A Lovely New View

“Thank you Eurydice. Thank you for this new day.” (Orpheus in Black Orpheus)

                 The film Black Orpheus was a fantastic movie. After thinking about the plot, I realized that it was very similar to A Walk to Remember. Or I guess I should say that A Walk to Remember is similar to Black Orpheus. In both movies, it starts with a boy, confident and popular, but shallow and unfaithful. And then, he meets a girl.. the girl that will change his life. She gives him a purpose, and he learns about himself in the process of learning to love her. In the end, the girl passes away, and the boy- turned into a man- is left with a new perspective.

                 

The ending scene when Orpheus has his monologue, speaking of what he now believes. (1:42:00)

                 

Very similar to the ending scene when Landon reflects on what Jamie taught him.

                 Both men were changed by love, love that was unexpected. It can even be argued that it was unwanted. What is it about these stories that strikes our own hearts so strongly? Is it true? Can love really change a person’s character so quickly and so completely? I believe that it can. In fact, it may be the only way that one’s heart can truly be changed from a cold and distant heart to a warm and giving one. Love is able to sneak into the small cracks of a stone heart. Orpheus had a hard heart, aware that he was able to get away with doing whatever he wanted. Landon was the same way, but in a high school sense, able to do whatever he wanted to the other students because of his popularity. Why do you think love is so powerful that it can change how someone thinks, not only about the one they love, but also about their whole view on life?