Spoiler alert. I’m going to write about a movie. I’m not going to get too deep into the plot but I’m going to discuss it a little so stop reading now if you don’t like that sort of thing. If you don’t like that sort of thing, you better stop reading my writing for the next year because I’m planning on weaving a whole lot of talk about cinema, theatre, visual art, photography, music, and whatever other art I can get my brain around onto these pages. Consider yourself warned and please, PLEASE, play along. Comment, write, tweet, text, participate. I’m on a mission to increase my worldscape.
As I often do, I spent yesterday evening at the movie theatre. I was expecting a light comedy. “Young Adult” with Charlize Theron turned out to be darker than I was hoping for. As the story unfolded, I found myself pulled pack to high school, to a mirror I kept in my locker, to a steamy shower room after gym class, to my own bathroom mirror, to any reflective surface I came across in the mid-1970’s. Back then I was seeking a blonde bombshell, Farrah, Christie. I found Michelle, brunette, freckled, NotBlonde. I yearned to be NotMe.
The film was uncomfortable for my fifty-one year old self. I suppose I haven’t stepped as far from my sixteen year old self as I’d like to believe.
The trailers had me believing that Theron’s character would leave the big city, go back to her hometown and reconnect with her now-famous first love. Hilarity would follow, brought on by her acerbic, slightly bitchy antics. Hilarious wouldn’t be my word for it. Pathetic is closer. Theron does pathetic like few others can. Remember “Monster”? Dial that back, put it in a fetching package and you’ve got “Young Adult”.
So, to passion. My New Year’s Resolution is to look past my own (passions) and to learn from others’. I came home from the movie and Google’d the actress. Reading about the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, I’m impressed at the way this celebrity is using her notoriety to push for change. She’s always seemed very glamorous to me - red carpet, Oscar, etc, etc. Working against HIV/AIDs strikes me as the opposite of glamorous. It strikes me as work.
What it comes down to is this. I plunk down my money to be removed from reality for a couple of hours. I make the assumption that the beautiful men and women who’ve been hired to play roles in the films love what they do. Why? Because I NEED them to love it. I’m paying my hard-earned cash for them to entertain me. But if I let it play out just a little further…perhaps I’m actually part of what they need to do. Maybe my cash helps them move toward living their passion? (I can dream.) Perhaps we can all play a part in each others’ passions if we are brave enough and smart enough to step out and do what we are meant to do.
Blessings on you, Ms. Theron, for doing what you’re doing. Who knows how long you will, but I can see now that the acting is a job that you happen to do very well. The work you’re doing, that’s entirely different. There are really no words to describe it.
©Michelle Scofield, December 29, 2011 All Rights Reserved
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I'm generally intensely aware of the interconnectedness of us all. But you reminded me of a perspective I hadn't (recently) thought about. As the pastor said at my dad's memorial service this week, if we don't pursue our passions (as did my father), you don't really live. Thank you, M, and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you! I'm thrilled that you and I are now connected. Let's get together soon. :)
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of something someone said on TIBU before it closed. He said that one of the great things about that site was it seemed to be a constant source of inspiration for everyone, and looking back now, I wholly agree. It was a creative well which we all drew on. We shared our stories, we read something that inspired us to write, and the circle just perpetuated itself.
ReplyDeleteThe universe has such a holistic nature that far too often we're caught up in our minutiae to take a step back and appreciate the beauty of it all. Regardless of whether or not you believe in God, or any god for that matter, the world is a wondrous and beautiful place, made all the more so by what we as people share with each other.
Your resolution is a good one. I hope you can stick to it. Your life will be all the richer for it, as will everyone else's.
Sooooo nice to hear from you, RH! It's been awhile. Thanks for the lovely comment and the reminder. At this time I'm compelled to stick with it but I'm also a one day at a timer. So I'll just do that. Take care, M.
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