In John Sayles’ Lone Star, the main character Sheriff Sam Deeds is deeply in love with a teacher name Pilar Cruz. Their relationship did not start as adults, but when they were still children way back in high school. Although their relationship might seem to be a normal man-woman relationship, we see that there is more to this unusual relationship. Throughout the movie Sayles hints at this unusual relationship such as when Pilar says, “I was on the playground with all the other kids, but I thought he was only looking at me.” This shows that she was special, different from the rest of her peers and hints at the ending of the movie. By the end, we see that the two are actually siblings. John Sayles uses their unusual relationship to challenge the way we and society view sexual taboos and makes us question what is a sexual taboo and what makes it so wrong. A sexual taboo is a “code” created by society that should never be broken and in the case of Sam Deeds and Pilar’s, they have broken the sexual taboo of incest. They fell in love as kids and continued to carry that love within them, even after they have been separated for a long period of time. Although they have broken this taboo, the blame cannot be put on them. Near the end of the movie, Sam says, “Yeah, and my mother was a saint. For fifteen years the whole damn town knew he had another woman on the side. Stole ten thousand dollars to set her up in business. But hell, what's that? You got a problem? Buddy'll fix it. Facing some time in jail? Buddy'll knock half of it off--if you do what he says, when he says. You got some business that's not exactly legal? Talk to Buddy--“ Sam’s father, Buddy Deeds has committed many sins and even murdered Charlie Wade but everyone kept their mouths shut. No one was willing to say anything because they were able to receive benefits from Buddy. If they had a problem “Buddy’ll fix it.” Sayles presents us with this taboo and hints at it but does not reveal it until the very end. Even though this is a taboo anyone would say is wrong and should not be allowed to continue, Sayles shows us that it is not the fault of those who are involved in the taboo, but the fault of those around them. Their taboo is a result of the sin society has committed on them and for them to be allowed to continue their relationship is the only way that society can redeem itself. If the society had not turned a blind eye on their relationship and let them know the truth before it went too far, the taboo would never have been broken. Another question is what makes a sexual taboo a taboo? Is it religion? Is it history? Or is it something else? Even though Sam and Pilar finds out that they are siblings, they are still willing to continue their relationship. Sayles challenges our beliefs when Pilar says, “I'm not having any more children. After Amado, I had some complications-- I can't get pregnant again, if that's what the rule is about—“ The main reason many believe that incest is a sexual taboo is because of the increased chance of genetic defects within the offsprings; however, Pilar states that “I can't get pregnant again, if that's what the rule is about” meaning that since she can no longer give birth, the genetic defects would not be a valid excuse to go against their relationship. Many would argue that it is wrong because it was how they were raised and grew up with that belief, but if Pilar can no longer give birth, what difference would it make if they were related or not compared to other “normal” relationships? In the movie, Otis says that “By blood you are. But blood only means what you let it.” Both Pilar and Sam were born with the same blood, but that does not mean that they should allow that blood to control their lives. If they themselves do not allow their blood to mean any more than just blood, then no one else should have the right to choose their path for them. The reason Sayles presents their relationship this way is to show us the opinions we have throughout their relationship. Their beginning seems normal so the opinions were mainly positive or neutral but as the movie continued, more details were revealed and the opinions began to shift towards the negative side. Even though their relationship is no different from normal people, they receive negative attitude because they are related. Because society is merciless and only considers the benefits and not the consequences, situations such as incest occur. However, this is not the whole point Sayles is trying to make. It is not only incest that is the problem. Society as a whole is a problem. People will do whatever they have to in order to reap the most benefits as long as they are not affected negatively. In order to receive benefits without the backlash, they did not reveal the truth to the two lovers, because if they did Buddy would not be the sheriff and some else would replace him. Someone else that will most likely not be any better than Charlie Wade.

Works Cited
Lone Star. Dir. John Sayles. Pref. Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Morton, Elizabeth Pena. Castle Rock Entertainment, 1995.