The Footcandle Film Society in Hickory, NC, meets monthly and sometimes more often than that. We usually view a film, after a brief introduction, then remain in the theater and discuss the film, the performances of the actors, the story that was told – or that which we perceived – and delve into an amazing amount of facts and stories concerning some of the actions we have just seen and discuss some of the meanings and purposes of the film.
We just saw, August 13th and 14th, the movie “Begin Again”. And in the discussion afterward we discussed what we had seen and the meanings that some of the viewers had seen and how they interpreted those actions and events. BUT – there were at least three issues that I saw VIVIDLY presented in the movie but were not discussed, and I did not bring them up myself because I have in the past and they have been dismissed without response and the group moves on to the next item.
The first point is the smoking of cigarettes by many of the lead characters. These actors indicate that smoking cigarettes is something they can either do or not do; there is no apparent problem with addiction, even though cigarette smoking is one of the most addictive practices available to our young people. This tells our youth, teenagers especially, the following four messages: 1) smoking is not addictive. 2) smoking is fun. 3) smoking accentuates the high points in life. 4) The most capable and most accomplished people in the world celebrate their great achievements with a smoke. All four of these messages are wrong, and all four are necessary for the great tobacco corporations to continue to infect our young people with addiction so those companies can continue to increase their profits, even though those profits cause diseases and early death in our young people.
Second point is the irresponsible drinking of alcohol. I drink, and many of my friends drink, but not like the waste-away- constantly-swirling-down of beer, wine, mixed drinks AND straight whiskey, all by the same person, and in succession. And then driving a car recklessly after heavy drinking, and then drinking while driving. So, we who are watching all this in the Footcandle Film Society know better; but again, what message does this send to our young people who are just becoming introduced to alcohol? It clearly is something like this: “If you’re really a MAN, you can do it!”. AND – if you really need to, you can snap out of the alcohol-effect instantly.
Third point. Language. Am I saying don’t cuss? No. Hell, no! But my contention is with the use of certain words, especially the well known “F-word” which carries a lot of shock value with it. I am a writer, and I don’t use that type of language in my writing (not saying I never will) because I see my challenge as a writer being to arouse emotion in my readers through artistic means. Likewise, an actor will want to develop and direct emotions in his or her viewers by the skill he or she has as an actor, not just by shouting obscenities. This movie shortcuts those skills.
SO, the movie we saw earlier this week told us all that the truly talented, most capable and best loved people, those real “shakers and movers” of the world, ALL drink like a fish (without any serious effect), constantly shout and scream obscenities, and celebrate their magnificent achievements with wonderful tasting and spiritually uplifting cigarettes! And we erudite, knowledgable, and mostly senior citizens SAW the movie and apparently bought those concept too, because we did not discuss them during the critique and we don’t know what on earth else we could possibly do. And I really don’t either. That’s why I am writing this. Can anybody help?
Anybody got some good ideas?
