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ARTICLES - "The Myth of Fingerprints: About the Production"
The Myth of Fingerprints: About the Production by unknown
Sonyclassics.com, 1997


Warren's older brother, Jake (Michael Vartan) brings home his current girlfriend Margaret (Hope Davis), who proves to be the one character in the film that doesn't pose a threat to Hal. Freundlich comments: "It's an odd phenomenon to go into someone's house and discover you can find a deeper bond with their family than they can. It's also one that has great comedic possibility." As Margaret, Hope Davis proved to be the perfect antidote for both Hal and the family.

Davis explains, "I think Margaret is probably a big relief to all of them. I was attracted to her freedom. She can just walk into a room, sit down and speak the truth. She's not afraid of anybody. And people immediately respond to her because she's not full of defenses and walls."

"Hal in particular, is happy to have somebody who will be sweet to him and talk to him. Because he's screwed up with the rest of his family. They don't want to deal with him. They can't even see him anymore. Margaret sees everyone clearly."

"Bart and I thought that she's probably a person who has had a bit of analysis in her own life," Davis says. "So she's willing to deal with dysfunction and understands it and gives it space. She probably gives everyone some breathing room which is how she's been able to exist in her relationship with Jake."

Jake, Davis notes, "has not been able to speak words of love to Margaret. I truly believe, though, that she loves him and knows that some day he's going to relax enough to say that he loves her."

Vartan explains, "Jake's the kind of guy who's good at everything. He's good at sports. He's always going out with a beautiful woman. But that's only his exterior. On the inside, he's been quietly affected by the same environment as his brother Warren and his two sisters, Leigh and Mia. As the film goes on, his self doubt slowly reveals itself."

Question: Jake asks the question, "Do you think you have to have had a healthy family life to have a successful relationship?" And Mia says, "I hope not."

Writer/Director Bart Freundlich: Jake is wracking his brain for some answers during the weekend, because he's wondering if his family has been keeping him from saying "I love you" to Margaret. But obviously, because everyone's family has an aspect of dysfunction, no one would be able to have a successful relationship if that were true. Also, Jake's idea about what "success" is changes throughout the weekend.

© sonyclassics.com 1997
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