James Kiser II: A 2nd Chance at Family (David Cronenberg's A History of Violence)

A 2nd Chance at Family



How is family defined? Family can be defined in many different ways, from the people you have close relationships with to the people you share biology with. I think that is safe to say family is important to us all on some level. Family provides us with the foundation we need to survive in this world. It is in family that we find refuge, protection, loyalty, hope, and love, just to name a few qualities. Our whole disposition and character is shaped by our families, from our identity to our set of beliefs and values. Every one needs family, without it a person is lost, lonely, and without a soft place to fall. There have been many films released in the past few years that focus on the family unit as the central direction of the film. A film that was released just last year, A History of Violence, portrays different aspects of family that is weaved throughout the entire film. The message of the film A history of Violence is that one who is willing to change from his or her destructive past deserves a second chance to have a healthy family. This is played out best in the construction of family through the character dualality of Joey Cusack and Tom Stall.

When we “officially” meet Joey Cusack for the first time it is clear that he is a part of a mob family in Philadelphia. The scene that brings us this clarity is the one where Joey engages Carl Fogarty and his men with deadly force in the Stall’s front yard. We can tell that Joey is of high rank and is a respected member of the mob due to the manner in which Carl Fogarty approaches him. There is early mention in the film of a mob boss named Richie Cusack, referred to as Joey Cusack’s brother by Sam the sheriff who is investigating the mob family. It is not a surprise that we find Richie eventually making contact with Joey after the killing of Carl Fogarty and his men. It becomes evident that Joey would have to resolve his issues with his brother in order to continue leading his life as Tom Stall. Given the title of the film, A History of Violence, it can be assumed that the meeting of the Cusack brothers will not be a peaceful one. When the two meet they are cautiously accepting of one another before the violence begins. You get the sense that there once was a strong familial bond between Joey and Richie. The scene in which Richie intimately embraces Joey by placing their foreheads together, kissing his face, and giving him a long drawn out hug emphasizes that the Cusack brothers shared close family ties. Joey’s assumption that Richie would not have accepted his choice to leave the destructive path of his mob family was realized in their last conversation together. When Richie asks Joey something to the effect of, “I could not have only one woman, do you like being married and having only one woman?” Joey responds by saying, “yes”. Then Richie asks Joey, “ What were you thinking when you ran off with out letting me know where you were?” and Joey answers, “ I was thinking that business comes first”, Richie replies, “ You thought right”. Joey knew that if he was to ever have a healthy family, one that would not destroy him, he had to die to himself and be resurrected as someone else because the construction of his current family was toxic.

Tom Stall proves to be a good father, caring husband, and an honest working class man. Tom is first pictured in the film comforting his daughter Sarah after she is awakened in the middle of the night terrified of monsters. You can immediately see that Tom is apart of a strong family unit when his wife Edie and his son Jack rally around him and Sarah, offering their support. A healthy relationship between a man and a wife is displayed in the scene where Edie arranges for, and takes Tom on, a romantic, secretive date. The Stall family seems to be a peaceful family that is committed to each other. The sense of peacefulness, and commitment is expanded throughout the small town in Indiana where the Stall’s live. In two scenes of the film Sam the sheriff is quoted saying, “This is a peaceful town with good people, we take care of our own around here”. Loyalty is the dominant theme the surrounds Tom Stall. The family that Tom is apart of is one that he can rely on and has his best interest in at heart. The reason that Tom Stall’s family is so wholesome is because he has invested his life into each member with sincere passion.

Is it possible that the director of A History of Violence, David Cronenberg, handled the use of violence of this film in such a way that Tom Stall / Joey Cusack is portrayed as someone who was born into a hopeless family and deserves a second chance at a hopeful one? The first time we see Tom / Joey use violence he is protecting the people in his diner. The second time he uses violence to protect his family and finally Tom / Joey finds the only way to separate himself and his family from Richie is to use lethal force while defending himself. In all three cases he is fighting to preserve the family life that he knows as Tom Stall and as Cronenberg depicts, his healthy family life is well worth fighting for.