Photo by Alan L Hilo Hl
If you’re like me I’m always looking for movies that inspire and give me some fresh perspective on my life and work. If you’re unsure about starting your own personal history project or you can’t convince mom or dad to do theirs, these three movies might just be what the doctor ordered.
The Notebook (2004) is an epic love story centered on an older man who reads aloud to an older, invalid woman whom he regularly visits. From a faded notebook, the old man’s words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths. Though her memory has faded, his words give her the chance to relive her turbulent youth and the unforgettable love they shared. 123 min.
Everything is Illuminated (2005) Based on the critically-acclaimed novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything is Illuminated tells the story of a young man’s quest to find the woman who saved his grandfather in a small Ukrainian town that was wiped off the map by the Nazi invasion. What starts out as a journey to piece together one family’s story under the most absurd circumstances turns into a surprisingly meaningful journey with a powerful series of revelations — the importance of remembrance, the perilous nature of secrets, the legacy of the Holocaust, the meaning of friendship and, most importantly, love. 106 min.
My Life (1993) Bob and Gail Jones, a happily married couple expecting their first child, are passionately devoted to one another. But tragedy strikes their otherwise untroubled middle-class home when Bob learns he has advanced terminal cancer. Faced with this profound crisis and the realization that his child may never know him, Bob decides to make a video documenting his life so that his son will have some knowledge of his father. Creating the video proves to be an emotionally and mentally herculean task, as Bob discovers he’s as shallow as the public relations material he produces for a living. Before he can successfully complete the video, Bob has to make peace with himself, reconcile with his estranged parents, and accept the inevitable. 117 min.
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