Still Frame Anaylsis

Plato death frame represents Jim and Judy’s parental connection to Plato. Jim and Judy tending to Plato conveys their longing to be loved by their own parents. Earlier in the film, Jim and Judy pose similarly to this one, putting Plato to bed. However, in this scene we have Jim, bending over putting his jacket on Plato’s dead body. Jim is hovers over Plato in a fatherly way, and the scene is also darkened, perhaps to make Jim and Judy look older. Jim is in his white undershirt, zipping up his jacket on Plato’s body. Likewise, Judy is also putting on a article of clothing on Plato. She is putting on the shoes he lost while running from the police. This scene is very similar to the one previous where Jim and Judy put Plato to bed. However, instead of a blanket, they are putting on his shoes and Jim’s jacket. This is a parental gesture, showing how  Jim and Judy have taken the place as Plato’s parents. They are acting like the parents they wish they had, showing their wanting of attention from their own parents on a deep level. To further this idea, Plato’s housemaid/nanny, is staring at Plato however, she isn’t doing anything. This furthers the notion that his nanny, while try as she might, couldn’t ever develop a parental bond with him. It is seen in the movie, when Plato leaves with a gun from his house, and his nanny fails to stop him. The nanny watches as Jim and Judy act as the parent role that she could never fill. Although she loved Plato, his nanny failed to connect with him, resulting in him being disobedient. Jim’s mom watches in the background as Jim tends to Plato. However, only her face is visible, showing her shock. She’s looks on as her son acts more like a parent than she could be. She also sees how her son needed an emotional connection, and how he is finally growing up. Furthermore, I believe the death of Plato could symbolize the death of Jim’s innocence and childhood. That’s why he clings onto it until the very end, however, this isn’t a sad ending, as he has developed and strong adult relationship with Judy