Astrid is sued by her second husband Greg, and at first she and her lawyers fight his claim. After playing Helene, a woman in Hong Kong addicted to opium, she agrees to pay him what he wants without further confrontation. What was it about this role that changed her? Why do you suppose she gave in to him?
Astrid played a woman who died of an opium overdose. The character died of shame. She remembered her own experiences with drugs, including the horrible night of Eddie’s overdose, thought about money and decided she did not want to fight about it with Greg – a man she saw as “whiny, old, pathetic.” She had enough money to abandon the fight, let him believe he won, and get on with her life. She had “plenty” for herself and her kids. She wisely had learned to pick and choose her battles, a sign of maturity. And, undoubtedly, sound legal advice. It was probably a nuisance settlement because the cost of litigating was likely higher than the cost to finalize a settlement and be done with it. I often advised clients to make such a decision and they found it as hard to swallow as the fake opium paste Astrid had to consume to play the death scene. But I assured clients it was a way to buy themselves peace at a bargain price, with no admission of liability, and focus their attention on the things that really mattered to them. Bravo to Astrid!
I think she felt the exhaustion of the character she was playing and realized she didn’t want to prolong a legal fight over money. She had attained a professional status, and a level of wealth and didn’t need a petty fight with her ex-husband. Life is too short!!.
Sometimes freedom is worth any price. Astrid needed to move on with her own life. What would the money have given her, only a chance to say she’d won— but at what price to herself and her children. Again, she was my favorite character.
All I remember was that character she played died in the film. Seems the death was from an overdose. Maybe remembering Eddies over dose weighed heavy on her? I think maybe she had just run out of fight - moreso than the character she portrayed.
I think Astrid is the character who showed the most growth. She learned that Life is too short for arguing over money.