We each have our opinions and preferences for food, drink, fashion, colors, seasons, sports, books, movies, etc.. It is so true “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” – Margaret Wolfe Hunger (in her book ‘Molly Bawn’ – 1878). I recommend you take time to watch or rewatch 5 older uplifting movies that are full of heart. These types of movies remind me that “Life Is Precious”.
My all time favorite is a 1995 film based on Whitney Otto’s novel How to Make an American Quilt. The film, by the same name as the book, is directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and stars Winona Ryder, Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Nelligan and Alfre Woodard. It is about a young woman, Finn, played by Winona Ryder, who decides to visit her grandmother for the summer under the guise of focusing on writing her graduate school thesis, but really she is taking a break from her Fiance’ and thinking about what she really wants for her life. Finn’s grandmother and her friends are busy making a beautiful quilt together and while they create they talk and share their life stories. Their stories and the women who tell them are inspiring. At the end of the summer, Finn takes her summer experiences, which include the stories shared by her grandmother and her friends, and forms clarity on what she wants for her life. A story about strong women, who have much wisdom and love. They clearly reinforce in their stories that part of life is what happens to you and most of life is what you do with what happens to you.
Another wonderful movie is a 3D, animated, comedy, drama released in 2009 by Pixar, UP!. This movie was directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, written by Bob Peterson and Tom McCarthy and the music was composed by Michael Giacchino. The story revolves around a widower names Carl (voice acted by Ed Asner) and a boy named Russell (voice acted by Jordan Nagai). Carl ties balloons to his house and sets out to fulfill a dream of seeing South America, a promise he made to his late wife, Ellie. It is an exciting, beautiful, funny and touching film. A reminder that companionship, love, dreams, hope, adventure, purpose…. are uplifiting.
Most of my gal friends will agree that a 1987 romantic, drama, dance film, written by Eleanor Bergstein, produced by Linda Gottlieb and directed by Emilie Ardolino by the title of Dirty Dancing is a super fun movie. The movie stars Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. It is a fun summer romance story that is filled with many life lessons. And, ends with an uplifting dance number “The Time of My Life”(1987 song composed by Frank Previte, John Previte, John DeNicola and Donald Markowitz, recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes). I love the music, defiance, energy, and joy. I think most of us have had that person or experience where we could sing this song, especially the refrain: “‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life
And I owe it all to you”. A fun, feel good movie!
The title doesn’t sound like an uplifting movie, but it is. I love the 2012 movie The Guilt Trip. It is a comedy directed by Anne Fletcher and written by Dan Fogelman. Barbara Streisand and Seth Rogan star in the movie. It is a story about relationships. The relationship of a mother and son, the relationship with a past love, the relationship with a current love and the relationship with your dreams. Andy, played by Seth Rogan, invites his mother, Joyce, played by Barbara Streisand, on a road trip across the U.S. to pitch his invention. They have many adventures along the way, most of them funny. In the end, their relationship is stronger and they both have “extra wind in their sails”. A very entetaining and uplifiting film.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a 2011 British comedy/drama film directed by John Madden and written by Ol Parker. The cast of this film includes Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson and Penelope Wilton. The story revolves around a group of retirees that move, for a variety of reasons, to India to live in a retirement hotel. It is refreshing to see a movie that reminds us that regardless of our age we all have the same emotions in our hearts. Our world too often discounts individuals as they age, and this movie celebrates the fact that although we age on the outside, our hearts are forever young. It is a very charming, funny and heartwarming movie.
I hope you make time to watch a movie that uplifts your spirit and puts wind in your sails.. Maybe it will be one of the movies I have hightlighted here: How to Make and American Quilt; UP!; Dirty Dancing; The Guilt Trip or The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? What are your favorite uplifting flicks?
About Me: Life is precious, capture its beauty. I am lucky to have a loving family, and wonderful friends. Like everyone, I have good days and bad days, happy days and sad days, patient days and crabby days, beautiful days and ugly days, etc. I try to “hold the bright side up” as much as I can because it makes me feel better, and I think it helps others feel better too. I am so far from perfect, but I try to be kind and respectful. I truly believe that life is precious and that there are so many extraordinary ordinary people and moments in life. I want to share and celebrate the “extraordinary ordinary” through my writing and photography. Please check out my photos at Fine Art America Photography https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/35-laura-smith; at Adobe Stock at https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/207669601/Laura%20Jean%20Smith or at Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/g/LauraJSmith. Perhaps you will find something you would like to have as your own?
