HAROLD AND MAUDE - 22/10/23

 

After some Umeme shenanigans, 23 friends gathered for our 5th screening, diving into the Hal Ashby cult classic – Harold and Maude. This 50-year-old film marked the start of our new theme - The Weight of Expectations.

The movie starts with 20-year-old Harold seemingly hanging himself to the indifference and disdain of his mother who enters the room in their stately home seconds after. His obsession with suicide and penchant for crashing random funerals introduce him to the vivacious Maude, an 80-year-old who offers him some liquorice over the pews.    

Harold is corralled into Maudes life and literally into the vicar’s car she just stole and so develops a beautiful if taboo romantic relationship.  Maude becomes the catalyst for Harold to embrace life with vigor and joy, leading them through madcap adventures like liberating downtown trees and replanting them in forests.

The Aftersunettes found themselves enamored, particularly by Maude's character and her ability to see beauty in the world. Club discussions delved into the theme of the weight of expectations, examining Harold's societal and motherly pressures, the stereotypes of how an 80-year-old woman ‘should’ act/be like, and conventional notions of love.

Some skeptics questioned the authenticity of Harold and Maude's love, attributing it to shared trauma – Harold's suicide attempts and Maude's traumatic past in a concentration camp.

Cat Steven's soundtrack was applauded by members - notebly "If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out" which bcomes the movie's emotional centre and "Troubles" which played as Maude is rushed to hospital. 

Some suggested that Harold could escape his troubled life at any point without Maude, while others argued he lacked the skills or framework to envision an alternative until he met Maude.

Harold's first genuine tears and authentic moments were with Maude, who, unlike his mother, asked questions and truly saw him. Maude's lessons were profound – teaching Harold to embrace the present, find beauty in the world through looking at flowers, dancing like no-one is watching, playing instruments, and doing roly-poly’s

Maude chose to see the brighter side of life, at one point looking out at seagulls with Harold she states:

“Dreyfus once wrote from Devil's Island that he would see the most glorious birds. Many years later in Brittany he realized they had only been seagulls... for me they will always be glorious birds.”

Despite the newfound love, the story takes a poignant turn on Maude's 80th birthday when she chooses to end her life. Interpretations diverged, with some viewing it as Maude being in a metaphorical cage – not living her years out naturally, while others emphasized Maude's autonomy in deciding the timing of her departure.

Some found Maude's character unbelievable – she did steal A LOT of cars :P whilst others admired her carefree spirit and wished to embrace this crazy journey called life with the same zest.

Remember friends - If you want to sing out! Sing out!

Hugs