Bubble Bath

I still adore this film. It has become a comfort watch of sorts despite perhaps my idealism clashing with its realism, but, of course, that’s the point of Bubble Bath, in a sense. I’ve talked about the themes of modernization and technology coming in conflict with the traditional gender roles of the past, but that’s only a mere fragment of what’s going on with Bubble Bath. The film’s examination of class and marriage as advancement are a part of it, the disrespect of the arts are a part of it, the perceived stability of family, etc. Things left unsaid clash with things that are made abundantly clear and what wins Zsolt over in the end, making him go ahead with the marriage is hearing Klári make a sentiment that Anna echoes - the fantasy of finding comfort in something that never changes in the rapidly shifting world. Zsolt hates Klári’s family and Klári seems almost indifferent to Zsolt initially. But we see how he adapts to these changes, how the fantasy of a woman with ambition is not one that he might necessarily want for himself despite Anna exemplifying that. She is unattainable, her standards are too high - and are only set even higher after this one afternoon.