4. Harold And Maude (1971)
Harold is a young man who is obsessed with death. He drives a hearse, stages elaborate fake suicides and goes to funerals. His socialite mother detests this aspect of Harold's behaviour. At a funeral for a stranger, Harold meets 79 year old Maude who shares his penchant for funerals. The two strike up a close friendship. Maude is easygoing and full of fun which fascinates Harold as he is so morbid and depressed. Maude teaches him the banjo and also how to make every second of his life meaningful. Harold's mother wants him to marry but every time a date occurs, Harold does one of his suicide tricks which are not what you should do when trying to attract a young lady. Harold and Maude become so close, Harold wants to marry her to just about everyone's chagrin. He throws a party for her 80th birthday. Maude has taken a massive overdose, insisting 80 is the age to 'bow out' gracefully. How will Harold react to this catastrophe? First off, I have to praise the score of the film, by Cat Stevens, it is utterly sublime and captures the atmosphere of the film perfectly. It is a story about trying to find happiness any way you can. Maude is a liberated soul and Harold - dark and morbid. She brings sunshine into Harold's life - something that was sorely missing and he loves her for her tremendous 'go with the flow' and 'try something new everyday' spirit. These are radical philosophies for Harold. The film is ambivalent about suicide. It is okay for Maude to kill herself because she is 80 years old - she has had her life, but the end of the film shows Harold rejecting suicide. I guess he took her happy philosophies to heart and finally grew up - out of his morbid state - to adulthood.