In defense of Layla from Buffalo ‘66 (1998)
I watched Buffalo 66 last night and totally loved it. Upon looking up people's reactions to the film online, it would seem it's pretty controversial, especially when it comes to the two main characters. I'm not gonna discuss Billy too much in this defense (that's a whole other can of worms), but I am going to defend Layla's portrayal in the film.
From what I've seen online, it would seem a lot of people who are put off by the dynamic in this movie simply can't buy into the concept. Yes, he kidnaps this woman, and they fall in love. I've seen a lot of people decrying this power dynamic and the inherent toxicity of it. However, I think they're missing some important subtext due to their refusal to give the film a chance. In almost every scene, Layla has the power.
Think about it. She's the one who drives the car. She could take Billy wherever she wants, whenever she wants. There are several moments, such as when Billy takes a piss, where she could've driven away and left him behind. During the family dinner, she has power over him. He has to humor what she says, or else he looks bad. I think Christina Ricci does a great job characterizing Layla in this scene, as the read I got from the CIA story she tells (and her performance for the whole scene) is that she's subtly mocking Billy. It seemed as though she was making fun of him. Her telling the family that she was pregnant is another such moment. She's making things harder for Billy later on down the line in a very cheeky way. I think this dynamic is where a lot of the comedy comes from. He kidnapped her, but she has the power.
After the family dinner, she could leave whenever she wanted, and that's made clear. She chooses to stay for bowling and Denny's. This is where we see a different side of Layla in the form of the tap dancing scene. She's a daydreamer. She's romanticizing this utterly unromantic encounter in a bit of great ironic comedy that still has heart. Layla is shown to be very lonely, and from my experience, lonely people latch on to whatever human connection they can get. After the family dinner, she realizes the shitty life Billy has had, and that turns her sympathetic. This, combined with her loneliness and tendency to romanticize things, compels her to stay. It's not a healthy relationship, but it's a dynamic I've seen friends and family of mine fall into many times. They pity people who may or may not deserve it and gain a savior mentality.
Even then, she continues to make fun of Billy and tease him, such as in the photo booth scene. At this point, it's pretty clear that Billy wouldn't actually harm her, and she knows it.
One last touch that I think redeems Layla's character is Billy's fear of physical intimacy. It's an endearing character trait, as it lets the audience know Billy's intentions for Layla aren't untoward beyond making himself look good for his parents. I think it's a really good choice that Billy and Layla don't have sex. They just kiss one time, hug, and warm each other in their loneliness. Once again in the bathroom, Layla has the power. Billy is afraid of her. I like the detail that he puts a shirt on to get in the bath with her.
When I finished the film, I thought (and I still do think) that it was a missed opportunity not to explore Layla's backstory and the reason for her loneliness, but I think she's much more than a flat character or prize to be won. Her writing and characterization are very subtle, so I think audiences put off by the initial concept miss the underlying narrative. This subtle characterization is elevated by the brilliant performance of Christian Ricci, who's proud of her part in this film to this day (despite the horrible treatment she received from Gallo, which I'm in no way defending).
If you haven't seen Buffalo '66, I definitely recommend it. If you disliked the characters and their dynamic on your first viewing, I think it's worth revisiting. I'd also love to hear everyone's personal thoughts and takes in the replies!