“Big Fan” Has a Big Aquarius Moon

I saw the movie Big Fan on the recommendation of Memphis astrologer Jennifer Harber who compared it with The Fan, the movie about a disturbed SF Giants fan that I recently wrote about. The principle character of each movie is an out-of-whack follower of his favorite team. Interestingly, each is demented in a way that reflects the Moon sign of their team.  The Moon in the birthchart of a sports team is embodied in its fanbase. I find it fascinating that these two movies about fans of specific teams reflect the Moon signs of their teams. The San Francisco Giants have the Moon in Scorpio whereas the New York Giants have the Moon in Aquarius. Robert DiNiro’s character in The Fan embodies the SF Giants Scorpio Moon through anger and violence. Paul Aufiero, the protagonist in Big Fan, embodies the New York Giants’ Aquarius Moon through extreme identification with the Giants and great personal sacrifices for the good of his team.

The transits for the day of the movie’s release are striking. Big Fan was released on Aug. 29, 2009 while the New York Giants were having a Mars return. The Giants’ Mars is in Cancer, the sign of fans. Also on the release date, the Moon and Pluto were conjunct in Capricorn and opposite to the Giants Mars in Cancer.  I am not a New York Giants fan, nor have I discussed this movie with New York fans, but I imagine that the release of this movie presented a mirror to the Giants fanbase. The Pluto opposition would insist that they look deeply at themselves.

Big Fan is the story of Paul Aufiero, whom I give the sign of Aquarius for his insistence on doing things his own way and his devotion as a team player. Paul is an over-the-top afficionado of the New York Giants. Like every Aquarius, Paul has a loyal friend and partner in his cause. Paul and his friend Sal live for the New York Giants. Neither can afford tickets to a game, but they drive to the parking lot of the Meadowlands on Sundays where they watch the home games on a TV powered by their car’s battery while they endure the cold weather. Paul has a low-end job as a parking garage attendant. His mother and brother nag him to pursue better opportunities, but Aquarius Paul resists such social pressure and is content with his quirky lifestyle. Of course, Paul lives at home with his mother who regularly criticized him. Late at night, Paul calls talk radio stations and raves about the Giants and hurls verbal attacks on rival teams. He is articulate in his rants and attacks but only because, while he is on the clock at work, he writes out a script of what he will say on the air.

The story turns on a night that Paul and Sal are having pizza. They notice Giants quarterback Quantrell Bishop in their borough of Staten Island. He and his entourage appear to be purchasing drugs. Paul and Sal follow him to a strip club where they approach him with the intent to laud over him. At first the quarterback is friendly, but when Paul reveals that they followed him from Staton Island, the QB becomes hostile.  He assaults Paul who is badly hurt and hospitalized. The Giants quarterback is suspended indefinitely as the investigation plays out.

With their quarterback suspended, the Giants lose game after game and slip in the standings. Paul does not talk to the detective investigating the case. He claims he is waiting for his memory to return. His brother, who is a lawyer, pushes him to sue the quarterback. Then his brother files a lawsuit on his behalf without his consent. Paul does not condone the lawsuit and he does not want to file charges against the quarterback. This would hurt his beloved team.

The sign of Aquarius cares deeply about humanity in its collective embodiments. It cares more about groups than about individuals or oneself. Paul Aufiero embodies the New York Giants Aquarius Moon through his thorough identification with the team. He does not have a romantic relationship, nor does he have hobbies or interests outside the New York Giants. To Paul, It’s all about the team.

Sadly, there is more to the Giants Moon and the character of Paul Aufiero than the sign of Aquarius. The Giants’ Moon is opposed by Neptune in Leo.  This Neptune opposition can bring a painful inability to see reality. One can be easily decieved and taken advantage of. The Neptune fog comes with overly romantic yearnings like those of Don Quijote, idealizations of an other that is out of touch with the true state of a relationship. As the movie approaches is denouement, the 1970s pop song “Delta Dawn” is played. The lyrics of Delta Dawn describe a woman who was jilted by a lover many years before but still carries her packed suitcase as she waits for him to return and take her to “his mansion in the sky.”

Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by?
And did I hear you say he was a-meeting you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky?

She’s 41 and her daddy still calls her “baby”
All the folks ’round Brownsville say she’s crazy
‘Cause she walks down town with a suitcase in her hand
Looking for a mysterious dark-haired man

In her younger days, they called her Delta Dawn
Prettiest woman you ever laid eyes on
Then a man of low degree stood by her side
And he promised her he’d take her for his bride

Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by?
And did I hear you say he was a-meeting you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky?

The character of Paul Aufiero is a gentle soul whose team does not appear to return his love. But the experience of such a sports fan should not be reduced to simple unrequited love. There is an intangible spiritual fulfilment that a fan like Paul Aufiero does receive. His life does not appear robust, but the quality of his devotion and fulfillment is something to acknowledge.

Watch Big Fan for free on tubitv. https://tubitv.com/movies/724374/big-fan