I've been trying to digest Closer since I watched it this past Saturday. The more I attempt to digest it, the more I enjoy the movie and in turn, spurs me to try to make more sense of it. It's an endless circle.
[Warning! Some what of spoilers ahead]
A big random thought about the film:
I thought I sort of understood why Alice (or Jane, but for this discussion, I'll just use Alice) leaves Dan at the end of the film, but I never really fully understood the motivation. Then I remembered when he questioned her about sleeping with Larry and how her initial reaction was something similar to "you lived with her, and I still loved you." Interpreted, that said it all. She placed him on a pedestal, forgave him for his indiscretions, but yet, through his questions, he showed that he could not do the same for her. And there in was the problem between the two from the very beginning. The two were always on opposite sides of the spectrum.
Alice was a simple girl (though seemingly complex by her deceits), all that mattered to her was love. She says to Dan, something to the line of, "Why won't you let me love you?" and, "Why isn't love enough?" Through that, we get a glimpse into the girl that is Alice, simple in her motivations, but complicated in her lies.
Dan, on the other hand, was a constant seeker of something more. Love wasn't enough for him--he always sought the truth, even though, most of the time, those truths hurt him. That's why, even when it didn't matter to him, supposedly, he always questioned Alice (and Anna) for the truth. By seeking truth, this showed his distrust for others.
And in the end, his distrust of her, pushed Alice over the edge, and thus, she leaves him. Even when Dan realizes this a few moments later, it is a few moments too late. Alice, simple in motivation, finds reason enough to not love him. A moment, a single moment, sends an undying love to its grave. It is tragic, but deserving, perhaps, because they were never meant for each other.
But what is the message? It seems to me, it is that love should be enough. One should find trust, even when trust is suspect. Then again, "without truth, we'd all just be savages" as Larry's character says. I remain confused, but intrigued.
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