The meaning of Life is to Live it

[nisaa]

I have a bumper sticker that says that inside my organizer so I see it every day. (Not exactly the line from Buffy , which is "The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.'" - thank you, boymaenad for the correction.)

Just saw The Hours with merchimerch. It was really good and I think I probably should have cried but I didn't. Um, won't spoil it for those of you who want to but haven't seen it yet. Nicole Kidman was wonderful and almost unrecognizable as Virginia Woolf, but I've seen her in enough movies now to recognize her mannerisms. Juliane Moore did a fabulous job as the suburban 50's housewife. And Meryl Streep is so much more beautiful in the film than on the movie poster (She always has been one of my favorite actresses, ever since Sophie's Choice , which was my favorite movie once upon a time ).

And, get this, I don't even really think that The Hours is a chick flick. The main characters are women but the stuff of the movie is something that everyone can relate to (boredom, depression, suicidal tendencies - ok, maybe not everyone, but it certainly has been me at some points in my life, esp. high school).

Not the most depressing film I've ever seen - that honor goes to Dancer in the Dark , starring Bjork and Catherine Deneuve. (Take some anti-depressants - even borrow some from your friends before you think about seeing that film).

That's all for now.

Comments

[boymaenad.livejournal.com]

'The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.'

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

Ok, thanks tor the correction. Wow, it's even better. I can't remember the lines as well as I can remember the songs. I know Buffy said it before she threw herself off the tower. What sticks out in my head is Dawn saying it to Buffy at the end of the musical.

[boymaenad.livejournal.com]

I never really dug that line. who says that's the hardest thing? and if it is, what does it mean? is it the hardest thing to live, or to live well, or to live according to your principles? and what kind of thing is that to say to Dawn - keep living, because it sucks?

I just don't get it.

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

When Buffy said it to Dawn, I think she was telling her, 'I'm done. I've done what I needed to do and my life has been very hard. You haven't been living very long [as a human anyway] and this is my lesson to you: LIVE. And don't forget me.'

I think when Dawn said it back to Buffy it was like throwing cold water at her to wake her up. "Guess what, you're alive and you now you have to LIVE." That is, more than just exist , you have to live. I think it was more powerful and positive when Dawn said it.

I am unable to make this point as clearly as I want to right now. But maybe it makes some sense?

[boymaenad.livejournal.com]

yes...some... thanks.

[merchimerch.livejournal.com]

I was a sobbing mess through most of the hours, but it was so good - I totally agree that it is not just a chick flick, though it had so many more female characters than most of the films I've seen. Just so many - it made me realize how normative males really are in film. It was great to see such subtlety portrayed by the the main characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though it was possibly the most depressing film I've ever seen.