What Are The Similarities Between Thelma And The Sundance Kid

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The two films that are analyzed for similarities and differences to convey significant ideas for the integrity of their own story line: they are Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, directed by George Roy Hill and released in 1969, and Thelma & Louise, directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1991. In these two films, we watch them search for freedom within ourselves and freedom from societal norms. Along the way this creates entanglement with the law and causing a constant chase throughout both films. What keeps these characters from backing down is their free-spirited, brave, and most important a firm grip on their own fate. This mentality keeps the characters on their toes from what’s holding them back, however their own actions, history …show more content…

The setting is filmed in the desert near Mexico, Thelma and Louise have been running from their secret and finally have been cornered at the edge of the cliff looking over the wide open Canyon. A loud hum interrupts their gaze into the distance as a police helicopter appears in front of their car. Instantly frighten, they throw the car into reverse franticly driving away from the cliff and helicopter. Unfortunately for Thelma and Louise a line of police cars arrive behind them armed and ready to fire. Switching camera angles to the police and back to Thelma and Louise you listen to dialogue of the cops asking the women to surrender and come forward. When the camera frame returns to a close up on Thelma she expresses that she doesn't want to give up or fight but just drive off the edge of the cliff. Louise is surprised however agrees to this decision and throws the shifter into drive and goes off the edge. Similar to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the last moment is a still shot of the car in the air, the director of this movie also decides to keep the actual death out of the movie and let the viewer draw their own conclusion to the …show more content…

They did not go quietly: throughout the whole movie, these two protagonists did not abide by any rules, but lived their lives as freely and bravely as they desired. Though they avoided their inevitable fates for as long as they could, they jumped into every situation head-first: act first, think later. No matter what, they stood their ground and braved the situation at hand. In this final scene, they both know how this is going to end: whether they leave the room or not, they are going to be shot to death. That moment is not any time to change their thought process, though: they are going to charge out there, guns blazing, going out in a blaze of glory. The whole movie of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid only seems to be about holding your own and standing tall in the face of adversity, not changing yourself by any means: but in the final scene, that meaning is confirmed. The scene never shows them die: it freezes on them going out, guns in hands, moments before their demise. Imagine the meaning of this scene, but with the added scene of them dying. The message of the movie by this point would be lost: by showing Butch and the Kid acting the same way they always have in the movie and freezing on them doing so, the meaning is

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