This movie is super fulfilling on second viewing. The twist holds up very well and actually adds quite a bit of depth on rewatch.
When seeing this movie, I was effectively cosplaying as the dad, Chris Sullivan. And he is a deeply nuanced character. But I think his character shines in this scene with his daughter.
First of all- the slow, creeping door opening will always make me laugh. It’s prime awkward. The message that the dad is trying to convey is true acceptance. He believes his daughter and loves her for who she is. I crave this level of positivity.
I feel that this film works as an allegory for mental health issues. Carl & Lisa describe the gift that allows some people to connect with the spiritual world. It is described as a door. For some it is always shut. For some it can open occasionally, some the majority of time. And a select few where it is open all the time, unable to be closed. Like the doorway too our heart open infinitely. In our world, people like this can experience perpetual empathy. And love, sadness; wide swings of guilt and regret to elation and optimism. Sometimes unbounded emotions with no door to close.
This movie begs the question: how much control do you have on your door?
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