Back of the garbage truck
One of Royal's favorite things to do with his grandchildren, Ari and Uzi, is to take them out and teach them about living recklessly. Part of this plan of bringing them to various places in the city and getting into all sorts of trouble involves riding on the back of the city's garbage trucks. The image of the older gentleman riding on the back of a garbage truck with his two cherubic grandchildren is evocative, illustrating that Royal has never quite grown up. Royal's stunted maturity is part of what makes him so infuriating to his family members, but it also charms and endears him to his grandchildren, allowing him to connect with them in a way that others cannot. The image of them riding on the garbage truck shows Royal's fun-loving spirit and enjoyment of life, however foolish he may be.
Margot smoking in the bath
Throughout the film, Margot is shown almost constantly smoking. This nasty habit represents her sophisticated spirit and her disillusionment with life, as if she herself were a disaffected character in one of her plays. The most evocative image of Margot smoking occurs early in the film when she is sitting in an empty bathtub smoking and watching television. This image represents Margot's private and secretive world, in which she doesn't have to answer to anyone and can simply wallow in her own depressive fantasies.
Richie shaving
A beautiful and disturbing montage in the film occurs before Richie attempts suicide. After learning of Margot's affairs, Richie goes into the bathroom and cuts his beard and his hair in the mirror. This image of him exposing his face to the world represents his coming to terms with his own demons, his seemingly impossible love for his sister, and his deep mental anguish. It is a moment of cleansing and coming to terms, but it is accompanied by a shocking instance of self-harm. As soon as he is done cutting off his hair, Richie cuts his wrists, a disturbing moment of violence that sends him to the hospital. This montage shows that Richie is exceedingly sensitive, attuned to the beauty as well as the sorrows of existence, and that he is having trouble facing and loving himself.
Margot getting off the bus
When Richie arrives in New York, Margot picks him up at the docks. When the bus carrying Richie's chaperone first arrives, we do not know who it will be. There is a suspended moment of silence as the bus pulls up, and as the doors open, Nico's version of "These Days" plays and Margot emerges in her signature fur coat. The image communicates a great deal about the complicated and melancholic feelings Richie has towards Margot, and the affection she feels for him. Margot emerging from the bus and smiling at Richie is a beautiful and tender, but also sad image in the film, and shows that their situation is very complicated.
