Someone like Danton would have a better chance today, given medication, therapy, and overall continued support.
Since the father is ethically in control of his actions, and Danton clearly isn’t, the father’s guilt for what he did is to that extent greater. I do think he is cruel and possessive. This is definitely an offbeat love triangle.
I like your odds on the outcomes. Of course, many films would go with option 2, since it is more reassuring. Stories with the sensible option 3 outcome wouldn’t get made, but that one interests me greatly, because that would be the goal of rehabilitating someone with mental illness: Learn to walk away. It isn’t very dramatic within a narrative, however.
I kind of do think the movie is a minor gem, although the second half doesn’t play out too realistically; the daughter’s reaction to her father's killing seems oddly muted (although one could read into that a form of relief). I agree about that final shot, it is quite moving. I doubt this movie was popular.
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