I decided this weekend that Stranger than Fiction is one of my new favorite movies. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it, and you probably don't want to read this blog...It will ruin it for you, and it won't really make that much sense.
Seriously, if you haven't seen the movie, go see it, and then read this...
So, this was my second time watching the film, and it was better the second time around. Knowing the ending really made a big difference. As I was watching it, I was thinking to myself, "At the end of this movie, Harold Crick is going to willingly throw himself in front of a moving bus to save the life a stranger." So knowing that, I began to look at the man at the beginning of the movie. He is lonely, lives a life of solitude, routine, without adventure, without chaos, without other people. I would not have guessed that this Harold would save anothers life. So what was it that made the difference?
With the realization that his life is about to end, he begins to realize that maybe the life he has been living is not quite up to par. Another character in the movie, a literature professor trying to discover which story Harold is a part of, suggests that Harold start living his life instead of worrying about his death. He suggests that Harold just stop what he's doing and eat nothing but pancakes. Harold responds by saying, "What is wrong with you? Hey, I don't want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live! I mean, who in their right mind in a choice between pancakes and living chooses pancakes?" The professor responds, " Harold, if you pause to think, you'd realize that that answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led... and, of course, the quality of the pancakes."
And then something happens to Harold Crick. He discovers the amazing joy that comes with being a part of a community, being a part of the lives of other people. He learns to love, he learns to laugh, he becomes a better friend, and begins to understand what it means to make the most out of life today, and how to look at others in his life and begin bless them.
This was really a good reminder to me of the richness of community, and that a life of solitude is not what we are called to. Community is difficult. It is messy and can be tiring because it means interacting with other people. But in the end, it is that community that brings about life.
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3 comments:
I'll have to try to catch that movie. Another 'have-to-see-it-again-movie' is from FoxFaith Films: "ThrEe" - a little of Sixth Sense mixed in.
Enjoy xoxox Mom
we tried to watch it at our little theatre, but apparently it's in the "no man zone" ...maybe we'll catch it on a flight somewhere.
Have you seen The Queen? Another must see movie! Those brits have a great sense of humor...and that accent! Oh don't get me started on their accents!
Love,
lissa
I know this was a post from long long ago, but I recently saw this movie, and so I want to leave my thoughts:
I too think it is great. My reason (although I like your comments on community a lot... the depth of your insights compared to mine will most certainly prove to any readers that you have your masters and I don't, but nevertheless I want to write) for liking it was the part when the author of Harold Crick's life says something along the lines of: "when someone knows they are going to die, and does it anyways... well that's the type of person you want to keep alive."
When I heard that I couldn't help but think of Jesus. The one man that knew he was going to die, and did it anyway (and with humility and honor). He's the type of person you want to keep alive... which is why I love Easter. Because in the end, we see that he is alive after all. Just like Harold. Just like Aslan.
OK, that was my thought. Great movie. I wish the copy I had was in Spanish so I could show it to the shoe shiners.
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