My Favourite Film: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Dir. David Fincher

Why not start things off with what is, in my opinion, one of the most poignant films ever made? Also let me clarify that although this is one of my favourite movies ever, I am not trying to say it is the best film ever. Though, it is very, very good.

The story centres around Benjamin, played by Brad Pitt, who is born in 1918 with a peculiar condition: he began life appearing as an elderly man and his body ages backwards. This unique, but simple concept serves as the basis for this film that provides thought-provoking insights into how we establish lifelong relationships, what it means to grow old, and how we define who we are.

The film is at its best when it explores the initial friendship and inevitable romance between Benjamin and Daisy, who is portrayed for the most part by Cate Blanchett (spoiler: you will find nothing but praise for her in any of my posts). Daisy meets Benjamin as a young girl and forms a deep bond with him, despite their vastly different life experiences. Benjamin initially struggles as people tend to treat him as he appears (an old man), not as someone who is really only a child, but Daisy understands him and shows us how looking beyond someone's circumstances can open you up to the most powerful relationships.

The film continues to explore age as a motivator for the life choices we make as it creates an unavoidable strain on Benjamin and Daisy's relationship. As the characters age, it becomes obvious to the viewer that we always want what we can't have. When we are young, as in Daisy's case at the beginning of the film and Benjamin's at the end, all we want is to grow up and be seen as an adult. But, when we are older, as in Benjamin's case at the beginning and Daisy's at the end, we desperately want what our youthful selves once had. By doing so, the film reminds us to never let age be the thing that stops us when deciding what to do with our lives and shows us how staying connected to our inner child can be what makes growing old so beautiful.

Another aspect of this movie that I love is the relationship Benjamin has with his adoptive mother, Queenie, who is masterfully played by Taraji P. Henson. Though he comes into her life coincidentally, the care she gives Benjamin lets him and us know that family (especially a chosen one) makes us who we are. There is a stunning motif throughout the film that everyone was born to do what they do. For example, Queenie was meant to be a mother. The unique aspect here though is that she CHOSE to be a mother. Our lives intersect with the lives of an infinite number of other people, and though some things are fate, it is about the choices we make at any given moment that changes our lives forever.

The overarching message of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is that, like everything, life and love must come to an end, though that doesn't mean they weren't meant to be and worth every single moment.

Favourite Quote: "For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."