P.S. Thanks for the wings! It's A Wonderful Life...

Sometimes, not always, but sometimes, it's not all about music. 

Here's a little piece about film.


P.S. Thanks for the wings! It's A Wonderful Life...

It was a typical Christmas Eve as we all headed to watch the film. Typical not in the Christmas card sense of robins, reindeers and snow; but in a freezing and blowy miserable way. We rushed through the door to get out of the cold and get a hot drink. We were there to watch an old film, a film that’s nearly 60 years old, a black and white film that wasn’t even a success at the time it came out, but now, after all this time, has become a part of Christmas just as much as robins, reindeers and snowy scenes.

We were at the Phil to watch Frank Capra’s “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Of course we had all seen it many times before on TV and DVD, but this was the first time we had seen it at the cinema, on a big screen with a lot of other people. Additionally this was the first time that we’d seen it with an old-style cinema organ playing before the film started. This would make a change from half an hour’s worth of trailers and adverts. Not only were we going to see a film that was older than any of us, but we were going to experience filmgoing in a way that was from a distant age. It was going to be different.

I rather not give too much away regarding the plot of the film; in fact, I’d rather not give anything away just in case you haven’t seen it. I wouldn’t want to spoil it. It is such a magical film, such a special film which tells a story that has sadness, humour, darkness, light, love, death and joy running through its core, that saying too much about could ruin it. Needless to say it’s perfectly directed by Capra, perfectly paced and with a cast that includes James Stewart (being totally James Stewart-ish), Donna Reed (truly captivating) and Lionel Barrymore (evil personified) you can’t go wrong.

It’s the ultimate “what if?” plot. While you’re watching it and enjoying it, it makes you wonder yourself about the choices, the simple and seemingly meaningless trivial choices that we all make every day of our lives. Some of the choices that Stewart has to face within the film are difficult ones and they are ones he struggles with to the point that he seems to really have no choice at all. Whichever way he turns, all he can see is disaster and heartbreak awaiting him and his loved ones. He bitterly regrets some of the choices he has made, yet in the end, thanks to divine intervention, all works out for the best.               

Last Christmas Eve, we walked out of the Phil, having laughed and smiled, wiped away tears and knew that we’d seen the best film ever at somewhere that wasn’t a soulless multiplex. It was still cold and freezing, but the world seemed so much better. It was Christmas Day in the morning. It is a wonderful life.