Joy To The World

It is early, very early. It is December in the Midwest, which means erratic shifting weather and a headlong rush into the Christmas season. The land is covered with fog as I leave my driveway. Christmas lights cut through the fog and betray the promises of the time we are entering. Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions song "Fool For You" plays on the radio. A polka of car lights passes me by. The blade sign of the local community theater diffuses the fog and yells out in its magnificence and promise. As I slowly make my way to my office, this is a moment of joy, a celebration of my existence and the surroundings I find myself in.

It is a joy that movies serve up better than any other art form. Music has elements of it, art can express moments, and books require a level of dedication. Still, movies combine all of those arts and bring it all to the screen, if appropriately executed and earn the highest level of empathy from the viewer. One of the reasons audiences have frequently been turned off by the offerings the studio presents is because much of what is put out ignores the human experience and a realization of our collective cultural experience.

If I could recall movies that provoked joy in my own viewing experiences, there are some standouts. I am sure many are shared experiences, and others may be obscure but equally effective.

Produced in 1946, Frank Capra's 1946 classic celebration of the human spirit, "It's a Wonderful Life," remains valid with audiences worldwide with its often-forgotten tales of love, loyalty, and community. The movie revolves around George Bailey, a small-town man with big aspirations who selflessly dedicates his life to serving the small community of Bedford Falls. He is a man who is tormented by opportunities lost, personal aspirations continually thwarted, and professional limitations. George is given a perspective by an aspiring angel, Clarence, that allows him to recognize how much he has contributed to the well-being of others and his community. He loses himself and discovers how deeply his presence has shaped the world around him. At that moment comes an avalanche of true joy.

In a world that often dispenses the gift of the common man, "It's A Wonderful Life" screams out from a world coming out from war that we as individuals matter and matter so very profoundly. We are less without each other. That is a real gift.

Produced in 1979 and shot in Bloomington, Indiana, again is a story of ordinary people who, in their own truth, are extraordinary. "Breaking Away" is a smaller movie that is wonderful, joyful, and transcendent. It is a cinematic icon and a treasure. Directed by Peter Yates, who directed "Bullitt" and "The Deep," this is a gem set during the Little 500 bike race in Bloomington. It's about youth's last summer as four local kids spend their last summer together before venturing off to a world with limited choices. In a blatant revolt against the inevitable, one of the boys decides to be an Italian championship bicycle racer. He dresses like one, embraces opera as he rides, and even attempts to speak his form of Hoosier Italiano. There's also a poignancy about the college girls from Indiana University being seen with a local. Our hero convinces a college girl that he is an Italian exchange student. She even goes so far as to change the name of the family dog to "Fellini."  "Breaking Away" is a movie to embrace. It's about intrinsically decent people who face their fate with humor and honesty. It's a picture of the Midwest seldom seen on the big screen. The comedy of everyday life shines through. The personal liberation and personal triumphs shine through and speak to us forty-plus years later.

" My Bodyguard," directed by Tony Bill, is another expression of cinematic joy. An out-of-place kid, bullied by a local gang of thugs, befriends a gentle giant of a student who, because of personal tragedy, is withdrawn and depressed. The friendship between the two allows each of the boys to grow and become more self-confident. Joy is added by the acting of the glowing Ruth Gordon, who brings an ardent sense of practical and much-needed love and life. "My Bodyguard" is a movie that stays with you and keeps speaking to you. This movie offers truth and the joy of a true friendship as the characters battle and triumph over their own demons. It is so relatable that it is almost a tractor beam of empathy and familiarity from the screen. It touches on the human experience's commonality and erupts with joy as the characters conquer themselves. In a time of angst-filled movies about rutting teens, this movie, "My Bodyguard," speaks to us of the truth and challenges about teen existence.

Finally, 'Gregory's Girl,' directed by the same director who made 'Local Heroes,' is a masterclass in presenting unsentimental reporting on human nature. It focuses on the transactions that allow all of us to get through our day. The movie's sly humor and sublime characters encourage us to never look at anything at face value. The director constantly drills down on the why and the how, wanting to let the audience know what makes his characters tick, and he does so with a craggy Scottish perspective. The lives that he shows are so carefully examined and celebrated. It is the joy of the simple. It is like looking at a world that could be drawn from 'Catcher In The Rye' without the overbearing angst and conflict. It is truthful, brave filmmaking. It slowly seduces the audience, examining the characters' lives, and is a gentle celebration of humanity. The plot involves Gregory's romantic aspirations. He gets himself in all kinds of trouble as he attempts to win the heart of a female student-athlete. As in the movies, aspiration conflicts with reality, and Gregory ends up with a better resolution contrary to his own desires.

What makes these movies joyful is that they speak to a common experience. The joy exhibited in these movies is like epoxy glue, one being the filmmaker's portrayal of an experience and the other being our reaction to the viewing of that experience. When combined, they create resonating, powerful cinema. As a lover of movies, I believe we need much more of this, and we need it now. Let's anticipate and desire more joyful cinema that celebrates the human experience.

Joy to your world; I wish you much peace and good movies.