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Clip description
Ruth Barron (Kate Winslet) tells PJ Waters (Harvey Keitel) that his attempt to deprogram her will not succeed.
Curator’s notes
The battle of wills commences. On the first day of their three-day encounter Ruth tells Waters that he stands no chance of changing her mind about her newfound beliefs and dedication to her Indian guru, Baba. Supremely confident of success, Waters acknowledges Ruth’s intelligence and determination while attempting to sow the seeds of doubt in her mind.
Ruth’s dismissive comment about Waters dyeing his hair shows that she is seeking out his weak spots and will not be an easy subject to break. The close-up of the match flame as it covers Ruth’s face symbolises the intensity and incendiary nature of what Waters is attempting to achieve.
