Posted by Orestes at salt.mcc.wwwcache.ja.net on February 18, 2000 at 15:31:42:
Chasing Amy is my favourite film by Kevin Smith, and I have watched it and scrutinised it many times. There are a couple of aspects of the film which I would be curious to know about. I appreciate that the chances of my getting a reply from Kevin are slim to none (especially since it was made quite some time ago now) but I'd like to hear other people's opinions and if you don't try you can't succeed so here goes.
Firstly, was the film intended to be a bit like a tragedy? It's just when I watch the film I sometimes feel like punching the wall with frustration as I watch Holden throw it all away. He is given four separate explanations/predictions (by Banky, Hooper, Jay and Silent Bob)of what could/will happen between him and Alyssa. From the very start of the relationship Banky predicts that his jealousy will be inflamed by the relationship (after quipping about Catholic schoolgirls, what kind of a school jumper has a zip anyway?). Then Hooper X diagnoses the problem saying quite correctly that Holden's Marco Polo self-image is getting in the way of the relationship not Alyssa's past, whatever lies she may have told. Then Jay manages to come out with words of wisdom in his own inimitable style 'Now she'll be all true blue and shit', echoing Alyssa's 'You turned out to be all I was looking for'. Silent Bob then tells his sad story. All four characters seem to make clear not just that his ego is in the way but that it is misplaced since as is said in the diner 'she was looking for the Bob'. To start with this made me frustrated at Holden, but now I think there's a purpose in it. Greek Tragedy was commonly about fate being something we can't escape, and the futile, remorseless ego of Holden appears to follow this rule. He is given chances of salvation, but it seems to me that he is incapable of grabbing them because of his ego which he can't change. Is that correct or is Holden capable of conquering his maleness? Or have I watched the film too many times?
A second, related issue, is Joey's bisexuality. My attachment to the film has much to do with the fact that I saw the film the week after I realised I was bisexual and so the film resonated with me very deeply. Having watched the film a fair number of times now it seems to me that just as all Holden's problems come from his ego, so Alyssa's stem from her sexual identity. She defines herself as gay when she's not and my interpretation of this is that the gay community is not a friendly place for bisexuals (I know I don't declare my bisexuality on the gay scene if I can avoid it). It seems that the lie goes deep within herself and that this leads her to front a different sexual identity, ultimately causing serious damage to her relationship with Holden when he finds out she has lied to him. Like Alyssa says 'When I felt myself falling for you I put a ceiling on that'. It seems to me that had Alyssa been honest with herself and then to Holden then the relationship might have been able to continue. This is another reason why I ask whether Chasing Amy was written as a tragedy because it seems that Holden's ego and Alyssa's bisexuality, both unchangeable elements present at their first meeting, are instrumental in the wrecking of their relationship, making it truly unavoidable and therefore tragic. I am aware that my interpretation of Alyssa's bisexuality may be heavily colured by my personal agenda which is why I would be interested by Kevin's, or anyone else's comments on the matter. I'm interested to know whether my interpretations are in any way related to what the film was actually intended to be like/about.