Few people can proclaim they have endured or experienced any “blockbuster-worthy” moments or times in their lives. The majority of us live in mundanity, and the rest of us have extreme wealth and celebrity that enriches our life experiences in peculiar ways. Recognizing this fact begs the question: How is it that we relate to movies? Especially considering the outlandish circumstances that so frequently follow their plotlines. Having recently been to see Me Before You, I felt like I could relate on a personal level to the storyline. Which I found to be ridiculous, because the events that take place in that film are extraordinary and I lack the prefix.
The specific events that occurred in the film do not relate to me in my life in any distinct manner, but as I pondered the connection that I felt I came to a realization. I was not feeling a connection to the events themselves, but to their message and their meaning. The subtext behind their interactions held striking similarity to the summarization of some of the most recent and definitive events of my life. The tears shed were those of sympathy and self-pity in my own circumstances, not either or, but the both of them together. It is through the combination of the appeal to our humanity for empathy that Hollywood begs of us, and the manner in which the on-screen characters remind us of ourselves that truly connects us with the cinema.
This phenomenon is not limited to the heart wrenching romance stories that occupy the greater part of my screen time. Many find solace in the seemingly strangest and most inapplicable stories. Countless people take comfort in the stories of magical beings and dystopian societies even though the one they live in is not magical and arguably not dystopian. It is not the great adventures across vast and barren lands or battles with terrifying beasts that capture the hearts of millions. The eyes, perhaps, but the hearts? Absolutely not. Our hearts are captured by the nature of the heroes’ relationships and the emotional growth that takes place in the characters’ hearts. We are won by the way that a friend stands firm even in the most strenuous circumstances, never faltering in their love or trust. Angered by the unfair teacher on the screen that so strikingly resembles our middle school nightmare. Even the way that abandonment feels the same no matter why it is happening, and so when your favorite character gets left behind by someone they adored, you cry-or try not to.
People are captivated by crazy stories that expand our hopes that our lives can be remarkable. By seeing these stories we have a renewed optimism about the lives we go on to pursue. This lies not only in the wonder of these great tales, but in their relatability. As we identify with the persons created in the mind of the author, we manage to find ourselves in them and connect with the deepest aspects of their relationships and behaviors. We return to these stories not necessarily for the grand scheme of the adventure, but the messages of the moments.
