Hal Ashby's Harold & Maude is an eccentric, touching film that holds a special place in my heart and is my absolute favorite movie. I've seen it countless times and featured it at various film clubs I have organized, introducing it to numerous people throughout the years. Initially conceived by Colin Higgins as his Master's thesis script at UCLA, Paramount eventually acquired the rights to it. Lacking big-name stars and virtually no promotion, the film flopped at the box office and was quickly pulled from distribution. Nevertheless, since its initial release, it has garnered a devoted fan base and has become a beloved cult classic.
Although the movie was released in 1971, the film's themes continue to hold relevance today. The soundtrack by Cat Stevens beautifully complements the story, creating a perfect union on the screen. This unconventional and poignant masterpiece explores the unlikely bond between a woman nearing her 80th birthday and a depressed, suicidal 19-year-old. While many tend to fixate on the significant age difference between the two characters, this unfairly overlooks the film’s deeper, more profound message about love and life. The movie also serves as a thought-provoking reminder of how easy it is to ignore and overlook the beauty, simplicity, and deeper meaning of things directly in front of us.
In one of my favorite scenes in the film, Harold and Maude are walking next to a pond. Maude expresses her desire to become a sunflower and then asks Harold which flower he would be. Knowing his differences and sometimes aching to be like everybody else, Harold scans a field of daisies, choosing what he believes would best allow him to blend in.
Maude: I should like to change into a sunflower most of all. They’re so tall and simple. What flower would you like to be?
Harold: I don’t know. One of these, maybe.
Maude: Why do you say that?
Harold: Because they’re all alike.
Maude: Oooh, but they’re *not*. Look. See, some are smaller, some are fatter, some grow to the left, some to the right, and some even have lost some petals. All *kinds* of observable differences. You see, Harold, I feel that much of the world’s sorrow comes from people who are *this* [points to a daisy], yet allow themselves to be treated as *that* [gestures to a field of daisies].
Upon closer examination, it is clear that even though they may look alike at first glance, every flower has its own special qualities. The flower’s symbolism serves as a poignant reminder that we should honor and celebrate each individual for their exceptional beauty, and embrace our authentic selves by recognizing our intrinsic worth.
As the camera pans further out, a sublime juxtaposition takes place. Gone is the idyllic meadow of daisies now replaced by a landscape adorned with hundreds of faceless, identical tombstones from a military cemetery. The stark contrast between life and death is powerfully emphasized by the striking transformation of hundreds of white specks amidst a sea of green as ‘Where Do The Children Play?’ by Cat Stevens begins.
Despite enduring the atrocities of the Holocaust, Maude has found love, joy, and purpose in her life. Ultimately, she gives an invaluable and precious gift of light to Harold - the ability to see the beauty, joy, & importance of life and love in all its shapes and forms and to cherish it always without ever letting anyone diminish your worth. If Harold chooses to find and embrace love within himself, his future holds boundless opportunities, whereas Maude's time is gradually slipping away.
Lanterns hold a special meaning across cultures, representing brightness, transcendence, and guidance. They are not just symbols of love, wisdom, enlightenment, and illumination but also a reminder of the inner light that helps lead us through dark times, giving us hope and promising a new beginning. Lanterns gracefully remind us of our resilience and capacity to navigate life's challenges.
Lanterns can manifest in various forms that range from the physically obvious to the profound and symbolic embodiment of a guiding light source. People themselves can also be lanterns, such as Maude, whose unwavering love, joy, and positivity served as a beacon of hope for Harold, leading him out of his darkness and towards a path of self-discovery, compassion, and love for both himself and others.
'Shine A Light' by Spiritualized, the renowned English band, has consistently been a highlight in their live performances since 1992. Throughout the years, Jason Pierce, the creative force behind Spiritualized, has evolved the tune from its early days of mesmerizing, psychedelic drones that would culminate into a breathtaking explosion of white noise and has since steered it towards a more gospel-infused hymn. Having witnessed their performances numerous times over the years in both London and Portland, the moment the ethereal combination of spacey keyboards and slide guitar begins, you know this is the moment you have been waiting for and can feel the anticipation building.
The song gained a whole new level of significance with the addition of female gospel backing vocalists. Pierce initially experimented with this element in 1997 during a performance at the Royal Albert Hall, where the London Community Gospel Choir joined the band on stage. Since then, he has regularly toured with two or three gospel backing singers, bringing a lovely touch to his distinctive ethereal, spacey, psychedelic rock.
Their mesmerizing presence and heavenly voices elevate the song, transporting it to an entirely different realm. From the thick, hypnotic swirls of piercing keyboards to Tony "Doggen" Foster's soulful slide guitar and Jason's haunting, world-weary vocals that he stretches and elongates, allowing each line to breathe, 'Shine A Light' becomes a captivating sonic lantern - a beacon of light, prayer, and hope. As it gradually builds into an immense jam, with the singers fervently singing prayer-like, "Lord, shine a light on me," the song transcends into an ecstatic and almost spiritual experience.
Amidst the frenzied cacophony of the final jam, it may be easy to overlook and underestimate the backing singers’ contribution to the song. However, positioned strategically behind Jason Pierce, their angelic voices illuminate him with an ethereal, radiant glow, guiding the song toward its hopeful and triumphant finale in praise of light and love.
Thought-provoking post, Michael. I’ve not seen Harold and Maude, but that scene, and your description of the film, makes me want to go and watch it. Such a striking juxtaposition between the field of daisies and the military cemetery, as you say.
I love the idea of age sharing wisdom and perspective with youth. It’s often seen as not welcome in real life (western life anyway), but there is so much to learn from life experience and the insights that come with it.
I always look forward to your posts, Michael, the way you shine a light on art and music and write about each with such depth and insight. You've introduced me to so many musicians that I've come to love, and Spirtualized is just one of them. Harold and Maud is a movie I've heard about over the years that sounded like something I'd like but never got around to watching. I'll have to find out where it's streaming and try to watch. Thank you for the light and inspiration you bring to us each week. I always feel uplifted after reading.