Jan 19 2009
Button me up, Benjamin
I have recently seen a wonderful movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, soon to open in Buenos Aires. The script is based on a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald which you can actually access online.
The story essentially poses the question of aging backwards. The protagonist, Benjamin Button, looks like an 80-year-old in a baby’s body when he first sees the light of day, and then grows young. Life happens in the meantime, and shows its complexity through it all, even with the benefit of youth instead of old age as part of progress. Who has not ever imagined what it would feel like to be a 20-year old in the mind of a 50-year old, combining experience gained with suffering with the supple structure of a vigorous body that responds to everything with a lot more energy? I know what it feels like to be 20, but I don’t know what it feels like to be 50 yet. Perhaps I can only idealize such an adventurous combination. However, after seeing the movie, I still do not think it is too different from the normal order in which we age. In other words, life’s complexity is the same no matter in what direction you grow.
As a closing statement for this post, I cannot but remember one of the key lines for me, spoken by Benjamin as he goes through the suffering of being different, or maybe simply of choosing.
You can go mad as a mad dog at the way things went; you can curse the fates, but when it comes to the end, you have to let go.
That is the way, Benjamin. As I write this, only a few days away from getting onto another plane leading me places, with adventure hopefully waiting for me at different ports, I can look back and smile. I am learning to let go…
Tengo esta peli a punto de verla, es cuestión de días. Cuando leí el argumento me interesó muchísimo y tu comentario no ha hecho más que azuzar el interés.
Besos!!
…y buen viaje!!
Dear W: Es cierto que la complejidad de la vida es igual más alla de como se desarrolle el proceso biológico…pero ser diferente nos aleja del famoso “mal de muchos” y eso va sumando porotos en el cartón, no en vano hemos inventado tantas cosas para consolarnos, para espantar algo que al final de cuentas debemos enfrentar, hay una soledad que nos es innata, una incomprensión que esta en nuestra naturaleza, un espacio silencioso que tarde o temprano no aulla en la cara. Es cierto que esto no le pasa a todo el mundo y si bien no he visto la pelicula y odio las interpretaciones, algunas cosas dichas desde lo burdo las hacen posibles de oir por todos. En fin, quizas aquellos que viven la vida como quien masca chicle ni siquiera se acerquen a ver la pelicula, mucho menos a leer el relato y quizas esté bien y resulte que se evite la complejidad de la vida asi, mascando y se llegue mas rapido a ser feliz.
Bueno me fui de tema, miraré la pelicula soon.
Un beso
oh yo estoy esperando a verla, la historia me parece por demás interesante y además esta mi querida cate, inteligentísima cate, talentosa Cate.
Mis saludos para usted
Erica,
Sorry about the late reply to your comment. I’ve been tied up with lots of work. Indeed, it’s a good picture to mull over a very good reflection upon life and how things never really last. I won’t say more, just go and see it. Thank you for the good wishes for my trip. I’m back in Houston, and will try to write some more while I’m here. Take care and have fun over there in the summer heat.
W.
Definitely, my dear Emi. Life is complex no matter in which direction you grow old…or young. Being different can be a pain in the ass, mind you, but a good one as we grow old (or young), in as much as we come to terms with who we are and more or less what the hell we really want. I agree, some people just take life for granted and they enjoy it in their own simplistic way. Sometimes I really envy them, but then I realize that being just a little screwed up also has a certain charm…
Thanks for dropping by and talk to you soon, here or elsewhere, I hope.
Regards,
W.
Lola,
Thank you very, very much for coming in for a visit. I appreciate it. I am sorry I have just now seen your comment, please do not think I neglected you in any way. It is just that I have been busy making travel arrangements — always a happy moment but a little stressful as well. What can I say? Your dear Cate is also my dear Cate, who is not only talented but also beautiful and brave in her career choices. I like her unassuming seduction in every role she undertakes, and the delicate touches she imprints on every one of her performances. She and Brad Pitt shine together, which talks about good comradeship and incredible intelligence. OK, enough for Cate. Go and see this movie, you will not regret it.
See you around. Regards,
W.
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