Little Women, Soul, and The Cinema of Life

 

    Back in March of last year, one of my childhood favorite shows ended. Some people reading this can already guess which show this was, because I kept texting them about one specific aspect which probably made them really annoyed. That show was Steven Universe, which ended with the epilogue, Steven Universe Future. My history with the show stems back to its beginnings. I saw the first episode back in 2013 when it aired. I had a whole Steven Universe phase in my seventh grade year. Yet, I fell out of love with it, not due to a dip in quality, but due to priorities in life. I did manage to catch a glimpse every now and then, but the plot had become deep enough to the point that I could not keep up. Come March 2020, and I stumbled across "I'd Rather Be Me with You," from the epilogue. Solyana (Remember her from the Cars blog post?) had been nominated for Prom Queen, I believe, but unfortunately, due to quarantine, no one was there to serenade her. Thus, I came up with the idea to record "I'd Rather Be Me with You" for her on the piano, as a pseudo-serenade (to distract people from the fact that I myself can not sing). In retrospect, that seemed like a really stupid thing to do, as it probably embarrassed me in front of my club, but Soly loved it, and so I regret nothing. 

      Fast forward a few weeks, and Steven drives off into the great beyond, ready to be human. There was an emotional poignancy to the finale, and specifically, Emily King's "Being Human" lingered in my mind long after. For hours on end, I'd have "Just a little time" smoothly playing through my earbuds while I recollected wistfully about past times, with a sense of melancholy. I thought not only of my past at Whitney, but also of my future in college. I thought about how bubbled I was in this small little town, and how much of the beautiful world I still have to see. Lately, I've been pondering with similar emotions. As a High School Senior on the verge of graduating, a sense of dread had filled within me on what I will do with my life in the great beyond. My friends always spoke of how sheltered we were, and how we really haven't seen or done much. It made me wonder whether I was truly living life or not. I had devoted most of my time in High School to academics, so it feels as if I didn't really have time to enjoy what my teenage years had in store for me: group hangouts, school dances, and an actual social life. 

     If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I love when cinema talks about one specific aspect: life itself. Films such as Howl's Moving Castle or Wendy give hope about venturing into a world unknown, and it has given me much solace during these frightening times. I enjoy their buoyantly optimistic perspective. However, over winter break, I began to have the largest anxiety over one specific aspect of the future: my career. It was something that no Promise of the World could fix. For years, I had my heart set on becoming an Electrical Engineer, as I always have wanted to create something. Crafting and being able to call something complete was always innately satisfying to myself. Electricity also seemed quite fascinating to me. I wanted to work in the Aerospace industry, as I adored astronomy, space, and all that it entailed. Then, I took AP Physics. Needless to say that I'm not the best student in it. I attempted time and time again to comprehend the concepts of torque and angular momentum, but the assessments consistently reminded me that I did not understand these topics. Electrical Engineering requires a solid foundation in Physics and Mathematics, and while I have a solid mathematics background, the weight and difficulty of wanting to be an EE began to be burdensome. What if I don't make it as an Engineer? What if it's not the right path for me? What if...I don't enjoy it? I had become terribly nervous about my position in the world. It was then that two stories came into my life, which gave me comfort in the future. In essence, these were the films that I needed. Those two films were Little Women (2019) and Soul. 

     Little Women is a 2019 film directed by Greta Gerwig, which tells the tale of four sisters as they journey through life in a post-civil war America through a non-linear narrative. It is shot beautifully with stunningly gorgeous lighting for the flashback scenes, while the present scenes held an air of naturalism to them. Josephine "Jo" March is a great and inspiring character, with her being so headstrong and independent. I truly appreciate Amy's more complex and nuanced role, as Florence Pugh does wonders with the role, granting her a likeablity which would not have been present if the actress was not great. Immediately noticeable is how Florence Pugh plays Amy in the present scenes, when she is 20, but also when she is 12 in the flashback scenes. There's a scene in which Amy must go to school, and she is surrounded by actual 12 year olds. Watching her act as a 12 year old around other created some uncanniness, leading to comedic gold. In fact, much of the film has terrific visual comedy. There are many times in which Jo punches her friend Laurie, and the camera just doesn't care about what Laurie is feeling. Then there is the introduction of Laurie to Amy, in which he poses dramatically. Much of the comedy is quite hilarious as it feels much so natural and almost deadpan at times. This is a testament to the actors, who all give their A game. The score by Alexandre Desplat is also very pleasant, bearing a whimsical tone while never feeling overtly saccharine in nature. The choice to tell Little Women in a non-linear narrative works very effectively, as there is a clear distinction in tone between the golden, joyous days of the past, and the dour and cold present. The way the film is structured spins a through line of sadness or regret through the film, and longs for the olden days to return. It's a brilliant framing device which parallels how many of us think of the past, the simpler times, compared to where we are as of now. 

    Perhaps the reason why Little Women sticks with me the most is because of the story, messages, and themes that it is trying to convey. Josephine wishes to become the greatest writer. Amy wants to be a great painter. But I truly appreciated both Meg March and especially Beth March. Beth March never had grand aspirations like Amy or Jo or even Meg. She simply cherished her family fully, and wished for all of them to be happy. She sought solace in something as simple as playing piano music. She was able to just be happy with her sisters and the piano. Eliza Scalen brings a serene and understated presence which makes Beth seem wise beyond her years. It was in Beth that one can discover that you didn't need to be "great" to be fulfilled in life. Although it didn't fully click with me just yet. Solyana spoke about her small town aspirations in the Cars blog post, of wanting to have a close, loving community, and being able to help them. It reminded me of Meg March's quote: "Just because my dreams are different than yours, doesn't mean that they're unimportant." Meg March wanted to raise a family with her husband, John. Meg is not lesser of a person for having different goals than simply wanting to be "great or nothing." I find Meg's choice extremely powerful, as though I do want to be an Engineer, raising a family is just as important to me. Jo's need to be loved is very relevant, as it's just as important to be loved as it is to say "I love you" to someone. These messages are not groundbreaking, but I appreciate them, and took away some more perspective. Little Women never tries to be some grandiose spectacle. It is merely a glimpse into a period of time in the lives of the March Sisters. These small stories come together to paint a picture of life, the life of the March sisters. It is a tale of heartbreak, but also a tale of love and joy and captures how wonderful life can be. I couldn't ask for a better movie than this. 

   The other film which resonated so deeply with me was Pixar's new film, Soul. It concerns Joe Gardner, as he dies and ventures through the Great Before in order to make it back to his life, and perform a jazz gig which is supposedly his first big breakthrough in life. The film is lit beautifully, with some very detailed models, and fantastic music by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste. Joe Gardner isn't a perfect person, and I love that he isn't. He has room to grow, just like any of us. I also love that the film pushed for more representation of the Black community in a positive manner. The humor is also much funnier than expected, with 22 in particular being a highlight. I won't spoil anything, but the film appealed to the cat person in me as well. On a technical level, the movie is essentially flawless. It's a rather short runtime of an hour and a half, which is without credits. Go check it out if you haven't already. 

     What is more pertinent, though, is how the film resonated with me. Joe Gardner aspires to be a great Jazz musician. I want to be a great engineer. He has worked all his life in order to get one gig which consumes his entire life. But is he really happy? No, not really. I genuinely question whether I will be happy with engineering as well. It profoundly touches upon what makes life worth living. The film's initial trailer lead to me believing that the film was about praising dreams and admiring the hard work which it takes to make it there. But it's actually the anti-Whiplash. Whiplash is a cautionary tale of the obsessions of being great, and how it can destroy one's life. 22's arc was so profoundly moving as someone who has always felt that I never really had a social life in High School. It makes me think back to the times in which my friends and I were just talking about Black Panther and Infinity War, of when we sat in the gym during pep rallies knowing that our class is too lazy and unspirited to win at the games they played, of when I just sat down and had a conversation with Briana or William about the restaurant we ate at during the weekend. Little moments like that are so special, because we never really take the time to appreciate it. I loved it as a reminder to cherish everything in life. 

  In 2019 and 2020, I began doing something which I truly enjoyed. In 2019, I was required by my AP Chemistry class to do a project, and so I decided to become a mentor to two people, Aman and Audrey. Aman was already way too talented at Chemistry and understood everything, but Audrey struggled. I attempted to find analogies, and simpler ways to explain concepts such as balancing equations, or the idea of the electron and proton. It was tough, but I really liked that I was able to help Audrey with something like that. Though I'm not sure if I did a great job, she said I did. I also mentored a girl named Loanvy, and I tried my best to help her as well, even though she was really quick at understanding concepts (sometimes she got it way before I even finished explaining). I also have children of my own. Not actual children, of course not. But in Whitney, there is something called the buddy program, in which older students (10th-12th graders) mentor new 7th graders or 9th graders. My experience in 7th grade was alright, and I really liked my older buddy (were still friends today), but the other two people in my group were non-existent, and so I didn't really have the best of times. I wanted to be sure that whoever I mentored would enjoy their time with me, as the program was hated by many. I was paired with Alex, Sharon, and Julia, all of whom I cherish dearly, because they are such sweet kids. I told them about the struggles of Whitney, but I just let them breathe and talk out whatever they wanted to with me. If the goal of the program was to help foster familiarity with the school, then I figured that I had to yeet whatever plans the counselors had for us in the meetings, and just bond with my kids. I told them to study hard, but I also told them to have fun. According to them, they really enjoyed their time with me, and I appreciated hearing that. I also took part in a virtual math tutoring event that lasted all summer, and I loved being able to give little kids a solid foundation in a subject which I love dearly. 

   I bring all of this up, because Joe Gardner is a person who is able to touch many lives, simply by being there, but by also being a mentor. Soul is not a celebration of dreams. It is a celebration of what it means to be a teacher, a mentor, someone who inspires. It reminds me that I love working with people, in order to help inspire them, in the hopes that they possibly see what I see. Something similar occurs at the end of Little Women, where the March Sisters and their family find happiness and enjoyment in simply opening a school and teaching kids and students from all around. These two films made me realize that in order to be successful in life, one doesn't have to be a doctor or lawyer. Being successful comes from just being happy with what you are doing. I would absolutely love to be a fantastic Electrical Engineer, as being able to help make discoveries in the fields of Aerospace would help inspire others to see how much I love astronomy. Yet, I also find that I really love to teach people. Soul and Little Women helped me to realize this. Recently, I had an AP Physics project. Many of my friends built something that was genuinely impressive, and unfortunately I am not adept with my hands. I made an astronomy documentary, in which I did a Carl-Sagan-Cosmos inspired take on Black Holes. It wasn't nearly as mind-blowing as something like my friend building a mechanical arm, but I found that teaching and imparting knowledge was just as valuable, if not more so, than applying your knowledge onto something. It's not a monumental achievement, but I poured a lot of love into it, and I'm very proud of it. 

    Do I regret sending the Steven Universe cover to Soly through the SEASA group chat? Would I take it back if I had the chance to? Of course not. It was a small gesture, but I was able to make someone happy, and that's what is important. I would do it a thousand times over, because small moments like that make my life very fulfilling. I used to also think that Being Human was about looking to the future, of starting a new life. Now, it holds a different meaning. To me it's a reminder that I am a living being, that I am being human right at this moment. I may be an Electrical Systems Engineer, or I could be a mathematics teacher. It shouldn't matter, because as Joe Gardner says, "I'm going to live every minute of it."

Author's Note: Hello everyone! Thank you so much for reading this post. To be honest, this post is probably me at my most scatterbrained, but I really put a lot of effort into this one. I've been planning this one for a while, because as you've read, I've been thinking about it a lot. I just want to tell everyone to enjoy whatever they're doing. 

-Matthew

Little Women Trailer Link: https://youtu.be/AST2-4db4ic

Soul Trailer Link: https://youtu.be/qNYcwbEL-pg

Shoutout to the only people who read this blog:

To Anh: Hey Anh! I hope you're doing well. Junior year is a scary time, huh? I know you're gonna make it through. I'm sorry you can't spend it with your friends, but just make the most of it! Sending lots of love.

To Loanvy: Hey Loanvy! I really enjoy talking to you, and it was such an honor to tutor you : ) I know AP Lang is hard, but you're a great writer, and just put up with Donna. 

To Audrey: Hello! I know you really really freak out about every little thing, and are so focused on school, but take it easy for a bit. Enjoy life a bit more :) You're gonna do great things. 

To Alex, Sharon, Julia, and Gabby: Hello my little children. I miss all of you. You are all spectacular in your own ways, and High School is gonna be so much fun for you.  

To Beatrice: Thank you for always supporting me, Mom! You always take the time to read my posts, and that means a lot. I hope Berkeley is treating you well :)

To Megan: Hello buddy! Thank you for being there for me, and just always being willing to talk. Go out and be the best pharmacist ever! 

To Solyana: Hello Soly! I miss you so much. You, along with Beatrice and Megan, are some of my favorite people in the world. Thank you for always reading, and please don't get a bad boyfriend, I will fight him. Hopefully, I'll see you at UCSD :))

To Sriya: Hey Sriya! We need to get on that Frozen/Moana/Tangled collab soon. Miss talking to you!

To Nathan: Hey Nathan! Thanks for supporting me! It really means a lot. We're gonna be leaving each other soon, but just know that I value our friendship dearly, my best friend. 

To Briana: Hello Briana! I miss you so much. Hopefully, you'll get into Brown in RD. Your friendship with me also means so much, and your smile makes my day brighter. 

To Anthony: Hey man, I told you I was gonna write this post. Thanks for reading it. You're super cool and smart and I can't wait to see you again, maybe in tennis season? ALSO, I've been waiting almost two whole years to meet Yunnie, I'd really like to meet her!

To Stephanie: Hello, my lifelong friend. I hope you enjoyed this. I hope that you're doing well. Also yes, even when you run away to Europe with Bella, I assure you I'll still talk to you :)

To Stacey: Hey Stacey, I know you don't read my messages much, but if you do happen to read this post, I really appreciate you. You're incredibly supportive of me, and your words helped me get through college season. I really want to meet you again soon!

To Rena: Hi Rena, you're probably new here, but I really appreciate you reading! It's nice to have someone to talk to, especially right now. 

To Trin: You're also new here, but thank you so much Trin for reading! I really appreciate it. Please don't roast me. Anyways, go and be a great comp sci person!

To Luna: Hi Luna! You're so amazing, and I can't wait to see what you do at Wellesley. You're so ever kind, and our conversations make me happy :)

And finally, to the person I originally wrote this post for: Hi Lexe! I really really appreciate you. You're too kind to me, and whenever you text me, my day immediately becomes better. I know your parents want you to go to Harvard, but I know you'll be happier at Swarthmore :) You're a really hard worker, and I truly admire that about you. So I'm really hoping that you make it to Swarthmore. I wish you all the happiness in the world, because you deserve it!