Get ready for a wild ride as we dive into the world of One Battle After Another and its unique fashion statement - the plaid robe. A symbol of identity and transformation, this garment will leave you questioning everything.
Our story begins with Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Pat Calhoun, a man caught between two worlds. He's a runner, a revolutionary, but as his girlfriend's mother so aptly puts it, "You're a stone." Pat's nervous energy and lack of knowledge about his team's plans showcase his inner turmoil. But who's truly lost here? Is it Pat, or his heavily pregnant girlfriend, Perfidia, who compares herself to Tony Montana while wielding a machine gun?
As Perfidia disappears, Pat finds himself alone with their daughter, Willa. It's Willa who gives Pat a sense of purpose, but when she goes missing, Pat's world splits in two. Enter the iconic faded plaid robe, a garment that symbolizes Pat's dichotomy. While he's been in a state of hibernation for 16 years, the robe represents his awakening and the desperate race to catch up with his past and find his child.
The robe's designer, Colleen Atwood, crafted multiples of this unique garment, aging the fabric to perfection. But here's where it gets controversial: was it director Paul Thomas Anderson or DiCaprio who suggested this iconic piece? Either way, it's a nod to DiCaprio's inspiration, The Big Lebowski's Dude, whose robe, though practical, lacks the symbolic depth of Pat's.
Pat's robe, a blend of loungewear and outerwear, becomes a character in itself. As he runs, smokes, and watches The Battle of Algiers, the robe flows behind him, a constant reminder of his journey. But why a robe for DiCaprio, an actor known for his spiritual wiry roles? Pat is on the move, running from his past and towards his daughter, the robe a constant companion.
And this is the part most people miss: the robe's significance in the film's larger disorientation. OBAA, based on Thomas Pynchon's Vineland, toggles between the '60s, '80s, and '90s, with Pat's '90s-era garment a symbol of this temporal confusion. His daughter, Willa, dressed like an '80s Madonna, is introduced through a '70s Steely Dan hit, adding another layer of temporal intrigue.
As Pat abandons the robe at the film's end, he sheds his past and embraces adulthood. No longer lost, he's found his true self, and the lyrics that introduced Willa now encompass both him and his daughter: "I foresee terrible trouble/And I stay here just the same."
So, what do you think? Is the plaid robe a mere fashion statement, or does it hold deeper symbolic meaning? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
