The Purple Rose of Cairo

The Purple Rose of Cairo


Woody Allen has always been recognized by his imagination and alternative ways in which the plots of his movies express different ideas of the time. The Purple Rose of Cairo exposes the life of ,arguably, average women during the Great Depression in the United States.
Women during the Great Depression not only had to hold family together, but also had to take the frustration of their husbands who were having difficult time finding a job. The character of Cecilia exemplifies this average women who fantasizes about a life of glamour and romance, but works at a cafe and lives with an abusive husband. The film industry becomes a distraction and an unattainable life fantasy for the average women.
The obsession of Cecilia with the fictional movie The Purple Rose Of Cairo exemplifies the need of a society to escape from the reality they lived. Film can be seen in this context as a good place to dream and appreciate other lifestyles, but it can also be a form of art that can take the life of individuals and prevent them to see the reality they live in. Cecilia fantasizes about a better life when she goes to the movies, but fails to do anything that could help her have a better lifestyle.
The group of characters in the fictional film that was playing in the New Jersey theater represent the reality of the upper class in the US during the Great Depression. They experience a very lavish lifestyle and enjoy traveling and arts while millions are unemployed and families across the United States suffer from hunger and poverty.
The development of the plot and specially the end reminds us of the importance of art, but at the same time shows us that we should also do something to better our own lives.

I believe that we experience the same problems today. Media tells us what to believe, what to dream, and what to do. We seem to be numbed out of the reality we live in. We sit down and watch TV and films while the United States goes into another recession. We fantasize about a better life style, watch how others have fun, and forget about the need to acknowledge the reality we live in. Economic crisis, the elimination of privacy, the unnecessary wars, the increase of the cost of education, among other issues should inspire us to learn and create change around us.
We continue to be numbed out just as Cecilia did, but in today's reality, the media has become a biggest part of our lives. Laptops, iPads, cellphones, TV on demand, etc. This devices have become the biggest part of their lives. We look more at a screen that the amount of time we spend talking to our families.
If we continue the example of Cecilia, once we decide to stand up and take charge of our lives it might be late. In the bright side, at least the movies will be there to console us.