Mommy : Question about the ending (SPOILERS)

What exactly made Diane to give her son up to a hospital?
For some time during the movie, I interpreted it as to save him (themselves) from facing the consequences of the lawsuit (maybe even jail), but the last scene between Diane and Kyla suggested that she just couldn't cope with the struggle of the everyday life with Steven. Anyhow, the decision Diane made seemed kind of rushed and out of place to me, so I'd really like to know what you think about this.

In the last scene Diane talks about hope and that each person deals with their problems in their own way. Kyla says to her that she can't abandon her family making an unwanted reference that Diane did that.

In my opinion (which can be wrong) i think Diane did it in the hope that this will make things better. As you suggested, maybe it's a way for the lawsuit to go away, maybe it's in the hope that the hospital will be able to help Steve, who knows But i think she did it because she has hope that it will make things better in the end.

And what do you think about the next scene of her crying? Was she just conflicted about the decision, or was it because she lied before and Kyla was right about that she abandoned his son?
Because at that scene it occured to me that maybe she's crying because Kyla's words hit home and she did abandon Steven, she just doesn't want to admit it.

I agree with your interpretation,sjd912, but also I sensed that Die's ending emotional eruption of suppressed rage, anger, sorrow, was a signal that she too is much like her son in his behaviors. She has just learned to suppress them.

I don't know but, for me the suicide attempt was her tipping point don't you think? for me she was ready to tackle the lawsuit and all, but the fact that he was so damaged that he tried to take his own life when and where he did, made her realize that she couldn't do this by herself, not even with Kayla leading the way.
And her crying at the end was not just her feeling conflicted by her decision, I think it was the pain of seeing Kayla leave, as she wouldn't display her true feelings in front of her.

Based on the chronology of events, probably it was the tipping point, although it could've been more emphasised. But my main question is that do you interpret this as Diane not being able to cope with such great difficulties, or she sincerely thought that she's doing the best for Steven?

Personally, I think it's a combination of both of those reasons, but mostly the latter. The way that I see it is that Diane can take Steve being violent and having outbursts toward herself, but when he decides to try to take his own life, that's on another level for her.

Also, with this action by Steve, I think it does push the whole situation over the edge for her and she realizes that it's only a matter of time until he kills her, someone else, or himself. I think that she believes that sending him away is what is best for him. He may be upset with her because of it, but he will be alive. And at the end of the day, she still has hope for him. It may not turn out like she would want it to like in the dream sequence, but there is hope that he will survive, and that's something for her to hold on to.

It was both. Everything came pouring out at that one moment: Steve, the hospital, loneliness. That was the only time in the film she really her emotions out. That's what made it so powerful. The actresses' slight comic touch at that moment was really great too. Fantastic film.

There was a ton going on in that scene.

First, she's legitimately overjoyed for Kyla, and it's clear that she views moving to Toronto as some kind of escape. She's projecting her own feeling of entrapment onto Kyla. It's "I can't get out of here, but you can!"

Next and I think it may be more obvious in French when Kyla says "I can't abandon my family," I believe she is merely explaining why she can come over for neither apple pie nor apple crisp, because she has to help pack, etc. Of course, she immediately realizes it's a Freudian slip that reveals her reaction to Die institutionalizing Steve.

And finally, Die breaks down when Kyla leaves because the full import of what's happening hits her: Kyla may be escaping, but she's still trapped, and she's losing a close friend (and furthermore, one who had helped Steve).

This theme of escape, of course, sets up the final scene of Steve in the hospital, and I think reinforces the interpretation (see the threads I just bumped on the ending) that that's a fantasy of Steve's.

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