I often think to myself what it is that draws me to film. I know I love them, and good or bad I can always find something to love about any movie. (Except Madame Web, god what a shit show).
But looking at it, I wasn’t sure what that thing is. Until recently that is. When I watched a TikTok series from content creator Drout of him watching The Lord of the Rings series for the first time. Then it hit me. What I love most about movies is the feeling.
See, there’s nothing in my experience quite like what a movie can accomplish. In the span of 90+ minutes, I can cry, I can laugh, I can feel sad, I can be overcome with joy, I can be angry, and I can love. The full range of emotions are there. But what’s so unique is that no two people will experience it the same way. And seeing people have those experiences for the first time or the hundredth time can be just as satisfying as experiencing yourself.
My favorite stories, like the original Star Wars or Good Will Hunting allow me to dream of universes far away or search deep within myself for feelings I didn’t know were there. Before Sunrise taught me that love can come from anywhere. Chef taught me to pursue my what makes me happy. The Perks of Being a Wallflower showed me that just being me is truly enough. With each film, I learn more about who I am, or I dream about what could be.
With movies, we are all in one big therapy group. When a movie makes someone cry, you can be there and say, “I know how you feel”. When you’re able to celebrate, you can do it with people who get it with you.
See there’s a sense of community that I believe everyone belongs to. From the most avid cinephile to the folks new to the art. Everyone has a purpose in film. Your favorite film could be Harakiri or it could be Avengers: Endgame. It doesn’t matter.
Out of all of it, though, movies can allow you to dream. One day, you’re whisked away into a fantasy world full of dragons and sword fights. The next, you could be a detective on the case of a hardened criminal. Then, you’re a fish looking for his lost son in the deep blue sea, or a prisoner seeking redemption through the arts. There are endless possibilities in what you can be. That’s exciting! It’s refreshing. It keeps the imagination going.
And movies move across generations. It doesn’t matter if you’re 17 watching your first black and white picture from the 40s or 87 seeing the latest film to win Best Picture. The stories are there for people to enjoy.
So, as I reminisce through this rambling, wordy essay in bed with my cat laying on my chest, I can’t help but crack a smile. I lay in excitement of the stories I have yet to see and in fond remembrance of the stories I know and love so much. So, thank you, movies, for allowing this 25-year-old nobody to have a lifetime of experiences and emotions, and for allowing me to continue to dream.
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