cutter movie where the man realizes what a mistake he made and changes everything...I was not 100% accurate on this. The movie was OK but really slow moving and not much happens. Overall, nothing much of note here, the big draw in this movie is to watch Taylor Schilling in her first movie since she broke out in Orange Is The New Black. I give this a C+.
Beautifully done
kossiek14 February 2014
It was great the see the extent of Taylor Schillings acting abilities; frequently associated with Orange is the New black, the up-and-coming actress proved she has much more to offer.
The story had a great sense of originality, the choice of actors aided with the consistency of the film whilst having great chemistry amongst each other.
I was not anticipating very much as Schilling fans expressed their loyalty exclusively towards the character of Piper Chapman (OITNB) and not towards Schillings vast acting capabilities; however after watching this film, all elements coincided with the natural beauty of the land to create a well written and elegantly directed film.
The story had a great sense of originality, the choice of actors aided with the consistency of the film whilst having great chemistry amongst each other.
I was not anticipating very much as Schilling fans expressed their loyalty exclusively towards the character of Piper Chapman (OITNB) and not towards Schillings vast acting capabilities; however after watching this film, all elements coincided with the natural beauty of the land to create a well written and elegantly directed film.
Taylor Schillings as a brunette.
bsam-7736526 July 2021
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