Watching MY GIRL with Ask a Mortician

Caitlin Doughty・2 minutes read

The movie "My Girl" portrays the struggles of a young girl, Vada, living in a funeral home and dealing with loss, guilt, and grief, culminating in the tragic death of her friend Thomas J. due to a bee sting. Vada grapples with complex emotions and seeks reassurance from her father and others as the story unfolds in a poignant and introspective narrative.

Insights

  • Vada Sultenfuss, the protagonist of the film, struggles with a complex relationship with death despite growing up in a funeral home, showcasing the nuanced and multifaceted emotional impact of mortality on individuals.
  • The tragic death of Thomas J. due to bee stings in "My Girl" serves as a pivotal moment that deeply affects Vada, highlighting the profound themes of loss, grief, and the fragility of life explored throughout the narrative.

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Recent questions

  • What is the movie "My Girl" about?

    A young girl navigates grief and loss.

  • Who is Vada Sultenfuss?

    The protagonist of "My Girl."

  • What is the relationship between Shelly and Mr. Sultenfuss?

    They go on a date and bond over shared experiences.

  • What happens to Thomas J. in "My Girl"?

    He tragically dies from bee stings.

  • How does "My Girl" end?

    Vada reads a poem in class, leaving a thoughtful mood.

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Summary

00:00

"My Girl" explores death, guilt, and relationships.

  • The Ask A Mortician studio has a new look with self-done wallpaper.
  • A genre exists of people watching "My Girl" for the first time and filming their reactions.
  • Vada Sultenfuss, the protagonist, lives in a funeral home and charges neighborhood kids to see corpses.
  • Vada's father, Mr. Sultenfuss, embalms without protective gear and inhales formaldehyde.
  • Vada is uncomfortable with death despite growing up in a funeral home.
  • Shelly, a mortuary makeup artist, is criticized for her makeup work on the deceased.
  • Vada reveals she believes she killed her mother, who died after giving birth to her.
  • Shelly and Mr. Sultenfuss go on a date, discussing their deceased loved ones.
  • Mr. Sultenfuss fails to reassure Vada that her mother's death was not her fault.
  • The relationship between Shelly and Mr. Sultenfuss gains more depth as the story progresses.

13:18

"Tragic love and loss in Pennsylvania"

  • Mr. Sultenfuss is a full-time mortuary makeup artist, potentially luring women into the prep room.
  • Shelly loves Mr. Sultenfuss, a tuba-playing mortician, and her ex-husband Harry shows up.
  • Harry accidentally cremates bodies, leading to a cremation joke that doesn't land well.
  • The setting is in Pennsylvania, 42 minutes from America's first crematory.
  • Thomas J. and Vada, friends, play near a beehive despite Thomas J.'s bee allergy.
  • Thomas J. tragically dies from bee stings while retrieving Vada's lost mood ring.
  • Vada mourns Thomas J.'s death intensely, expressing raw emotions at his funeral.
  • Vada confesses her love to her English teacher, Joan Didion's nephew, due to grief.
  • Vada grapples with guilt over her mother's death, seeking reassurance from her father.
  • The film ends with Vada reading a poem in class, leaving everyone in a thoughtful mood.
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