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| Cover of Harold and Maude |
The movie did surprised me by its story - a young man falling in love with an 79 year-old woman. But my surprise was almost immediately replaced by a feeling of great "satisfaction": a boy falling love with an old lady, and he proposed to her! That's the whole point - we are free to love whoever we love! Needless to mention that Maude is absolutely irresistible.
This unorthodox movie is all about "life". For this purpose, it breaks "rules", smashes "common sense". How did Maude got away from "stealing" cars, violating traffic laws I don't know; how could a young man be so creepily obsessed with death? Is it possible for a man in such a young age (Harold appears to be a boy to me) to love a 79 year-old romantically? All these are not important and the movie didn't even care to explain, because (by my understanding) it only focuses on one thing: free ourselves from "unnecessary" bounds, thus we could feel the true joy of life.
And the joy of life is "love". At the end of movie we see more love continues, like Maude told Harold: "Then go and love some more." I think, all Maude - an old lady that is about to die - brought to Harold's life - a young life that is so obsessed with death, is just this one simple gift: the joy of life.
"Life" is all Maude cares, as we heard from the conversation between them:
Harold: Maude, do you pray?
Maude: Pray? No, I communicate.
Harold: with God?
Maude: LIFE!
Another great thing of watching this movie is to listen again all those Cat Stevens' songs, with which I was obsessed during my college time. Gosh I did not know that all these songs were in such a wonderful movie! Interesting thing is back then, I hardly understand any lyrics but now, when I was watching movie, words came out almost crystal clearly. Also they are so simply written, just like the movie.
Yes, life is simple. If you want to sing out, sing out.
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Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
’cause there’s a million things to be
You know that there are
And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
...
One of my favorite movies, yunyi. So life-affirming. Ruth Gordon was a phenomenal actress as well as a free spirit in real life. The whole script is so marvelous, funny and unconventional.
ReplyDeletethanks np!
ReplyDeleteI haven't see this one, but certainly something to check out. I love the snippet of conversation you posted here.... the clarity of vision that Maude exemplifies. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeletethanks sb. it's a great movie!
ReplyDeleteA perplexing and interesting movie, I agree.
ReplyDeleteMaude is fabulous and funny. Anything is possible and so could a relationship between Maude and Harold last? Why not? It wouldn't take very long until Maude dies, right? (Sorry, don't mean to be morbid.)
There are all kinds of love, so why not this kind? As far as making it into a workable relationship...doubtful. Age difference is such a "time bomb."
Yes, I too loved that movie, though it's more than 30 years since I saw it.
ReplyDelete@psachno, indeed it's doubtful, but, it could happen. however i take this movie more as a metaphor, or philosophy.
ReplyDelete@Steve Hayes, thanks!