Tarnation Continued

Just wanted to add something to my original post that’s two posts down. Above all, I believe the film is about who we are. We’re products of our families and our past and no matter how far we may try to stray from that- it’s embedded within us. Over the years, Jonathan may have unknowingly searched for an outlet through his acting. In his teenage home movies we see him repeatedly act out different characters and storylines, perhaps as a temporary escape from his life. It’s as if he inevitably realized that there was no better story or more challenging of a role than his own. The ending interview when he describes all the places his mother is within him (“She’s behind my eyeballs.. She’s under my skin”) isn’t just to gain viewer emotion. It shows that no matter what she’s put him through, and while he can’t seem to explain why, he’ll always love her. I think that’s a feeling that can resonate with a lot of people. Tarnation is a picture perfect example of not being able to run from who you are. Jonathan could be a different character; he could find exile in New York; but he couldn’t change where he came from. Instead, he showcased it, subsequently OWNING it- flaws and all.