Harold
and Maude is my favorite movie.
I discovered it many years ago
while in high school, having heard about it once or twice through various pop
culture references (like There’s
Something About Mary). A friend of mind pointed it out to me in a video
store and told me I should buy it. “I haven’t seen it,” I protested. “I don’t
like buying movies I haven’t seen.”
“You’ll like this one,” she
insisted. “If you don’t, I’ll buy it off you.”
How could I lose? So, I bought it,
took it home, watched it, and fell in love with it.
I’ve watched it countless times and
have bought it twice more, first on DVD and then again on Blu-Ray (thank you,
Criterion!).
Whenever someone tells me what
their favorite movie is, I’m inclined to ask why. What is it about that
particular film that brings you back to it time and time again? For some, the
answer is simply entertainment. For others, it’s nostalgia. For me and Harold and Maude, it is because of the
film’s mindset, life-affirming but with a twisted sense of humor. The film is
rebellious, but sweet, a celebration of life that focuses on death and, on top
of all that, a love story that is about love, not just of another human being,
but of all humanity, of all that life and the world has to offer, the good and
the bad.
Before I continue, I should warn
you: SPOILERS AHEAD. If you haven’t seen the film, you might want to go do so
before reading any further.
