Minnelli Reality

In the universe of Minnelli’s films, almost everyone has dreams. Dream itself is a self-dominant world, in which the dreamer could create，change，or destroy for his own will. Reality is the container to hold so many self-dominant worlds. Speaking of the relationship between dream and reality, Jean Douchet makes an ambiguous argument about a recurring thematic in Minnelli: “Reality is the dream of other, but it is also one’s own dream.” It means that each dreamer has his own projection of the reality, which is all based on the level of self-dominant world (dream). Thus, everyone thinks he could still able to destroy the reality and rebuild it for his own will. This is the rule of Minnelli’s universe; in his reality, everyone wishes to surround himself with a set which bears the mark of what he is, what he loves, what he desires. (59, MCELHANEY) ”
However, since Minnelli’s reality is merely fabricated within a studio, it is destined to be dramatized, so everyone is vying with each other for owning this limited reality to fulfill his/her own dream. Hence, it will cause the conflict of dreams (panic). When the dream of another becomes a hindrance, conquering and completely ruining it is the Minnelli’s way for his …show more content…
She totally melts down at that moment. Tootie stars crying as Esther sings: “someday soon we all will be together/ if the fates allow.” The close-up shot of her reveals her fear of leaving St. Louis. When the song ends, Tootie rushes out into the yard to smash the snow people. In Minnelli’s system, ‘the hysteria of a female character can be considered a response of feeling of powerlessness and entrapment, as well as a signal of the upcoming décor’s destruction. (158, MCELHANEY)” The décor here is Tootie’s dream which is living in St. Louis in order to keep on living out her fantasy. And the snow people are a part of this décor. Destroying them, in a sense, Tootie starts destroying her own