Did Reynolds recognize what Alma was doing, and if so why does he go along with it?
According to the Wikipedia summary of Phantom Thread:
Alma responds by making Reynolds a poisoned omelette. As he chews his first bite, she informs him that she wants him weak and vulnerable with only her to take care of him. Reynolds swallows the omelette and tells her to kiss him before he is sick.
Reynolds knew that Alma was putting mushrooms in his food which is why she said that she wants him weak and vulnerable.
How did he find out about that and why didn't he refuse the food even though he had a chance to do so? (Could it be something like tired of trying, depression or he can get the mothering he longs for, with the fantasy that he has still come out on top?)
Best Answer
Could it be something like tired of trying, depression or he can get the mothering he longs for, with the fantasy that he has still come out on top?
The latter is more-or-less my take on it. I read Woodcock's fixation with his dead mother (not to mention his close relationship with his sister) as a sort of elaborate, overdetermined play on the classic overprotective mother trope.
It's here at the end that we get an additional twist on the cliche. Instead of meekly wilting as Woodcock gets bored with her and, like the muses before her, inevitably getting sent off by sister Cyril, Alma strikes back. By doing so, and assuming the role of disciplining mother-figure, she secures her role as Woodcock's life-partner in their sick (literally) sado-masochistic mother-son role-playing relationship.
Having only seen the film once, I'm not clear if Woodcock recognized the first time Alma poisoned his tea. (He's so obsessive, it's easy to imagine he did notice.) In this scene, however, it's clear that he knows what she's up to and it's part of a new role-playing game they've embraced.
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Why did Reynolds let Alma poison him?
Why did Reynolds let Alma poison him? The man knows that his inability to be vulnerable has prevented him from being in a meaningful / long-term relationship. Being with Alma and letting her challenge his habits has allowed him to see that. No one cursed Reynolds, he cursed himself.Who is Alma talking to in Phantom Thread?
Instead, Alma sticks around and chooses to spring on her lover another surprise. Phantom Thread does not reveal itself fully at first, barely even hinting at the mystery of its framing device: Alma and an unseen person sitting by a fire together, she talking to the other about Reynolds.What happened to Reynolds Woodcock?
Alma retaliates by poisoning Reynolds's tea with wild mushrooms gathered outside the country house. As he readies a wedding gown for a Belgian princess, Reynolds collapses, damaging the dress and forcing his staff to work all night to repair it. He becomes gravely ill and has hallucinations of his mother.What was the point of Phantom Thread?
Phantom Thread is a film open to many interpretations, about the characters themselves, how they affect each other, and the way in which the film portrays love. While the characters may be far away from what most viewers would consider relatable, their struggle and eventual compromise is a universal idea.Hitman 2 - Poison the honey Tea and kill Alma Reynard in the toilet - guide
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