Sunday, December 29, 2013
I recently watched Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (finally) and only decided to blog about it now. The story line was very melancholic and kind of relatable; Oskar's stubborness, his struggles, him keeping his pain in his own mind and space. So many heart breaking scenes and I feel my chest tightened at every scene.
Spoiler alert: Don't read if you haven't watch the movie.
1. The 8 minutes
I think everyone has gone through this phase somehow, whether it's a break up, death or separation in general. We try our hardest to keep the ideas and memories of the person with us for as long and as much as possible. We go to the places we visited together, we go through the things they left behind, we do the things they liked doing, we just keep trying to stretch that 8 minutes, even when we know that 8 minutes will eventually come to an end. But we still try, because it makes us feel better, more comforted with their "presence", because we cannot move on without grieving.
2. Making sense
3. The Journey
Even though Oskar set out on this journey to find pieces of his dad, I think what he found was more of the pieces of the world he's living in; that everyone has their own stories, some far worst beyond his own tragedy. Through this journey, he found some courage too; the courage to conquer his fears and the courage to actually face the truth and fact in the end. It's not easy for a 9 year old to go venture in a city, knocking and conversing with strangers, especially when he is a little autistic and fears almost everything. I admire his determination and his strong love for his dad which pushed him to overcome all circumstances.
4. Linda Schell
Watching her dealing with Oskar's fits and tantrums was hard. I see how stubborn Oskar is and how difficult it was for her to converse with him. But I'm so happy when she finally found a way to. I'm glad that she tried to understand how he thinks and eventually was on the journey with him, secretly protecting him, despite being a busy woman (who is also the sole breadwinner of the family). I'm glad that they shared stories of the family and people they visited together, on separate occasions. They finally found a common ground. I'm happy for them, I'm sure Thomas Schell (Oskar's dad) would too.
5. The Secret
This scene at the end literally broke my heart. I felt like I was able to stand in his shoes, and the things that would have been in my head would be so conflicting. To pick it up (the phone) knowing it might highly possibly be the last time, or choose to avoid that because I'm just not courageous enough to face it. I would definitely break down and cry a whole lot, but not picking it up might also mean that I'll regret it for life.
Would you have picked up the phone? Would you be courageous enough to face the worst, head on?
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In conclusion, I think this movie was very realistic in the themes that were addressed; death, courage, regrets, exploration and so much more. If you're going through the lost of someone, this would definitely be very real to you. Watch this and cry it out.
And just to say, the actors in this movie were really awesome! Especially Thomas Horn (as Oskar Schell). He's only 11 years old but he portrayed the scenes and feelings so well.
Spoiler alert: Don't read if you haven't watch the movie.
1. The 8 minutes
If the sun were to explode, you wouldn't even know about it for 8 minutes because that's how long it takes for light to travel to us. For eight minutes the world would still be bright and it would still feel warm. It was a year since my dad died and I could feel my eight minutes with him were running out.Oskar Schell is trying to stretch his 8 minutes with his dad by trying to find pieces of him in the things they would do together- going on missions that his dad would prepare for him.
I think everyone has gone through this phase somehow, whether it's a break up, death or separation in general. We try our hardest to keep the ideas and memories of the person with us for as long and as much as possible. We go to the places we visited together, we go through the things they left behind, we do the things they liked doing, we just keep trying to stretch that 8 minutes, even when we know that 8 minutes will eventually come to an end. But we still try, because it makes us feel better, more comforted with their "presence", because we cannot move on without grieving.
2. Making sense
Linda Schell: I know it's an empty box (coffin). I know this, but I did it for me and I did it for you so we can at least try and say goodbye to him, because he's gone, Oskar and he's not coming back. Never. I don't know why a man flew a plane into a building! I don't know why my husband is dead, but no matter how hard you try, Oskar, it's never going to make sense because it doesn't! It doesn't make sense!Life doesn't make sense. I don't know if it's Oskar's stubbornness to admit that or that he's just too young to understand. But it breaks my heart seeing how hard he's trying to fight it; him against the world, and he's never going to win, no matter how clever he might be, just because the world doesn't make sense.
3. The Journey
Even though Oskar set out on this journey to find pieces of his dad, I think what he found was more of the pieces of the world he's living in; that everyone has their own stories, some far worst beyond his own tragedy. Through this journey, he found some courage too; the courage to conquer his fears and the courage to actually face the truth and fact in the end. It's not easy for a 9 year old to go venture in a city, knocking and conversing with strangers, especially when he is a little autistic and fears almost everything. I admire his determination and his strong love for his dad which pushed him to overcome all circumstances.
4. Linda Schell
Watching her dealing with Oskar's fits and tantrums was hard. I see how stubborn Oskar is and how difficult it was for her to converse with him. But I'm so happy when she finally found a way to. I'm glad that she tried to understand how he thinks and eventually was on the journey with him, secretly protecting him, despite being a busy woman (who is also the sole breadwinner of the family). I'm glad that they shared stories of the family and people they visited together, on separate occasions. They finally found a common ground. I'm happy for them, I'm sure Thomas Schell (Oskar's dad) would too.
5. The Secret
This scene at the end literally broke my heart. I felt like I was able to stand in his shoes, and the things that would have been in my head would be so conflicting. To pick it up (the phone) knowing it might highly possibly be the last time, or choose to avoid that because I'm just not courageous enough to face it. I would definitely break down and cry a whole lot, but not picking it up might also mean that I'll regret it for life.
Would you have picked up the phone? Would you be courageous enough to face the worst, head on?
-------------
In conclusion, I think this movie was very realistic in the themes that were addressed; death, courage, regrets, exploration and so much more. If you're going through the lost of someone, this would definitely be very real to you. Watch this and cry it out.
And just to say, the actors in this movie were really awesome! Especially Thomas Horn (as Oskar Schell). He's only 11 years old but he portrayed the scenes and feelings so well.