Explaining the end of No Country for Old Men, how showing versus telling works, the importance of the title, and the concept of generational push

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Discussion

  1. Yes! Thank you. There’s ever so much more that you didn’t hit on, but what you did say, is what I was thinking, and now I feel validated.
    Parker

  2. Hi Chris, the one problem with No country for ld men I have is, it tries to discuss too many things or address too many themes and ends up confusing me. while it took several viewings perhaos or a lot of thinking to get your generational push idea, it still did’nt explain why Anton met with that freak accident at the end. what was that about? is tat about another parallel theme on fate or something like that going on? I wish directors like Coen stick to just one theme with a film, so that when it all comes together in your head you get a satisfied feeling, But here you figure out one thing, only to scratch your head on why another scene feels disconnected with the theme you discovered.

    • It is the hallmark of good story telling. A good story asks of it’s reader or audience. It compels thought. It’s when a conclusion is delivered and no thought is required that a story is marked as insipid, shallow and uninteresting.

      • I agree!

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