Rear Window

 In Alfred Hitchcoks film 1954, Rear Window, we follow the story of L.B. Jeffries, who is stuck in a wheelchair due to a broken leg that he got from attempting to get a shot of a racecar, as a photographer. While bound to his wheelchair, he picks up a hobby of watching is neighbors outside of his rear window. He ropes his only two visitors into this as well. His first visitor is his nurse, Stella, his second, his fiancee, Lisa. His relationship with Lisa is complicated. Lisa is perfect, but Jefferies doesn't want to marry her. He believes their lives are far too different, but avoids dealing with this issue all together. While spying on his neighbors, Jefferies begins to solve a murder mystery. He notices small details in his neighbors apartment, and begins to believe that he has murdered his wife. His neighbors name is Thorvald. His wife spent all day, everyday in her bed and consequentially makes her husbands life pretty miserable. Thorvalds wife disappears, and due to this and many clues, Jefferies believes there has been a murder. Jefferies, along with Lisa and Stella, now, watch this man closely. This leads to Lisa going into Thorvalds apartment to investigate further. With Lisa almost getting murdered, and Jefferies falling out of the window in the process, Thorvald gets arrested!

Throughout this film, we see things as Jefferies does. We observe Jefferies neighbors as a passive member who simply stands by and doesn't act. Obviously, since this is a film, we can't act, but Jefferies can (maybe not physically). There was a constant question in my mind throughout this film; is Jefferies a good man? This made me question whether or not what Jefferies was doing was morally righteous. It may be argued that it is rude and nosey to spy on your neighbors, but hey, Jefferies did assist in solving a murder. 

There is also this constant theme in this film of Jefferies spying, watching, and judging his neighbors based on his life, but refuses to address and solve the problems in his own life. His biggest problem is his love life. He is engaged to Lisa, but clearly doesn't want to be. It is clear that they have different lifestyle preferences. Jefferies wants to travel the world and photograph craziness, while Lisa wants to stay in New York. By the end of the film though, honestly, I think Jefferies has renewed his love for Lisa. He realizes that she can also be adventurous and brave, which he is drawn to.

A quick note on Lisa: My favorite character by far! Not only is Lisa absolutely beautiful, but she is extremely brave and knows her worth. Although she almost depends on her future marriage with Jefferies, she knows that she is successful in her own career on her own, and can be comfortable with that. Later in the film, she goes out and literally goes into the murders home! All to prove herself. I love that shes adaptive and strong. Although she seems depednemnt on Jefferies, I would have to disagree. She is a strong indepednant woman!