Post by TimberWolf7.62 on Oct 22, 2009 8:50:03 GMT -5
I have seen a lot of questions as to her role in the film. I think that she is the counterpoint to Donnie's feeling of aloneness. Donnie fears dying alone, yet he is not alone, not by a long shot. He has friends that are shown repeatedly, smoking at the bus stop, shooting BB guns, at the Halloween party, etc. He has a family that is pretty damned good compared to most I have seen. Sure, he has conflicts with his mother and sister, but what teen doesn't? Overall, his relationships with them all are great. And Donnie gets a cute girlfriend and consummates the relationship. Not only that, but he learns that another girl, Cherita herself, has a crush on him.
Contrast this with Cherita. She is harrassed and insulted for no reason. She hates her environment so much that she wears earmuffs to shut out the world around her. She is never shown with any friends or family, and this is the saddest point of all. During the school talent competition, Samantha has the entire Darko clan (except Donnie, who is banned from after-school activities) in the audience supporting and cheering her on. Cherita has . . . no one. After her performance, we see her sitting alone in the dark. Where are her parents?
At the end when we see the reactions of the people as they feel Donnie's death, she is almost smiling. I think that she could never think of Donnie, her crush, without first smiling. Perhaps she feels only the thought of him, and not his death.
Contrast this with Cherita. She is harrassed and insulted for no reason. She hates her environment so much that she wears earmuffs to shut out the world around her. She is never shown with any friends or family, and this is the saddest point of all. During the school talent competition, Samantha has the entire Darko clan (except Donnie, who is banned from after-school activities) in the audience supporting and cheering her on. Cherita has . . . no one. After her performance, we see her sitting alone in the dark. Where are her parents?
At the end when we see the reactions of the people as they feel Donnie's death, she is almost smiling. I think that she could never think of Donnie, her crush, without first smiling. Perhaps she feels only the thought of him, and not his death.