Carol Renwood's Narrative Techniques In The Film 'Safe'

In Todd Haynes, Safe (1995) the scene opens up with everyone from camp Renwood in one room eating dinner. It is near the end of the movie and Carol has gone to this retreat to heal and be “Safe” from all the outside dangers. In this scene everyone is wishing her a happy birthday and have coerced her into giving a speech. Carol goes off on a confusing and extensive monologue during this scene. The speech reveals the change that Carol has undergone. This seen through the change that everyone has gone through toward diseases like HIV.
Carol begins by stating that she has never made a speech before in her life. The director uses this opening statement to establish how privileged she's been. She has never had a job or had any responsibilities to deal with. This is contrary to the situation that she is in now. Now she has a million and one things to worry about. The director does this so that for the rest of the monologue we are able to view Carol for who she is now and not for who she was. Carol states during the speech, “Just that I really hated myself before I came here, and umm..so I'm trying to see myself as hopefully more as I am, more positive like seeing the pluses” (1:50:52). The director has established that the Carol we saw in the beginning is not the same Carol we are seeing right now. She has begun to

She mentions AIDs, other types of diseases, and becoming more aware of such things (1:51:14). It is important to notice the position of the camera in this scene as well. Carol starts out alone on camera, but once she begins to have trouble speaking everyone jumps in to help her. When this happens the camera pans out and shows everyone helping and surrounding her. This is the director's way of showing how far Carol has come. A life in which her husband would hardly show interest in her struggles. She is now surrounded by people who understand and care for