¬ just serendipity 🍀 (not just serendipity)

Recently I had to opportunity to watch this classic during a flight.

It’s such a great movie¹.

It was the second time I watched it. The first one was during my teenage years, probably around 15-16.

Many years later, with a few bits of wisdom and experience by the means of romances, heartbreaks, and situationships, it feels so natural (and perhaps dangerously familiar) to empathize with both protagonists.

In the old days I could only empathize with Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). I’d get frustrated at Summer (Zooey Deschanel). Like, why, just whyyyyy do you act like this?

Today, suddenly, Summer’s perspective totally resonates with me. Even though it is seemingly irrational (you don’t want a boyfriend, but then all of a sudden you marry someone else right after breaking up with me? WTH?!).

And the most interesting part, perhaps, is to reach the conclusion that there is no ultimate right or wrong side. Moral is subjective. Each character is equally beautiful in their own way, with their own desires and insecurities, with their own definition of happiness, their own emotions and pragmatism, and their own way of shielding out from unknowns.

The soundtrack is relaxing and satisfying. It hasn’t aged at all. You make my dreams come true 🎶. Each and every day <3.

Vivid experience makes you easily recognize attachment styles in each character. The avoidant is afraid of closeness and love. The anxious is afraid of rejection.

Is it fair to always label the avoidant as the villain, or is that just another perfectly acceptable way of l{o,i}ving? Is it fair to always label the anxious as a (the) victim, to judge that they should know better?

Aren’t we always picturing ourselves in the perfect scenario, constantly juggling expectations versus reality? The happy path user journey is often just an illusion, a simplified model that doesn’t match reality in any universe known to mankind, except in imaginary mathematical land. The real word is beautifully complex².

I love the direction of the movie. The narration. The flashbacks. This is not a love story³.

Is is true? Do you like me?

Joseph-Gordon Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are peak charisma.

It’s a masterpiece.