Martes, Marso 13, 2012

Film Sharing Series: 1: The Lovely Bones



          I won't be doing any film reviews on my blog. Though it's a longtime dream of mine to be a film critic, I couldn't possibly pretend to be knowledgeable about the aspects of filmmaking, screenwriting, and acting. True to the purposes of this blog, I just wish to share my thoughts on some movies that struck a chord in me, whether as a friend, as a daughter, as a mother, as a lover, or simply as a woman. With this in mind, it would be easier for me to choose which kind of movies to watch and share with those who, like me, are looking for some inspiration and enlightenment.

         Since I'm a busy woman, I have an excuse for not being up-to-date with the latest films and for not having the luxury of watching blockbuster movies in a moviehouse whenever I want to. But this doesn't bother me at all. Most of the time, I ask my friends or check the Internet for good movies to watch. Most of what I consider good are indie films. Except for some days when I just wanna relax and see a romantic comedy or an animated film or something that would lift my spirits up. Well, honestly, most days are like that.

         I've seen many good films, but the one that inspired me to start this "film sharing series" on my blog is "The Lovely Bones". I heard somewhere that this a great movie to watch. I highly recommend this to mothers like me.

    
     "The Lovely Bones" is an adaptation of the award-winning novel of the same title by Alice Sebold. This supernatural drama was directed by Peter Jackson. The story of "The Lovely Bones" revolves around a 14-year-old girl named Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan), who was raped and murdered by their middle-aged neighbor, George Harvey (Stanley Tucci). She remained in her personal heaven to watch over her family and friends and to seek justice for her death. As her family struggled to look for her murderer and to go on living without her, she gradually learned to accept her own death and to let go of the life that was taken away from her so abruptly.

         In the movie, one of the killer's victims is a 6-year-old girl. This has greatly affected me because my daughter is of the same age and I just shiver with fear at the thought of losing her to such brutality. As I was watching this film, I had this strong urge to call my mom and tell her not to let my daughter play outside. It's just NOT SAFE. Then I reassured myself that my mom would never let her granddaughter out of her sight. As much as I want to protect her from all things bad, she deserves to enjoy her childhood and live a normal life without fear. We can only do so much to protect our loved ones.

          The film showed us the painful reality of how a death could shatter a family. But it also taught us how love, forgiveness, and acceptance could help a family heal and live a normal life again, together.

         Towards the end of the movie, Susie finally realized that she was ready to leave her life behind and enter heaven with Harvey's other victims. But then, she went back to do one last thing. I was expecting her to do something to stop Harvey from escaping the authorities and from burying her remains in the sinkhole. But until the end, she's still that sweet girl who longed to be kissed by her crush. She did just that. And then she left... for good.

         Let me quote the touching last lines spoken by Susie about 'the lovely bones' - referring to her family and friends who found strength in each other after her death:


          "These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence: the connections—sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent—that happened after I was gone. And I began to see things in a way that let me hold the world without me in it. The events my death brought were merely the bones of a body that would become whole at some unpredictable time in the future. The price of what I came to see as this miraculous lifeless body had been my life. My name is Salmon, like the fish; first name Susie. I was 14 years old when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. I was here for a moment and then I was gone. I wish you all a long and happy life."



3 komento:

  1. Great post Irene! Truly touching! It's definitely true that we can only do so much to protect our loved ones. Since I don't have any children, I think about my own safety when I am alone at home or going out. At times I see how much crime is going on around me and how many people are suffering and my husband often reminds me to never be afraid nor to show that I am when in public when it comes to being in a questionable environment. Live in the moment and enjoy...Thanks for sharing this!!! XoXo

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  2. In the movie, one of the killer's victims is a 6-year-old girl. This has greatly affected me because my daughter is of the same age and I just shiver with fear at the thought of losing her to such brutality.

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    TumugonBurahin