Ever feel like you need to get something off your chest? Sometimes I’ve just gotta talk it out. That’s why I’ve decided to do a monthly feature called “Thoughts On…” At the beginning of the month, I’ll provide a prompt to stimulate discussion. The point is to get us to put our thoughts out there – writing it all down can be quite cathartic. If you want to keep your writing private, that’s your thing and I won’t question it. If you’re ready to put it all out there, I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments. At the end of the month I’ll provide my own thoughts on the topic of the month. Think of it as a book club for writing.
Can we talk about Breakfast at Tiffany’s? This movie is viewed as the epitome of romance but really it’s about two unhappy people who, by the end, are still not entirely open to the idea of real love. They are two beautiful people we are supposed to emulate; but really, she’s a call girl and he’s a kept man. She’s totally cool helping out a criminal and he doesn’t mind that he’s abetting an adulteress. It’s all cool when they give you nice clothes, right?
I will admit, I love the clothes, always chuckle when I see Mr. Yanoshi, and get the tingles when I hear “Moon River.” But when it comes to the plot itself, this is not how I want my love life to be. These are two people who fight the love they have for each other because they are more focused on being with someone with money. Once they do decide to be together, I worry it won’t last because neither seems too keen on getting a desk job to support themselves.
They also seem to fall for each other as a way to escape their own problems. Paul can’t sell a story and Holly has a secret past as a child bride in Texas. They want to start fresh and forget about the unpleasant things. In my ideal romance, I don’t pretend like the bad things never existed; I find a partner I can confide in and move forward together. I also want my significant other to be my first choice, forever and always. I don’t want him to be the one I run to because my plan to marry rich didn’t work out and, well, I always did like his personality.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is fun to watch, but is it too much to ask to say that we portray the ideal romance as being able to have it all? You can be with the person who makes you laugh AND still have great clothes. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. And maybe let’s not skate over the whole call-girl thing?
Peaches to Apples 