Love...Death...Rebirth...Cat Stevens

Harold And Maude… Interesting film. A 1971 American black comedy with elements of dark humor and a plot that focuses on a young man named Harold who is very much intrigued with death. Harold was born into a lot of money.  He doesn’t receive much attention by his single mother, but when he does he is either being forced to date girls or he is told he is quite and strange.  Harold slowly becomes removbed from his home life and begins attending funerals for fun and meets Maude.  Maude is a 79 year-old woman soon to be turning 80.

He becomes intrigued by her opinions and stories about life. Maude is carefree and shows Harold how to enjoy life and all of its many pleasures; while Harold (who is obsessed with death) realizes there is a life beyond his conservative mother’s opinions. As Harold breaks out of his home-life-influences, his mother determines whom he will marry. She sets up dates for Harold with girls from a dating program. Harold manages to scare away all three of his dates by acting out various suicides. (Setting himself on fire was awesome).

Harold and Maude continue to see one another and become even closer.  The two sleep together and Harold soon announces his marriage with Maude. His family, psychiatrist, and priest hold much distaste to the situation. Harold throws a surprise birthday party for Maude’s 80^th birthday. Maude tells Harold that she "couldn't imagine a lovelier farewell".   That same night Maude died from over dosing on sleeping pills. 

I really enjoyed this film.  The black comedy (Harold’s suicides in particular) made me laugh endlessly.  The peppy Cat Stevens music really contrasted with the humor. It reinforced the audience’s perception of the film’s quirkiness.   I recalled Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

"Always look on the bright side of death,

Just before you draw your terminal breath.

Life's a piece of shit,

When you look at it.

Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.

You'll see it's all a show—

Keep 'em laughing as you go,

Just remember that the last laugh is on you!"

Harold and Maude opened my eyes.  One must understand both sides of life to really appreciate it.  This idea derived from the scene in which Harold notices Maude’s concentration camp tattoo. This showed me Maude didn’t care if Harold was weird or depressed she was able to see the beauty in him. In support, she states “Dreyfuss once wrote from Devil's Island that he could see the most glorious birds. Many years later he realized that they had only been seagulls. But TO ME they will always be glorious birds."  There is beauty in everything that we should take the time to notice.  One human being on Earth understood Harold and that was Maude.  This justified his love for someone so much older.

Although, this was a dark film; it is actually conveys many significations of rebirth.  Throughout the film, Harold slowly breaks away from acting out suicides and only uses such brilliance when needed (dates).  He shows signs of progression when he describes his depressing life, and how he staged his own death by setting the chemistry lab on fire. “I actually liked being dead.”  After Maude’s death, Harold drives his hearse off a cliff.  The speed of the car signifies how fast positive thinking can change someone’s life. When it is driven off the cliff the BLACK hearse signifies Harold’s depression being smashed. (Note in one scene he is smiling while driving the car up the mountain). The audience then understands Maude’s death brought new life in Harold, hence rebirth.

A black comedy…but a positive message.

Death….. followed by composition from the man conducting the peace train.

All around quirky. Gotta love it.