Smooth Talk - Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been

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The absence of the father-daughter relationship in the story significantly changes the perspective of the mother-daughter relationship. The movie uses the strong relationship contrast between the mother and father to make a point about the mother’s general attitude. However, in the short story, everything comes from Connie’s point of view. She seems like a petty teenage girl who “knew she was pretty and that was everything” (Oates 1). The relationship between Connie and her mother makes Connie sound like she is the main problem that separates them. In the story, when Connie is invited to attend to barbeque, she says no, “rolling her eyes to let her mother know just what she thought of it” (Oates 3). This then prompted the mother to say sharply “stay home alone, then” (Oates 3). The reversal of who was rude first in the short story shows how Connie perpetrates most of the bad relationship. Connie does not get along with any family members mentioned in the story, causing the reader to want to blame Connie for alienating herself. The father-daughter relationship that reinforces the possibility of good relationships in the movie does not exist in the story, changing how Connie is portrayed as a character and her overall attitude.

Connie’s character does not have enough time in the short story to see whether or not she changes in the end. However, in the scene before the barbeque several implications of Connie’s character development are seen. Her time with her father demonstrates that she can try to be less of a moody teenager, but immediately this attempt diminishes with the addition of her mother. Connie tries to reach out to her mother once while painting, but they simply cannot bring themselves to forgive. In Smooth Talk, Connie’s character changes in the end, becoming less selfish and more willing to try. In the story, the story simply ends, forcing the reader to interpret the ending. The addition of the father showing Connie that he cares about her no matter her attitude or actions lets her realize on her own that she may have a chance to get along with some family members. She also becomes closer with her sister in the end of the movie, but no scene showing her mother and her getting along shows up. While her character in the short story does not change in writing, the movie’s addition of a caring fatherly figure helps Connie find her way back to her family in the end.

The impact of adding a father-daughter scene in Smooth Talk shows Connie’s ability to get along with a family member. The contrast developed because of the addition of the father role shows how the mother is the main cause of Connie’s disregard for the mother. Connie’s character is depicted differently between the movie and story, showing how she is more a victim to her mother in the movie. The addition of the scene before the barbeque allows the viewer to have sympathy with Connie because of the mother’s uncanny ability to jump to conclusions, forcing Connie to talk back, while the father simply tries to connect and love Connie throughout the movie.

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