This year was the first Christmas Eve in a long time that my parents and I didn't have travel plans or a big Christmas gathering to attend. My entire life we'd spent the 24th having a big, formal dinner at my grandparent's home. But after the unfortunate death of my grandfather this past summer, our regular routine suddenly changed. At first, I was dreading the arrival Christmas Eve. I felt, sad and awkwardly unsure about how to cope with the loss of my Grandpa's tradition. But rather than spend the day grieving, we decided to remember the important parts of the holiday season and see a movie as a family.
Unfortunately, my local movie theater never has much to offer other than raunchy, not-that-funny comedies and the latest Pixar hit. Since none of the current films out really interested any of us, we almost bailed on the plan all together. But rather than lose hope, my mom did some skilled Googling and found the the perfect solution: "It's A Wonderful Life" was playing at a theater just a few towns over.
The iconic 1946 film has been a Christmas favorite in most households since it was first released and has been dubbed by the American Film Institute as "The Most Inspiring Film of All Time" (http://www.afi.com/100Years/cheers.aspx). The touching tale of George Bailey's sacrifice for his family and his rescue by a real-life guardian angel has become familiar part of our culture and is almost synonymous with the "Christmas spirit." Even people who've never seen the movie are familiar with the story of a man who wishes "he were never born" before learning how much he means to those around him.
"It's A Wonderful Life" also happens my mom's favorite Christmas film. She first showed it to me when I was twelve or thirteen, and ever since then we've tried to catch it on TV at least once every year around the holidays. So, even though all three of us had seen this movie countless times, the chance to finally see it in an actual theater seemed like the absolute perfect way to spend Christmas Eve.
Although, you can watch the same film in your living room, the feeling of seeing a classic in an actual cinema is completely different. There's no pausing for commercials or getting distracted by sudden phone calls. There's no talking over scenes that you've 'seen a million times' or constant walking away from the screen for a quick bathroom break.
The place we chose to see the film was especially cozy. The intimate theater was famous for it's large, reclining arm chairs that even came equipped with plushy foot-rests! The comfortable setting definitely made me feel more relaxed and "at home" than the usual crowded multi-plex.
Even though I already knew the story, this time I noticed little touches I never picked up on before, like Clarence's writing in his copy of "Tom Sawyer" and all the intricate effort that went into styling Donna Reed's gorgeous hair.
Seeing a beloved film on the big-screen also invokes a kind of nostalgia, and connection with the world. For a few hours it's like you're recreating history, experiencing something the same way that people experienced it decades before you. Good movies have always had the power to bring people together. Whether you're laughing at a buddy comedy with your dad, crying into your popcorn over a sappy romantic drama with your BFF, or gripping the hand of a cutie during a scary horror flick, movies create memories that last for generations. So next time you find yourself complaining that there's "nothing good out" see if you can find a showing of an old film and make some new memories.
