Harold and Maude
The cult classic Harold and Maude (1971) follows melodramatic protagonist Harold Chasen, as he grows from a rebellious rich, young teenager to a man who has learned to appreciate life with the help of vivacious senior citizen, Maude. Before Maude, Harold was misunderstood, merely existing rather than living. He would act out his own death on multiple occasions in hopes to provoke emotion out of his self-absorbed mother. In his free time, he would attend the funerals of people he had never met in order to live, or to be dead, vicariously through them. Enter Maude: an elderly free spirit who believes in "trying something new every day" and living life to the fullest. Within each other, they find a companion who accepts them for who they are. This eccentric duo brings out the best in each other and teaches the other a thing or two about life in this profound, life-affirming black comedy.
The driving force behind this Hal Ashby film was the witty screenplay, with clever dialogue and quality character development. Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort breathe life into their quirky characters, making them both endearing and memorable. The universal truth that life is what you make of it is unveiled, and these unlikely heroes bring you into their carefully crafted world. The soundtrack -most notably Cat Steven's "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" - leaves audiences humming for months after their initial viewing, and reinforces the message of the film that "you can do what you want/the opportunity's on."
While many might consider Harold and Maude to be off-putting, this cult film is alarmingly charming. Under the direction of Ashby, everything fell into place. Despite a lull or two for the slower paced moments of the film, the overall piece is brilliantly written, directed, and acted. From the first scene of a staged suicide to the last of a life-affirming skipping and cartwheels, Ashby takes you for a ride of growth, love, and life.
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