Harold and Maude

Why Ruth Gordon did not win an Oscar is beyond me. Her character teaches us all about the real love of life. She was a character to fall in love every minute of the film. I have seen the movie very many times and each time I discover a new twist to the tale of life and love found and lost. Superior direction...stellar performances make this gem a real classic.

This film is unconventional, the plot unique, the characters quirky, but the subject really comes down to the commonplace: embrace life, own your existence, dance to the beat of your own drum, and love will find you. An unspoken but immensely important plot element is Maude's survival of the Holocaust, informing her lust for living and dying on her own terms. Harold shares that independent spirit. Their capers are hilariously off-beat. H&M appeals mostly to the literati.

I suck at movie reviews so I will just say that this movie is a comedy-romance-"coming of age" story all rolled into one. If you like movies such as When Harry Met Sally, Love Actually, or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind then you should at least rent this movie. As Maude would say, "Reach out. Take a chance."