As I wrote about in my last post, I started listening to Films to Be Buried With a few months ago, which is Brett Goldstein’s podcast. I really enjoy listening – it doesn’t matter if I have any idea who the guest is or not. The notion of a conversation about life through film is a lovely one. So I thought I’d answer the questions myself that Goldstein poses to his guests.
The podcast begins with Goldstein informing the guest that they’ve just died and asks them how they died. If it were me, my death would likely be caused by me tripping over absolutely nothing but my own two feet and cracking my skull on something. 🤷 I’m a klutz with too many close calls already. I’m just playing the odds here.
What was the first-ever film you saw? — I honestly couldn’t tell you because there are so many films from my childhood that I remember (we watched a lot of movies back then). The thing, though, that seemed to tie them all together was trauma. WHY was there so much trauma in those films? Looking at you The Land Before Time, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, All Dogs Go to Heaven… Ok. Well, that last one is on me. I don’t know which one came first – I just remember being devastated by them all…
What was the film that scared you the most? — Tremors. I was WAY too young to see this film, but Reba was in it, so I guess that made it ok in my parents’ eyes? (I wasn’t even double digits…) I remember watching it with my dad, and it terrified me. I’ve always had vivid dreams, so this just sent me off the deep end. I tend to avoid horror/gore for this reason, and I’m just now realizing this film is probably why… (To be fair, Twister along with my fear of tornados also scared the &$%# out of me.)
What was the film that made you cry the most? — I mean, aside from all those traumatic films from my childhood…? In my late teens/early twenties, I was big into RomComs (I still enjoy them, but I’m more jaded/realistic these days). Looking back, I realize I needed the happy endings. There was always a happily ever after to look forward to. And then [spoilers coming – but to be fair, the film came out in 2001] I watched Sweet November. I could not for the life of me understand why someone would find their happy ending (even if it would be short-lived due to her health) and walk away from it. I was so ready for him to change her mind, convince her to stay with him, that when he takes the blindfold off, and she’s disappeared/walked away – I lost it. I wasn’t ready for it. For a long time, this was the film I would watch when I needed a good cry.
What film is TERRIBLE but you love it? — Mamma Mia. So many people hated this film, and there are definitely some cringe-worthy things about it (sorry, but Brosnan should never sing in public…and surely not when being recorded). But Meryl Streep is delightful, as always. And Colin Firth…well, do I need to say more than that? (He’s handsome, British, and awkward. Just my type. I guess I did need to say more.) Christine Baranski and Julie Waters were comedic geniuses in it. But the film is, at its heart, a farce – so everything is over the top. I get why people panned it. I’m just willing to overlook all of that to see Firth.
What is the film you once loved but watching it now you realise it’s terrible? — Never Been Kissed. Nothing against the actors or their performances. But the idea of a high school teacher falling in love with one of their students (even one who is actually age appropriate because he didn’t know that!!) is just completely cringe-worthy looking back (not to mention the part where her brother follows suit and starts dating a high school gymnast…). When it came out, it checked all my RomCom boxes [spoilers – but come on, it came out in ’99] – the longing from a distance, the ‘thinking I screwed it all up’ moment, and the moment when your heartstrings are officially tugged as he finally comes to the pitcher’s mound (a little late, of course) and kisses her. As a high school student myself when it came out, the notion of how inappropriate their ‘friendship’ was didn’t occur to me – not until I was an adult and a teacher myself. I had friendships with some of my teachers in high school, but never one that crossed the threshold of the classroom, let alone crossed any other sort of lines. The lines he knowingly crossed before he knew she was of legal age… Well, we call those red flags these days.
What is the film that means the most to you? Not because of the film it’s self, but because of the memories, you have of it. — Anne of Green Gables, the CBC miniseries by Sullivan Entertainment. My maternal grandmother introduced me to it (and all of my cousins, actually), and I LOVED it. I loved the story. I loved the cast. But, mostly, I loved watching it with my nana. I couldn’t even tell you how many times we watched (it was certainly the most requested film when we were there, which was weekly). And I can never pass up a PBS marathon of it. (I also own them on DVD and am writing a story that takes place in that world.) I lost my nana in 2007, and watching it reminds me of her and helps me feel closer to her.
Continued next week.
Ami Maxine 