What is Real (to Lotte and Craig)?
One metaphysical hurdle to overcome when considering what is real is the reality that film is a fictional construct—it is not real. However, to clear that hurdle we can try to suspend our disbelief and capture the representation of characters like Craig, Lotte, Maxine, Dr. Lester, etc. as actual individuals. Characters are not people, but they are vehicles through which we can reflect upon the reality of the human experience.
So what is the reality of Lotte’s experience for example? Lotte is introduced as a female caregiver who compensates for her longing for motherhood by caring for numerous animals in her small apartment with little help from her boyfriend Craig. Her relationship to her animals seems as though to be a projection of her desire to raise a family (of humans). She’s also the bread winner and a type of caregiver toward Craig. Her relationship with Craig is dysfunctional in the sense that something else is missing. Neither character appears to be particularly attractive nor do they appear to be attracted to each other. Both seem to be headed in a dead-end direction until the passion that Craig and Lotte lack for each other manifests in their introduction to a character like Maxine. Their love triangle—square? does John Malkovich count?—is the the accelerant that brings about a true change in their respective positions, outlooks, realities if you will.
Yes, John Malkovich counts. Being John Malkovich changes both Craig and Lotte’s (and presumably all of the other individuals lining up for the experience’s) perspective—solving their respective dilemmas. I’ll stick with Lotte. Once she enters the portal into John Malkovich’s head, Lotte feels something that she is not accustomed to—she feels beautiful. She grapples with this the following day, wondering if her exhilaration is a signal that she has gender identity questions to answer. This dilemma, in combination with signals of Maxine’s girl crush on her, sets her on a path to explore her sexual orientation. Let’s try this metaphysical reality theory on for a try: Lotte’s hopeless motherhood situation was most easily or most quickly overcome by this strange opportunity that presented itself to her. Had Lotte not impregnated another woman through John Malkovich she may have never become impregnated herself and would have remained forever childless.
The Portal: A Divine Design?
So what was real for Lotte? Was she really a lesbian? She seemed in love with Maxine. From a purely superficial perspective, it would be difficult not to be. I mean it’s Catherine f***ing Keener. Does that make me a lesbian? That’s besides the point. One of the challenges of metaphysical discussion is the theory of design, purpose. What is the portal for? Well, for Lotte I would make the argument that it was a way out against all odds.
It was a way out for Craig too, wasn’t it? His artistry was unwanted (in the classified ads), but with John Malkovich’s fame he was able to express his artistry to an actual audience. Was this what Craig wanted though? Not entirely it seems, because at the end of the film when Craig is threatened by Dr. Lester to choose between his career and his pregnant wife (Maxine), well… he choses his career, but after a few drinks he changes his mind and professes his love to Maxine after exiting the portal. The portal was not just a way out for Craig though; it became a type of divine equalizer. After month’s of exiling the real John Malkovich, Craig himself ultimately suffers the same fate, helplessly watching the fairytale relationship in which he was cast aside.
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