It’s a Wonderful Life

Sadly the same can not be used to describe the life for many of us. However I am not commenting on anyone’s life. This is the title of a Hollywood classic. I was to see this movie much before I finally saw it yesterday. I thought I would write a ‘reco’ for it and had promised one of my friends on the similar lines. However after viewing the movie I feel that I am no one to judge the movie or even recommend it. This movie is far above that. The story has nothing new but it is the way it is told that completely bowls you. It is a high spirited Christmas tale directed by Frank Capra. To be fair there are many such movies made in India during the late 40’s and 50’s which have the same feel and are probably equally engaging. But that does not take anything away from this movie.

It is a tale of goodness. It is a tale of love. It is a tale of friendship. It is a tale of humanity. James Stewart stars as George Bailey, a guy who had big dreams of moving out of his town and exploring the world. Things change after the death of his father and he is forced to stay in the town to help the people from the clutches of a shrewd businessman. He gives away his hard earned money to his younger brother so that he could pursue his college. After waiting for 4 years for his brother to return to take over his place so that he could fulfill his long cherished dream of exploring the world he again gave up his dream so that his brother could have a flourishing career. He marries Mary played by beautiful Donna Reed and starts a new life. Financial distress could not deter their zeal to improve life of others. The film climaxes with a situation in which George is in a very difficult situation and suddenly finds himself too weak to take it all. How the faith is restored is the climax which is visualized innovatively and exquisitely by the director. Why did not I tell you the climax? It is because I want you to watch the movie.

Was it a ‘reco’? No. I felt good after watching the movie. It reinforced my belief in humanity and goodness. The world in which we live is not simple and these fairy tales provide us with the hope that we could go on living in this complicated place with simplicity. The movie restores the faith that perhaps the life may be difficult for us many a times but it is also the most beautiful gift we could have received. The movie might not have impacted me this much had I seen some of the similar movies in recent years. Unfortunately I have not. The movie is socialist in a way and coming out of America just after the war has its significance. I would say go and watch it once. If nothing it will rekindle that little hope of a better world in your heart.

P.S: In a time when everyone seems to be gung-ho about the economic surge of our country it is sometimes good to think of the deprived souls to whom the benefits of this surge has yet not reached. We may not do anything but maybe even a sincere wish is enough to start a change.