A Take on Cake

by Kevin Gardner

Daniel Barnz’s Cake is a 2014 comedy-drama that centers around Claire, played by Jennifer Aniston, and her inability to accept her son’s death. By mixing humor with the seriousness of drug use, alcohol use, grief and suicide, Barnz encourages viewers to take a deeper look at Claire. Outwardly she is angry and sarcastic, and she continually pushes people away who care about her. However, her physical scars are symbolic of the cracks in this outer facade; she tries to hide it, but her compassion and loneliness shine through. Cake does a phenomenal job portraying a woman who has lost herself after losing her child. At the beginning, Claire is barely getting through each day. By the end, she comes to the realization that she was a good mother and finds the strength to live. This is a story of hope after an unthinkable tragedy.

Portraying a Lost Woman 

Aniston gives a strong performance as a woman grieving from the loss of her child. Although Claire is heartbroken and devastated, she does what people do to emotionally protect themselves; she hardens her heart. Her negative attitude gets her kicked out of a chronic pain support group after making light of Nina committing suicide. Again, this is a way for her to keep her own pain deep inside; she doesn't want to face reality. Claire is probably also bitter about attending these sessions as her chronic pain is due to the same car accident that caused her son’s death. Each meeting is an unwanted reminder of what happened.

The usually gorgeous Aniston displays herself in an unconventional way, and her beaten down appearance helps her to nail the part. She doesn't wear makeup; her hair is disheveled, and her clothes are baggy. Claire's drug and alcohol abuse likely also influences her appearance and demeanor. She should have tried supplements for joint pain instead of opioids and Percocet.

Needed Support

The one person who cares about Claire, her housekeeper Silvana, faces Claire's anger and resentment first-hand. However, her devotion never waivers, probably because she knew Claire’s personality before the accident. Claire isn't the miserable person she seems to be; rather she is a woman frozen in grief. Silvana goes above and beyond to help Claire recover, which shows that they share more of a friendship than a work relationship. An employee wouldn’t stand for Claire’s moody disposition, but an understanding friend would.

Suicide

It seems odd that Nina's suicide would have such an emotional impact on Claire. Maybe Claire is interested because she is considering taking her own life. The movie takes on an Ebenezer Scrooge theme when Nina’s ghost starts to visit Claire. These ghost scenes are probably drug-induced hallucinations, but they help to ease the anxiety of discussing suicide and give the film a less serious tone.

Rock Bottom

After befriending Nina's husband, Roy, Claire’s circumstances begin improving; however, Claire needs to get worse before she can get better. A series of events takes place beginning with a visit from the man who caused her son’s death, which sends Claire into her rock bottom moment of overdosing. While recovering in the hospital, Nina visits again. A combination of the overdose and seeing Nina convinces Claire to take a hard look at herself.     

Symbolism

When Nina visits Claire in the hospital, she reminds Claire of the support group conversation where members were asked what they would do if they didn't have chronic pain. Nina's answer is to make her son a homemade birthday cake. Her simplistic sincerity is a symbol for missed opportunities as it is something she will never be able to do. This eye-opening experience shows Claire that she can't let the past hold her back.

Even with Cake having an expected outcome, it is still an inspirational story worth watching. It shows it’s possible to move on from hardship. Some topics are too painful to discuss; a child’s death is one of them. However, Barnz has succeeded in creating the right balance of emotional turmoil and dark humor, which alleviates the severity of the harsh subject matter. Claire’s journey is a rollercoaster, but it’s a rollercoaster worth riding.