I was recently reading a review of Joyride (2022) starring Olivia Coleman and the first comment was "what in the Harold and Maude is going on here?" I laughed out loud, and knew I'd watch the movie regardless of the tomatometer rating.
It wasn't great, but Coleman is always a joy to watch and the scenery of the Irish countryside is worth tuning in, but I also got to thinking about the older woman-younger man relationship. Is it dangerous because a mature woman has so much wisdom an knowledge at her disposal, and it feels predatory to impress that upon a younger dude? But it's OK for a guy to do that (Bill Belichick, 72 and Jordon Hudson, 24) just because he has money and cultural status? I can't wrap my head around it.
What a strange comment from the reviewer! I haven't seen Joyride, but if I understand the trailer, Joyride is about a maternal friendship, not a romance by any stretch of the imagination.
I have a soft spot for Harold and Maude because it's set in my town, but I always found it a little confusing. In the script Harold's character is "about 20" and Maude is 79. (Bud Cort was 23 when he played the part.) A 60 year age difference!
It is a maternal relationship, but the Olivia Coleman character is completely lost., having just given birth to a child she doesn’t want and seeking meaning in her life. There’s nothing to indicate a relationship similar to Harold and Maude, but it is similar and that they are too kindred spirits from a different world who end up finding each other right when they need to.
I love Olivia Coleman. I'll watch it just for her. Yes, that was interesting about Harold and Maude--kindred spirits who happened to wander into each other's lives.
I like how the story opens mentioning dumplings. Don't know why but dumplings are like hope. People often can have an unexpected inclination towards some sort of small something which dumplings sometimes seem to suggest. In India near Nepal, dumplings are called momos. Sometimes meaning in words is lost in translation. I think with momos, meaning is added through their translation of dumplings into momos. It a great way for a descriptive word to unobtrusively set the scene for an unrevealed emotional slight possible need. Neat way to start a tale of two people.
It's true there are not many films on older women younger men relationships I think because they are rare and fragile and a man's need is always considered more significant and important than a woman's. There was a comment by a 38 year old male Bollywood film star in an interview with an esteemed lady film critic. "Everything a man needs, a woman needs that too." Her response? "Thank you." An excellent Bollywood film that has an interesting perspective on an older woman younger man relationship is "Dil Chata Hai" (From the Heart). Another Hindi film that has a devastating perspective on the fragility of ever even finding love, is a film called "October". You may not want to see either one because you may not want to see other perspectives because any story often has its own secrets, conflicted inner lives, suspense and finally revelation. For many writers, writing is often a magical mystery tour, as often mysterious and surprising for them as it will be for the reader in its final form. But I think most readers would, will or are, easily on board with this story because of that first mysterious nuance of randomity and fragility. Looking forward to seeing where this novella goes.
I was recently reading a review of Joyride (2022) starring Olivia Coleman and the first comment was "what in the Harold and Maude is going on here?" I laughed out loud, and knew I'd watch the movie regardless of the tomatometer rating.
It wasn't great, but Coleman is always a joy to watch and the scenery of the Irish countryside is worth tuning in, but I also got to thinking about the older woman-younger man relationship. Is it dangerous because a mature woman has so much wisdom an knowledge at her disposal, and it feels predatory to impress that upon a younger dude? But it's OK for a guy to do that (Bill Belichick, 72 and Jordon Hudson, 24) just because he has money and cultural status? I can't wrap my head around it.
What a strange comment from the reviewer! I haven't seen Joyride, but if I understand the trailer, Joyride is about a maternal friendship, not a romance by any stretch of the imagination.
I have a soft spot for Harold and Maude because it's set in my town, but I always found it a little confusing. In the script Harold's character is "about 20" and Maude is 79. (Bud Cort was 23 when he played the part.) A 60 year age difference!
It is a maternal relationship, but the Olivia Coleman character is completely lost., having just given birth to a child she doesn’t want and seeking meaning in her life. There’s nothing to indicate a relationship similar to Harold and Maude, but it is similar and that they are too kindred spirits from a different world who end up finding each other right when they need to.
I love Olivia Coleman. I'll watch it just for her. Yes, that was interesting about Harold and Maude--kindred spirits who happened to wander into each other's lives.
Okay, I’m hooked. More, please.
You are??? Thank you for that! That makes me want to continue!
Absolutely. And I really want to see Babygirl.
I like how the story opens mentioning dumplings. Don't know why but dumplings are like hope. People often can have an unexpected inclination towards some sort of small something which dumplings sometimes seem to suggest. In India near Nepal, dumplings are called momos. Sometimes meaning in words is lost in translation. I think with momos, meaning is added through their translation of dumplings into momos. It a great way for a descriptive word to unobtrusively set the scene for an unrevealed emotional slight possible need. Neat way to start a tale of two people.
Thank you, Larry. What an interesting insight, and it shows how the reader brings nuances to a narrative that the writer didn't see themselves.
It's true there are not many films on older women younger men relationships I think because they are rare and fragile and a man's need is always considered more significant and important than a woman's. There was a comment by a 38 year old male Bollywood film star in an interview with an esteemed lady film critic. "Everything a man needs, a woman needs that too." Her response? "Thank you." An excellent Bollywood film that has an interesting perspective on an older woman younger man relationship is "Dil Chata Hai" (From the Heart). Another Hindi film that has a devastating perspective on the fragility of ever even finding love, is a film called "October". You may not want to see either one because you may not want to see other perspectives because any story often has its own secrets, conflicted inner lives, suspense and finally revelation. For many writers, writing is often a magical mystery tour, as often mysterious and surprising for them as it will be for the reader in its final form. But I think most readers would, will or are, easily on board with this story because of that first mysterious nuance of randomity and fragility. Looking forward to seeing where this novella goes.
Thank you for your thoughtful observations and for the film recommendations. I haven't heard of Dil Chata Hai or October--will check them out.