In our last blog, we rhetorically asked if enlightenment was about the journey or the destination: the age old chicken or the egg? To try to hone in on a potential answer, let’s look to movies (ok, “films” for those cultural-elitists among you 😉 ) to help illuminate some answers. As the saying goes, art does imitate life.

We’ll begin our movie/travel tour with Stella.

A recently divorced, intelligent and beautiful Mom, Stella “lost her groove” somewhere along the way. I think at some times in all our lives, we can relate to Stella. Sometimes, the sheer reality of a new destination inspires some very radical shifts in self-perception and actualization. How long it lasts depends on our own strength of character and dedication to caring for our own self.

Although Stella’s journey & destination of personal discovery is a (glamorous) reflection of real life, “destination-based” comedies can also cleverly teach us the value of being a fish out of water  and getting a glimpse of our own reflection as well (ok, that reflection is in a fun house mirror, but still…)

To wit, how many of you ever saw Chevy Chase’s film, Funny Farm?  One of his lesser known comedies, the story focuses on a couple who purchase a quaint country home in a Norman Rockwell-esque Vermont town.  The thinking being that a new setting will “fix” them. A saying my friends always use: “wherever you go, there you are” comes to mind. That is– your baggage follows you.

Immediately upon closing, the eccentricities of the locals reveal themselves to be less than charming and downright hostile. The postman alone is a sociopath. I won’t give away the ending but after the all the hijinks are said and done, Chevy and his wife come to appreciate the eccentricities in their new community (and themselves).

 

 

Is it always a prerequisite that comedies resolve themselves in a serious way with clarity and insights?  No, but the ones that try and succeed only with a saccharine sweetness still manage to crack us up.  Who remembers what the beef was between John Candy and Dan Aykroyd in Summer Camp? Does it matter?  …Oh yes!  It does– when you consider that beef to be the “Old ’96er”:

“It’s processing nicely.  Continue.”

And, Goldie’s bit as squatter Gwen in “HouseSitter”  taught me a lesson in “fake it till you make it” using that gorgeous house to channel the life she wanted.  I recall a great Ted Talk about acting as if— it’s all about confidence in oneself.

Yep.  Movies are the best at magnifying the human experience, which are at times funny and others– dramatic.  Which leads us to the final 3 movies we’ll consider that are based on character development inspired by destinations. For me, these movies are my favorite types because they lead with heart but also lighten up with comedy.

Countdown:

3) Love! Valor! Compassion

Although some have called this the gay version of the Big Chill, this movie was unique in that it characterized the complexities of relationships and friendships in a way that some people never see. Historical in the sense that it dealt with a not-so-distant past in which HIV was a death sentence (and in many parts of the world it still sadly is).  It doesn’t represent all gay men (people) of course, but it does underscore that– with the backdrop of a summer weekend trips to the cabin in upstate NY– everyone faces similar life challenges and learning opportunities.

2) The Four Seasons.

Not the hotel chain.  Not the Vivaldi classic (although the music does set the tone for the film). This gem from the early 80s follows 3 couples who vacation together, and the natural tensions that arise in the friendships, including a divorce and integration of a new “friend” into the equation. Can you say “awkward”? But don’t worry, it all works out.

 

1) Saving the very best for last.  IMHO, the sterling standard of all “destination” themed movies, On Golden Pond stands above all.  It covers the gamut of issues and emotions: aging, estrangement, abandonment, …and love.  The inspired setting is a character in and of itself, and I believe, a source of healing that ultimately drives the conclusion of the story.

I love this movie (film).

In the end, my wish for your destination in your travels is that your drama is minimal, your comedic episodes are painless, and your growth is boundless.

“Traveling — it leaves you speechless, then it turns you into a storyteller.”

Namaste

Save