Our Town

This film is the most welcoming breath of fresh air to open the 1940’s.  Based on the play by Thornton Wilder, it’s so charming that the narrator even welcomes you in and shows you around town.

The film is broken into three parts: The Daily Life, Love and Marriage, and (though our narrator didn’t name it, I will) Something Eternal.  The story focuses on a young couple,  played by William Holden and Martha Scott.  They’re not star crossed lovers or forbidden by their families, just good ol’ small town kids with nothing too special going on.  The town shows the beautiful cycles of life every day.  The paperboy and milk man make their morning deliveries, mothers prepare meals and kids go to school.  Lives change with marriage, babies and the departure of loved ones.

Throughout the story, it seems that we’re reminded of everyone’s short lives.  At the very start, twins have been born and we’re told that the paperboy will die in WWI.  But life keeps rolling, blissfully unaware at how little time they have.  I don’t want to dwell on the obvious, but it’s in these things that bring out the beauty of the story.

Now, once you pop that DVD in, you’ll cringe.  The film is grainy, a bit fuzzy and sometimes the camera seems to be cutting off someone’s head.  Frankly, it’s a miracle that it even evolved to DVD.  There were a few pops and out of tune whining at times, but remember, this is a humble film.  The way this message is told makes a few technological set backs worth the ride.

Besides the few techno geeks who can’t stand anything out of HD, Our Town can be enjoyed by anyone.  The story is told in a relaxed and engaging way and its level of complexity is only as far as you want to make the ending.  It’s probably better as a play, it’s meant to engage the viewer.  So, if you do get a chance, see the play live, if that’s not an option, the film is worth a look over.

“It goes so fast, we don’t even have time to look at each other.”