Shock and greed in "Morvern Callar"

I watched a Scottish movie called "Morvern Callar" this weekend. Samantha Morton plays the title character -- a woman who's novelist boyfriend has just committed suicide as the film begins.

Throughout the film, she's forced to make hard decisions. Whether or not your think what she's doing is appropriate or morally correct is up to you -- though she's the heroin of the film, the final verdict is left up the viewer -- has Morvern acted in ways that she could look back on without a sense of guilt? Has she shown the kind of 'self-leadership' and discipline that would inspire others to go above their base instincts for self-preservation?


For instance, instead of telling the authorities of her boyfriend's ill-timed demise, she drags him into the bathtub, chops him up into tiny pieces, then takes his remains up to a remote field and spreads them around. She sends his finished manuscript to a London publisher after naming herself author of the novel. She then takes the money he has set aside for a funeral and uses it to go on a two-week holiday with her best friend to Spain.

The publisher is interested in the manuscript, and gives her $100,000.00 (or pounds, rather) on the spot for it. In the final frames of the film, she is seen waiting for the train, suitcase in hand, presumably onto a better life -- leaving her friend and job and the supermarket behind.


Is Morvern someone acting out due to shock -- or is she someone who is simply opportunistic? Because she has no backstory in the film, her only motivation seems to be greed.

What would anyone else do in this situation? Would you give in to the temptation to take advantage of someone you love when they'll never know the consequences of your actions?