It is a rare thing to watch a full-length movie on TV channels. Most of the time I just flip through the channels and most of the time I catch good movies when they are almost near their half-way mark. Tonight, was an exception, I was able to squeeze in some time to watch the movie – The Perks of Being a Wallflower and it was indeed a worthy treat. I felt connected to the movie in many ways and I guess, that’s the secret of any successful artistic creation. The movie traces the story of a wallpaper – ‘A wallflower is someone with an introverted personality type (or in more extreme cases, social anxiety) who will attend parties and social gatherings but will usually distance themselves from the crowd and actively avoid being in the limelight. The name itself derives from eponymous plant's unusual growth pattern; against a wall as a stake or in cracks and gaps in stone walls. "Wallflowers" might literally stand against a wall and simply observe others at a social gathering, rather than mingle. This could be due to anxiety, shyness, lack of social skills or self-esteem’. (Wikipedia)by the name of Charlie who befriends his seniors (Sam and Patrick) at school and how the trio discover the true value of friendship and most importantly growing up together.
When Charlie says – “Dear Friend, I'm sorry I haven't written in a while, but I've been trying hard not to be a loser” I can see a part of myself reflected as I struggle sometimes to stick to a regular writing routine. Charlies crush and the girl who kissed him first (played by the energetic Emma Watson) gifts him a typewriter to encourage him to write more. In the long run, even I have plans to buy a typewriter to emblazon my thoughts and ideas. In fact, the movie opens with this journal entry from Charlie -[voice-over] “Dear Friend. I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have. Please don't try to figure out who I am. I don't want you to do that. I just need to know that people like you exist. Like if you met me you wouldn't think I was the weird kid who spent time in the hospital. And I wouldn't make you nervous. I hope it's okay for me to think that. You see, I haven't really talked to anyone outside of my family all summer. But tomorrow is my first day of high school ever, and I need to turn things around. So, I have a plan. As I enter the school for the first time, I will visualize what it would be like on the last day of my senior year. Unfortunately, I counted, and that's one thousand three hundred and eighty-five days”.
The second connection with the movie can be found in this dialogue: Sam: “Oh my God! They're playing good music. Patrick: Holy shit. Holy shit. They are, they're playing good music!”. Like Almost Famous and Baby Driver, this movie too has a rich soundtrack and music is therapeutic for the characters and the audience. The tunnel song with the affirmation statement from Charlie (closing scene) is one of the best scenes in the movie. There are various mix-tapes made and music is always played in the high school parties and weekend get-togethers. The movie ends with the voice over of Charlie “I don't know if I will have the time to write any more letters because I might be too busy trying to participate. So, if this does end up being the last letter, I just want you to know that I was in a bad place before I started high school, and you helped me. Even if you didn't know what I was talking about or know someone who's gone through it, you made me not feel alone. Because I know there are people who say all these things don't happen. And there are people who forget what it's like to be 16 when they turn 17. I know these will all be stories someday. And our pictures will become old photographs. We'll all become somebody's mom or dad. But right now, these moments are not stories. This is happening. I am here, and I am looking at her. And she is so beautiful. I can see it. This one moment when you know you're not a sad story. You are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And you're listening to that song and that drive with the people you love most in this world. And at this moment, I swear, we are infinite.”
The third connect is about bouncing back to life and finding yourself again and again. Charlie discovers (makes the audience discover) this through narrating about his life. Coming to terms with his childhood memories and in spite of the problems he had making new friends, Charlie ultimately triumphs and the movie is interspersed with these lovable quotes to supplement this triumph of the human spirit. Charlie: My doctor said we can't choose where we come from, but we can choose where we go from there. I know it's not all the answers, but it was enough to start putting these pieces together. It also makes fun of the system of education and the expectation that everyone is supposed to get good grades. There is this scene where everyone is given their annual grades and how Patrick celebrates his below average status. [Patrick holds his report card] Patrick: C minus, ladies and gentlemen! I am below average! Sam: Below average! Patrick: Below average! The ultimate homage paid to human triumph is the one-liner associated with the movie – We are Infinite.
The fourth connect with the movie is about books and reading. There is a special bond between Charlie and his English teacher. In the first scene, you can see Charlie scribbling the answers to the questions asked in the class. Being a wallflower, he doesn’t have the courage to raise his hand to answer. The teacher as he monitors the class discovers that Charlie has all the answers in his notebook takes a special interest in him. The first book that is taught in the class is To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee and there is a scene where the book cover is torn by a bully and how Charlie applies scotch tape to put the cover back in one piece. The teacher and student start sharing and discussing books. They even discuss issues related to growing up.
Charlie: Mr Anderson? Can I ask you something?
Bill: Yeah.
Charlie: Why do nice people choose the wrong people to date?
Bill: Are we talking about anyone specific?
[Charlie nods]
Bill: Well, we accept the love we think we deserve.
Charlie: Can we make them know that they deserve more?
Bill: We can try.
The best part of this bonding based on books between the teacher and his student is at the end when the teacher asks the class the question – How many of you will continue reading for the pleasure of it? Only Charlie raises his hand (first time he does it) and we can see the smirk on the faces of his classmates.
The movie is based on the book by Stephen Chbosky and there is a link between this writer and my previous blog. He has tweeted about Stan Lee in a memorable manner "With great power comes great responsibility." Rest in peace, Maestro. Thank you for making our world super. #stanlee.
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