I grew up watching movies all day in a film-loving family, so I was very surprised that I hadn’t even heard of this when a friend showed me ‘Harold and Maude’ back in 2004. And I’m even more surprised that I haven’t come across any reference of this film ever since. So, lets spread the word. :)
I was going through a very hard time of my life, facing
depression already for two years. Life seamed to have no meaning, not just for
me but in general. Someone thought ‘Harold and Maude’ might help me. It did.
‘Harold and Maude’ depicts a relationship with
a significant age gap, that might be controversial for contemporary viewers.
Yet ultimately this taboo isn’t important, as the film is dealing with this,
and suicide, euthanasia, and freedom, in a magical way.
For me was never about the age difference. It made my 2004
self to realise that life sucks only because it ends. And that is the stupidest
reason for suicide ever.
Having said that, the film shows that we do not need to be
passive in front of death. We don’t have to ‘go gentle into that good night’.
*
It made me think of an imaginary audience, that watches me
every time I get dark thoughts again, and it makes me wonder: What would my
imaginary audience think?
The film forces us to ask ourselves: Have I lived, before
making plans to leave?
*Poem by Dylan Thomas
