Hey all, I have not seen this filmed discussed here but know it is a polarizing movie. Some love it, some hated it. What did everyone here think of it? I enjoyed it, but before I explain why, let me say:
-SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT-
I personally really enjoyed it. Like a 9/10 enjoyed. It is no secret this movie is visually stunning, it won an Oscar for it! But that is not all I believe the movie is like some. I saw it as a beautiful, empathic story about depression, suicide and loss. Even a bit about fear of the unknown – what happens when we die. As someone who suffers with depression, has attempted suicide and are close to suicidal friends who also suffer, it hit me to the point of tears. The acting was so believable and comforting. It may have been over sappy but sometimes that is what someone who has suffered needs. Which made me like the sappy stuff because it showed empathy. Robin’s character would literally go through hell, (which I feel is a metaphor for going through mental strain) for his wife to make her better, even though he is also suffering. With empathy shown, it also showed it is ok if you cannot fix a person. Granted this movie, it does work, but it shows he almost gave up, and sadly, sometimes you have to put yourself first. Which also, the movie did a good job at showing the effects of not taking care of your own mental health.
Also, coming from a religious background, I believe there was a lot of subtext about it. Robin’s character’s anger when Annabella’s character is damned to hell for committing suicide is a great critique on suicide being an unforgivable sin in some religions. He feels she suffered on earth and was not acting selfish. Which I feel also works double to people’s thoughts in general on suicide, which I really appreciated. Why punish those who went through so much?
On the topic of religion, I found it interesting how many religions it mixed together. I saw traits of Catholicism, which I grew up as, I saw traits of Buddhism, I even saw traits of Mormonism in it. I am just mentioning this because I think it is interesting to be able to take good and bad parts out of each religion as use it for the plot. To give a nod to the good parts one see’s in it, and to critique the bad.
This got a bit rambl-y, it’s 3 30 am on my end as I type so I’m all over the place, but I feel this scratches the surface as to why I think the film deserves more praise. I admittingly pushed off seeing it because of it’s subject matter, due to how Robin passed away, but I am glad I saw it. I plan to read the book it is based off of, I am not sure if it’s any better but we shall see.
What is everyone who has seen this movie’s thoughts on it?
Edit: I do want to point out that I feel the editing was kind of choppy, which dropped the score for me. It just felt awkward and unneeded.
Edit 2: Thank you all for the discussion on this!