Credit: Nolan, Christopher. (Director). (2014). Interstellar [Film]. Paramount Pictures.
Here’s another, far shorter, post regarding a piece of the Heroes’ Journey narrative structure. Spoilers of the film Interstellar ahead, so be warned: SPOILERS BELOW!
I wanted to focus a little on a single scene from Interstellar which has made me break into tears each of the thirteen times I have seen it. It is specifically the “Years of Messages” scene. This is an absolutely stunning and gut-wrenching example of The Ordeal in which Cooper realizes one of his worst fears regarding the relativistic risks of his mission on his family. Matthew McConaughey perfectly acts out the instantaneous relief and happiness that Cooper feels upon seeing that his son’s alive, well, and living a life that he feels proud of; with the depths of despair at his irrecoverable loss of time in their lives following quickly on those emotions’ heels. The music, masterfully composed by Hans Zimmer, and McConaughey’s acting drags out every drop of empathy from me each and every time and makes the loss hit home with me. While there are a number of issues which preclude me from selecting it as my favourite film, this moment will always draw from a deep well of personal emotion.
It’s one hell of an Ordeal gut-punch.
