A Watchful Eye

Both images are examples of moral uncertainty in the movies Doubt and Do the Right Thing. Pino and Sister James are in the foreground of both shots. Other similarities are the Virgin Mary and the Pope in the background of both shots, the picture and statue are angled towards Pino and Sister James. In times of moral uncertainty sometimes people turn to religious figures, but don’t always find resolution.

Sister James is sitting in the garden debating whether or not Father Flynn really did anything to Donald. She has a very worried look on her face and her eyes are looking up as if searching for guidance or help from God. In the background, we see Virgin Mary. It could be interpreted that Virgin Mary is watching of Sister James and all of the confusion in her life. But it could also be thought of that Sister James has her back turned on Virgin Mary. Sister James knows that what she and Sister Aloysius are doing to Father Flynn is morally questionable. The Virgin Mary symbolizes truth, purity and coming clean about everything that’s going on within the parish and right now Sister James doesn’t know what to do with her situation.

This still is from the scene where Pino is rambling off every last racist comment he can think of about African American people. The picture of the Pope, to me, represents morals, which Pino seems to be lacking as he is making these comments. It looks as though the Pope is looking down on him as if Pino should know better than to make comments. Pino hates working at his father’s restaurant, which serves a primarily black clientele. He idolizes Eddie Murphy and Prince but is afraid to admit it. I think Pino’s bigotry is a defense. He wants to be better than the customers that come into the store but in actuality I think he is the lowest of the low by making these comments.