Harold and Maude is a terrific movie,
probably one of the best of the semester so far. I didn’t really find it too funny, besides the
cop scene, but rather serious and tragic. I did provide me with much to think
about though.
One
thing I saw in this movie was a kind of forbidden love. In Western, and
especially American culture, it is frowned upon to be in love with or marry
someone who is very old, which we saw by the reactions of the priest,
psychiatrist, uncle and mother. I connected this taboo with the rather outdated
view on homosexuality, which has been all over the news lately. My thought was
“love is love” as along as you love someone who cares if they are old, young,
male, or female?
Next
I saw a similarity to the Romeo and Juliet story, which was alluded to in the
movie. One of the couple, Maude in this case, kills themself and their lover
also decides to die. Harold did not physically die, but left his old
self/personality in that wrecked car on the beach. We then see him playing the
banjo as he strolls away, reborn.
I
liked the idea that Maude presented; the sorrow in the world comes from unique
individuals who allow them to be treated like just another person in the crowd.
I would have to agree. Western culture has a kind of guideline for how one is
to act. Most people follow this “guideline” and don’t really express
themselves, if this is observed in life it causes sorrow. And once the people
who strictly follow this “guideline” begin to die, they realize that they
haven’t truly lived, causing even more sorrow.
I
couldn’t help but think about the Boy who
Cried Wolf during the suicide scenes. If his rough estimate was 15 suicides
and his mother was used to these marvelous bits of acting, what would happen if
he actually died, killed himself, or was murdered? His mother would just blow
it off because she’d probably think it was just another one of his acts.
Another
thought, was it just me or did Harold become less pale as the movie went on?
I
think the cop scene was funny because it is something I think that we’d all
like to do, but we don’t because we’re afraid of the consequences. Also the
reaction of the cop is pretty good, just dumbfounded at Maude’s actions, and
how she can be so nonchalant about what she has done.
I
feel that Maude truly follows the philosophies of Carpe Diem and/or YOLO (as
much as I hate that acronym). One needs to seize the day because you only live
once, Maude does that and she dies happy rather than regretful.
I am
really glad that this movie was on the list of this semester it is quickly
becoming one of my favorite movies, the more and more I think about it. This
comedy definitely leaves us with much to think about and much to talk about on Monday.
I never noticed whether Harold became less pale as the film went on, but it would make sense. He spent a lot more time outside once he met Maude.
ReplyDeleteI liked your comment of how Harold's old self died in the car wreck and he was reborn.
ReplyDeleteYou made an interesting point with the Juliet and Romeo metaphor. I think that Harold broke the stereotype in that he became better after Maude's death- he let himself live. Her sacrifice changed him as a man and allowed him to love and live.
ReplyDelete