The film was one I knew about because of the popularity of the book. However, although I planned to read it, I couldn’t find the time to do so. Based on the reviews, I thought it was a book that would interest me and something I could write about.
After watching the movie, I can see that there’s more to the story than what you might expect. From my point of view, this film shows the consequences for someone who has suffered trauma.
All the metaphors and psychological elements I discuss in this film were based on my interpretation. They do not represent the correct or exclusive interpretation.
It will also mean I won’t be able to describe certain sections. I will only mention what was most important for me. It will be possible that parts of the story I don’t fully understand, and this will be explained. Also, it won’t look like a storyboard. I won’t be explaining the whole story.
The Opening Scene
The film opens with Anastasia Steele as a student, and Christian Grey the owner of an enormous company.
Anastasia takes over the interview for her friend Anastasia when she is unable because of the flu. She ends up borrowing her friend’s car instead of her own.
This could lead to the conclusion that it is almost like a young adult borrowing their parents’ car. Because they aren’t in a financial position to provide for themselves, they turn to their parents.
This is when we begin to understand her personality. We can observe her behavior around her friend, and the way she reacts when she gets to the waiting room. This shows us that she’s not self-assured.
It is interesting that almost all of the workers are women at this stage. This stage could simply be seen, as it is, without any need to make conclusions.
But, it could also indicate that Christian has a hard time expressing himself. This means that Christian may need women to help him. The only way Christian can feel positive about himself is by receiving constant feedback from women.
If this happens, then it could indicate that he can’t break free from his mother, or integrate his aggression. This is why his identity is still defined by women. This could be another sign that his father was not present. Generally, the father brings the child away to their mother and helps them accept their aggression.
It’s Over
Anastasia is walked by one of his employees to Christian’s workplace, but they won’t let her in. While this could be taken as normal, one could interpret it as an indication of his relationship with those he works with.
Maybe he prefers to be formal, and keeps people apart. His relationships will not be affected by his heart, but only his mind.
Christian holds his hand, and soon she’s on her feet. She could have fallen over due to lack of concentration. However, another explanation would be that she was letting her nerves get the best of her.
Her is someone who looks strong. This is not her style. Christian doesn’t seem to be bothered by the events, and soon we see his expressions are consistent. He has perfected the poker face.
The Chairs
Anastasia is then seated on a chair in black, while he sits on one of the white chairs.
Christian has to then supply her with something to help her write. Then she asks different questions, and the one that focuses is on his age.
This shows that Christian does not dream like Anastasia. Instead, he takes a calculated approach to living. He says that he understands people and knows how to help them.
Good Luck
When asked about his luck, he replies that he believes it is all down to hard work. He isn’t one to let go or take a feminine approach. Instead, he prefers taking control and using a masculine approach.
Anastasia questions him about his control issues and he replies that he controls everything. One could argue that he feels out of balance, or that something has happened that made him feel completely uncontrollable.
Adoption
He was four years old when he was adopted by his mother. We find out quickly that this has had an enormous impact on his entire life. This experience could be what gave him the ability to keep control of his life at all costs.
He may feel deep down that his abandonment by his mother caused him pain. If he didn’t let go of this, it could lead to fear about being left behind all over again. His trust in others may be affected by his early experiences.
The Infatuated
We can clearly see Anastasia’s obsession with Christian after the interview. It is impossible for her to concentrate on her life. This could seem surprising, especially since he seemed cold and controlling.
After she graduates college, a man comes to visit her and is completely different from Christian. He is a good friend. It would be easy for you to conclude that this guy is not the right type. However, this might also help you to understand what it means to love her.
Make a Phone Call
While she is working, her mother calls to inform her that her husband has been injured while playing golf. She won’t make it to graduation. Anastasia says that Anastasia has called her back to let her know she’s at work. Her mother also suggests she might be self-absorbed.
When she asks her mom if she could come with her, she replies that it is impossible. However, instead of sympathizing with her, she would like her to fully understand the situation. One way to look at it is that her mother doesn’t care much about what her daughter wants. Instead, she cares only about her needs.
She doesn’t consider her daughter her priority, but her man is. This could just be one-off, or it may also mean that her mother might look something like this. She says that she is proud of her.
On one hand her mother loves her and on the other she’s not. This could mean that her mother has an unhealthy view of love.
After the Photo Shoot
Christian asks Christian about the male friend she has and the man who works at her hardware store as they walk along a corridor. But he’s not just interested in finding out about their competition.
Anastasia might be seen through our eyes if we could see Anastasia as his possession. She isn’t her individual, and she doesn’t have her needs and feelings. Instead, she becomes an object that we can control and own.
The first time that a man feels the urge to own someone is as a baby. This is because his mother is typically the only person he would want to share this desire with. He is not able to recognize that his mother does not exist apart from him during this phase of his growth.
This perspective is essential for his survival. After a while, time passes. As long as he gets the right care, he’ll eventually grow out of it. He can still see his mothers as his possessions if he does not receive the proper care.
Coffee Shop
Anastasia claims that he is intimidating when she meets him at the coffee shop. The fact that she holds her cup with both of her hands shows how uncomfortable she feels. Christian also tells Anastasia to eat and it is clear that he doesn’t respect her boundaries.
He then asks her about her family. She says that her father died while she was still a child, so her mother raised her by her stepfather. Then, we learn that her mother has married four times and describe her as an irresistible romantic.
As her mother, she also claims that she is the same as him. This is why she studied English literature. Christian says that Christian isn’t the right man for her, and she should move on.
Push-Pull
On reflection we can see that Christian is a man of conscience and doesn’t want Anastasia staying with him. However, he could still pull Anastasia closer to himself by doing this.
This isn’t someone who will leave things up to chance. It is someone who can understand how to make people happy. It is possible that the uncertainty she experiences could bring back memories of her mom’s mother.
Although her mother might have gone and been present one minute and disappeared the next, if she experiences this on a daily basis it could trigger an emotional response in her. We don’t even know much about her childhood stepfather.
Waiting in Line
As she is waiting for the toilet to be used, she contemplates how she could delete Christians number but ends up calling him. It is clear that she wants to cut off the bond with him, and that another part of herself wants it to last.
In her intellect, she may not think it would be best for her to have him in your life. However, her emotions may make her crave his attention. She will feel overwhelmed by her body and not be able to accept that he doesn’t suit her.
While they’re talking on the phone, she asks him if she had been drinking. Once he discovers that she has, he says she should go home. Anastasia calls his bossy behaviour out and then he asks her where she’s at.
He calls her once more and tells her he is coming to pick her up. The relationship becomes more parent-child at this point. He doesn’t listen to what she says and sees her only as an object, not as a human being.
The Male Friend
Her male friend approaches her outside and informs her of his affections. Anastasia feels uncomfortable, and she resists his advances.
He isn’t listening and tries to make things worse; this shows him as a person who doesn’t know how to set boundaries. Christian comes running out of his house and rescues her. Just as she starts to feel faint, he captures her.
You could look at it this way: She has found support from someone she does not have. She has not yet discovered her masculine strength.
Trouble sleeping?
Christian comes in shortly after Anastasia awakes and she questions him about the events. She discovers that she had slept in the same room as Christian but nothing really happened.
His need to feel in control keeps him from sleeping. He said that it was an exception for him to have slept. We don’t sleep through force. Instead, we drift off into sleep by letting go.
He can’t let go of her, so it won’t be possible for them to sleep. He tells her that he put himself at risk last night. Then, in the next instant, he takes off his top.
One side has pain, the other is pleasure. She could see this as a way to learn how to combine pleasure and pain. It could be that she has been conditioned by her mother’s behavior and words.
Books
Anastasia inquires about Christian’s reason for sending her the books. Christian says it is because he believed he owed an apology to her. He doesn’t go so far as to say that she owes him an apology for believing he can let her go.
Christian cannot show his affection. This is due to the fact that he would have to let go. His feelings would come out but Christian would have to let love in.
He does not feel comfortable enough to express his emotions and is not willing to let go of another person. He cannot touch his body or feel true intimacy if he is in control of his thoughts.
Written Consent
Christian states that he will not touch her unless she gives him her consent. Christian isn’t willing to accept the interaction as it unfolds; he needs to control its direction.
He will be in complete control by having a contract. Although it may seem that his previous relationships with women might have been a factor, it may also reflect back to his childhood. But he quickly loses control, and eventually kisses Anastasia while in the lift.
Go Back to Home
Anastasia arrives home and sees Christian’s brother as her roommate. He comes off completely unlike Christian. His brother, he says, isn’t warm, but he is happy, relaxed and friendly.
When he notices that his brother is showing affection to him, he looks indignantly away and wants the relationship to be over. Maybe he was once too close to someone (this could have been his mom), which caused him to be uncomfortable around closeness.
Helicopter ride
Anastasia and Christian meet and go on a helicopter flight. If we take this as metaphorical, the experience could also be described as what it was like to have a father pick up a little girl as a child. Children can only see so much. The same thing happens when we fly in a helicopter.
Her whole body is supported, her weightlessness feels natural, which could be because her father died when she was born. The child in her might feel like she’s getting back what she lost all those years ago by being with Christian in the helicopter.
The Play Room
Anastasia inquires whether the room contains an Xbox or other gaming equipment. Christian bonds in the same room, with all sorts of tools and apparatus.
We soon discover that Christian has used this drug on his wife and won’t let them use it on her. Anastasia must surrender, says Christian.
She believes that he will find her, which is enough for Christian to persuade her to do this. This could be interpreted in two ways. One, it is another way for him stay in control. Two, it may be that he feels self-important.
His motivation is to take over women and it may be seen that he is just like men, however, if he looks at the situation objectively, it can be seen as an opportunity for him indirect revenge. This is a way to help him get back what he has done.
Relationship
Christian claims that this is his only type of relationship. Anastasia then asks him why. He is completely unaware of his self-awareness.
He doesn’t care about the reason he does what he does. It is up to her to decide if she agrees to it. This is when we discover that she is still an unmarried woman.
His mother
After they’ve had a shower, Christian and his mother return to Christian’s bedroom. We soon learn of their mothers vice. This reveals that his mother is also lacking boundaries. When he tells her about calling her before she comes by, his mother relates how it could have led to problems for her.
Anastasia is the first to talk about Anastasia’s attractiveness, not her other attributes. Although this could be considered normal, it may also indicate that Anastasia views her as an object. Christian, in this way is very similar to his mother. The difference is that Christian sees her differently.
Anastasia’s mother was more concerned with her needs than Christian. This is evident when Anastasia called Christian in the hardware shop. It doesn’t matter if Christian is interested in seeing her; it matters that she’s there, which Christian should accept.
His adoptive mother’s treatment of him as a child could be partly responsible for his inability to recognize boundaries and see others as distinct. It could be an indication that he didn’t have a male support figure to rescue him from her grasps.
Evening meal and movie night
Anastasia goes to the bedroom she wants to stay in, and asks Christian if they’d like to take him out for dinner or to the movies. However, since he’s emotionally unavailable, it is unlikely that he will agree to go out for dinner and the movies.
One could say that he’s a man, and that’s true. However, emotional needs are something that men have. One difference between women and men is the encouragement of women to share their emotions in their early years. While men often feel shamed, women often have more freedom than men.
Because men often lose touch with both their emotional and human needs, it is possible for them to feel a stronger need to have sexual pleasure. This can be viewed another way: their sexual needs may end up being sexualized.
A person’s desire to sex more can be due to not being able meet their physical and emotional needs. Sometimes it is easier to engage in sex than to be open and have human contact.
This would not be accurate if it was only for men, since women may also have the same rights.
Walk in the Woods
Anastasia, while they’re walking through the woods together, asks Christian how it all started. It turns out that he became a submissive to his mother when he turned fifteen.
She questions him about it and he replies that no one is aware of this side. According to how he came across, it is possible that his mother didn’t notice any differences in him. It is evident that he feels a great deal of guilt about the events.
He says he still has friendships with the woman who did it to him. Based on his actions to do this now to other women, one could conclude that he hasn’t dealt with the pain that this experience caused.
While he pretends everything is perfect and has made every effort to hide it, his relationships with women are affected. He may still fear the women who took advantage, which is why he remains friends with her.
He has never been able to trust women because of his experiences with the woman. These experiences have hindered his growth as an individual and led to him becoming less emotionally mature.
It’s common for someone to feel shame after experiencing something. Christian, who was the victim of this incident, can sometimes feel like there’s something wrong because of his shame.
It would have been better if he could face his grief and work through it. But toxic shame is so overpowering that it’s normal for someone not to acknowledge it.
It could be that he doesn’t feel emotionally ready. This is due to the fact it is impossible to completely block one part of an emotional spectrum while simultaneously blocking the other. Toxic shame would overwhelm him if he attempted to connect with his feelings.
Freedom
Christian has nothing but positive things to share about the experience of being exploited. Although this may seem odd, it is because he has many other issues related to the incident.
He may be trying to hide his emotions by creating a negative story about the event. This can make him believe that it was not so terrible. It could also be a way to imagine what trauma can do and how one can idolize the perpetrator.
It could have been because Christian experienced complete loss in power that he set himself up for seeking power. He can’t change his feelings no matter what power he may have. The only thing that will do is heal him.
Christian Appears
Christian secures Anastasia and they continue on the same path as before. It could also be said that women like to surrender to men, which is an opportunity for them to feel feminine.
But, it must be done in respect. There has to be an understanding and agreement of what is acceptable. Anastasia could have made this choice. But, as Anastasia lacks self-confidence, it will be natural for her to try to please Christian rather than herself.
Anastasia asks Christian about his scars and Christian starts to feel uncomfortable. He then stands up to go. Anastasia doesn’t like it when he goes. She wants to be there for him.
The Next Day
Christian is emailed the next day by her. She says that there are issues with the paperwork. It could be assumed that she isn’t willing to follow Christian’s wishes, but she really wants to be there for him.
She is unable to think clearly and she has a lot of emotions. These feelings may relate to Christian but they could also be related to her father. There is a good chance she was not taken care of in her youth because her father died young and her mother was unstable (as shown by her multiple marriages).
The fear of being abandoned can be accompanied by a fear that her body will become smothered. Her fear of being left behind could be greater than her fear that she will be smothered.
It is possible that the thought of losing Christian could trigger the same feelings as when she was abandoned. It doesn’t matter whether he is the person she wants.
While she will be likely to experience the same hurts over and again in her life, she should still choose to spend time with someone she feels is comfortable. She would likely feel uncomfortable if she met someone who was healthy.
She may be suffering from toxic shame due to her childhood neglect. Because of this, she will never believe she can have someone she loves, who is also healthy and available.
Negotiation
Anastasia lists a few things she doesn’t like to do, and Christian offers to have a one-night-a-week date with her. It can be taken as an indication that he has begun to change. This is also evident when Christian asks Anastasia about her behavior when she was in his arms last night.
Her Father
This scene shows Anastasia’s stepfather, who is friendly and approachable at first. But he soon changes after Christian’s appearance, which could indicate that he is just a protector step-father.
We don’t know much about him beyond the fact that he’s her stepfather. He may not be protective if he does. This could indicate that he’s too close to her. Seeing her with someone else might cause jealousy or envy.
The House Mate
She returns home to find out that her friend has bought her a car. He tells her she should go slowly and she needs to be careful. Anastasia assumes everything is okay and she then goes.
She is not thinking about the situation and has fallen into Christian’s world. Because her friend doesn’t feel emotional attachment she’s in a good position to guide her through thinking clearly. However, she gets too wrapped up in her own thoughts to be able to understand what her friend has to offer.