2023.07.06
When you become an adult
Robert Herman, played by John Cassavetes, is trying to find happiness outside of the world's values. Robert takes young women to stay with him and forms a commune that resembles a pseudo-family. Robert is a writer who studies women and is loved by all the women who appear in this work. Robert is a natural ``people person'' and is always surrounded by people, but it is clear that he is lonelier than anyone else. Robert doesn't want peace of mind. Whenever I'm about to find happiness, I always run away from it. Robert has a latent desire for destruction. There is a fear of becoming happy. Just when you think you have it, you immediately destroy it.
Robert's self-injurious nature is best illustrated in an episode with Susan (Diane Abbott), who sings at a nightclub. Robert is completely insane as he forces his way into Susan's car and takes her home. Robert whines like a child and starts a skirmish with Susan as she tries to say goodbye. As Susan tries to enter the front door, Robert falls down the stairs and is covered in blood. Susan looks completely stunned, but lets Robert into the house to take care of him.
"Love Streams" (c) MCMLXXXIV Cannon Films, Inc.
Robert looks like a gentleman in a tuxedo, but inside he's completely childlike. However, all the women in this work are attracted to Robert's childish nature. Rather than calling the police, Susan instead takes an intimate look at Robert. Even his girlfriend's mother, who lives with him, happily succumbs to Robert's charms.
This episode, which is like a masterpiece short story, accurately depicts how Robert has lived his life up until now. Diane Abbott was cast to play Susan because Cassavetes was impressed by her singing in Martin Scorsese's ` `New York, New York '' (1977).