I AM
JACKS SCENE ANALYSIS
INSOMNIA
& THE SUPPORT GROUPS
In
the beginning of the movie we see Jack begging the doctor for
pills to help with his insomnia. The doctor makes an off-hand
remark that having real pain is being one of the men at the testicular
cancer support group, which Jack then attends. Here we find men
talking about their wives who left them in their time of need.
Jack meets 'Bob', who after abusing steroids has caused him to
grow breasts. During their one-on-one 'crying sessions' where
Jack is pressed up against Bob's feminine 'breasts', he discovers
that he finds comfort in them and begins to let go … he starts
to cry, which results in one of the best nights sleep he's had
in ages. Going to a support group, where people share their feelings
(a traditionally feminine trait) for testicular cancer, alludes
to the fact that a man who's had his testicles removed is essentially
a women. But it is here that Jack finds comfort, in the arms of
a man, Bob, with highly feminine qualities (his testicles have
been removed, he shares his feelings and he has 'breasts'). 'Every
evening I died. And every evening I was born again … resurrected'
comments Jack upon leaving one of his meetings (DVD TIME CUE:
00:11:05). Jack finds relief from his emotionless and drab consumer
driven life, represented by his insomnia (a mental disturbance)
in the release of this pent up frustration, which allows him to
finally sleep. At his brain cancer meeting he is encouraged to
engaged in a meditative technique of mental imagery where participants
picture their 'cave' upon which entering they find their 'power
animal'. Jack discovers his is a playful Penguin that cryptically
says to him 'Slide!'. The figure
of the Penguin serves as a mirror of Jack's entrapment. A bird
incapable of flight … [it also] presents
Jacks power animal as a creature at once enchained by civilized
servility [as a Penguin forever wears a 'tuxedo'] (Gronstad).
The insomnia returns once again however upon the arrival of a
women, Marla Singer, who like Jack is an imposter at the support
groups but finds the same comfort that he does in them …
When people think your dying, they really really listen to you
… instead of just waiting for their turn to speak (DVD
TIME CUE: 00:16:18). Or in other words, attention. Nevertheless,
Jack must turn to something else to release his frustrations as
he cannot cry in the presence of another faker (DVD TIME CUE:00:16:35).
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