It’s a Wonderful Movie
Given how early and how aggressively retailers put out their Christmas product it’s nothing short of a Christmas miracle that the studios don’t go overboard with seasonal cinematic spirit. But for those of us who do like to get festive, is Arthur Christmas in 3D going to cut it?
That depends, if you prefer your holiday cheer to be full of action then sit down wtih Die Hard (1988), if you like a little gore go with Gremlins (1984) and if you’re into slasher flicks, there’s nothing more fantastic than Black Christmas (the 1974 original not the remake) but if you’re lucky enough to have a repertory cinema on your doorstep, or, even if you don’t you can always go support your local rental store and to make sure your Christmas viewing includes It’s A Wonderful Life. Although the film was made in 1946 it couldn’t be more resonant for audiences today. Like all good PG tales of morality, It’s A Wonderful Life begins with the protagonist contemplating suicide. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) discovers his small, community bank has lost $8000 on Christmas Eve and, knowing this will bankrupt his father’s company and hurt everyone around him, decides they would all be better off if he topped himself.
It’s at this point that Clarence, a Guardian Angel who wants desperately to get his wings, comes down to earth to show George what life in Bedford Falls would be like if he had never been born.
Aside from the obvious selling points; Jimmy Stewart’s amazing southern drawl, Frank Capra’s undeniable golden touch and the kind community / anti-capitalist ideological underpinnings, what makes It’s A Wonderful Life such a wonderful film is that its protagonist is written as absolutely and undeniably selfless.
Suicide is not something you would expect as a subject for such an uplifting film. It’s the province of the despairing, the utterly hopeless, the ones who truly believe they have nothing left to offer the people around them.
The genius – and heartwarming sentiment – behind this movie however is that what saves George is the realization that lives of every single person he had ever known would all be significantly poorer without him.
For a classic like this to consistently warm hearts every December one has to ask; is there anything more uplifting than the contemplation that someone — anyone — might actually have a better experience of life just because they knew you? As far as restoring some semblance of faith in humanity is concerned, this is without a doubt the most genuinely moving Christmas Miracle of all.
At an often-depressing time of year, It’s A Wonderful Life proves that Christmas isn’t about money, gifts or gaudy decorations; it’s about people and how our actions affect others - perhaps more often than we think - for the better.
If you live in Melbourne, then you can see It’s A Wonderful Life on the big screen at The Astor Theatre, St Kilda in a double bill with Shop Around the Corner, Saturday December 24, 7.30pm.
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Tara Judah is a freelance film writer and blogger who prefers a mediated experience of life and spends far too much time on twitter. She blogs here: www.liminalvision.wordpress.com She is on twitter @midnightmovies
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