Some undisclosed time ago, I was discussing movies with a girl. I can't remember where or when I was talking to this girl, nor can I remember who she was, where she was from, or what she looked like. Such details, though, are unimportant. I only remember talking to her about movies, and that in the course of our conversation she asked me what movies I liked. I listed a few of my favorites - all incredible films that have inspired and impressed me in life. Her response: "Oh, wow... you like really emotionally heavy movies."
I laughed.
Tonight I watched "The Education of Charlie Banks" - a movie that the girl would have described as "emotionally heavy." It made me think deeply, which I love. The main theme I took from the film was that you can't be too quick to judge people. Yes, I know this is something we're all taught from childhood, but the movie doesn't just throw this idea at you like a paper airplane. Instead, a master craftsman carefully pieces together a magnificent, miniature model that encapsulates the idea in a way you never grasped before.
I highly recommend it. And I'd continue with other thoughts I had, but it's late. I need to work in the morning.
One more closing thought: I judged the girl that night for having shallow taste in movies but, in retrospect, I should reconsider that notion.
-Barry
This post totally took me back to my International Cinema phase. When I was a freshman I would hike up to the SWKT two or three times a week to watch "emotionally heavy" movies. The Ninth Day. The Official Story. Joyeux Noël. etc. They made me want to dedicate my life to fighting evil.
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