The Master is a film rich
with subext that some people have found difficult to understand. The premise of
the film and media attention has sturred some to expect a commentary about new
age religions but I don’t think that could be further from the truth. I’m sure
there are many interpretations of the film, but this is the one that worked for
me.
The Master, I believe, is
ultimately about dominant/subordinate relationships. Freddie Quell, unable to
return to the love of his life, finds a rebound companion in Lancaster Dodd,
and when he leaves it breaks Lancaster’s heart. It’s not a sexual relationship
– though sex is a major component to the story. It’s much more interesting and
complex than that. Which is why, perhaps, it is best told in a puzzle-like
fashion. The clues into the subtext and meaning, however, aren’t hidden at all.
In fact, you could say they’re right under our ears...
