The movie I would like to live in
High time for me to confess something terrible, something which will potentially end my friendship with the other two contributors of this blog but I have to come out of the closet: I’m not particularly fond of movies. In fact: I don’t like movies. (Let’s put my hatred towards the sheer act of going to the cinema aside for the time being.) Watching movies is a rather boring and passive activity. Let’s admit it, most films are kind of predictable. Or far-fetched. All you are asked to do is stare at the big screen. Not much of an interaction. There must be true masterpieces out there no doubt about that, I just prefer reading or going to the theatre or to concerts. Problem nr. 1 but let’s tackle this somehow. So obviously I should select one of those few films which gave me goosebumps and had me thinking for a while (oh yes, there WERE some!). Now this is where I encounter problem nr. 2 Hungarians are a truly, deeply miserable folk, miserable beyond help, possibly the most pessimistic nation on this planet. Consequently, the films I like are a) tragic dramas b) disturbing motion pictures. Why on earth would i want to live in any of them? Blue Valentine prefectly demonstrating the futility of ideals and the inevitable collaps of any relationship? Gummo which turns your neighbourhood into a scary freakshow? El Laberinto del Fauno putting a child protagonist into a fantasy world which happens to merge with the Francoist period? Dancer in The Dark which just breaks your heart and makes you think twice before trusting anybody in your environment? Dead Man Walking set in a US prison starring a rapist and killer on death row? Wes Anderson with all his fucked up child/adolescent characters? No thanks. The one and only movie I could come up with was Big Fish. I would really be OK with living in Edward Bloom’s fantasy world - not in his real life though where he is struggling with cancer and where he is trying to reconcile with his estranged son. Edward Bloom’s vivid imaginary life features a fairy-tale environment. In it he is a fairly normal but ambitious and sympathetic character. He is popular and cheerful but also adventurous. Warm and inviting colors dominate the scenes, the music is pleasant and it is set in some random, beautiful corner of Alabama. The characters are positive and every menacing thing turns out to be harmless in the end. Beautiful vintage dresses, driving around in a Buick..what more could I ask for? Yes, I would definitely go for Big Fish.
Photo: Columbia Pictures Industries Inc.