Come,let us weep



I get very emotional when I watch some movies. I often weep…more than in the movies. It is as if, I am waiting for reasons to weep. I cry when I feel happy and also when I feel sad. A good movie, a great film, a birthday card, I weep. Like Graham in ‘The Holiday’ says

“I am a great weeper”

Many animals yelp or cry out when they're in pain. But as far as scientists can tell, we humans seem to be the only species that shed tears for emotional reasons. Scientists who study evolution say crying probably conferred some benefit and did something to advance our species … because it's stayed with us. Tears can play an important role in communication, and the extraordinary thing is that tears don't just sms our state of mind to others…they can also evoke strong emotions in the people who witness them. Tears help reveal the truth. And that's because along with the tears, we've evolved a very special ability to interpret them.

Human emotion and psyche is a complex and mysterious thing. That's one reason I never try to criticize anyone for tearing up...all of us have varying triggers that elicit joy, despair, sadness, elation. There's nothing more complex than the human brain. We cry when we're happy...we cry when we're sad.

When I settle down sometimes to watch a movie, my wife asks me what the theme is, and then would warn me, ‘Now, if it is for you to cry, find someone else to sit with!

It is winter time here, the best time of the year for me. All the rest of the year, it is scorching heat here. I love it when it is cold and chilly. It is Christmas time and I thought this movie “The Holiday” suited the mood. And as usual, I wept at many scenes. Not out of sadness, but out of happiness.





It’s not a classic romantic comedy by any standards, but it still makes you smile more often than you want to admit. The story centers on two women: Iris (Kate Winslet), a British newspaper columnist hopelessly in love with a man about to marry someone else, and Amanda (Cameron Diaz), a highly successful Los Angeles career woman who just broke up with her latest cheating boyfriend. “The Holiday” is a tale of two women, two houses, and two love interests in two different countries.

Two couples meet and fall in love and you cheer them on. You sincerely wish the broken hearts got mended. The whole movie is love and broken hearts, but turns around positive. Right down to the two little girls who play Jude Law's children.. they steal the show and you would love them, pure innocence in their giggles. The music is sheer delight, there are lovely piano pieces.
  
"It was Shakespeare who also said "love is blind". Now that is something I know to be true. For some quite inexplicably, love fades; for others love is simply lost. But then of course love can also be found, even if just for the night. And then, there's another kind of love: the cruelest kind. The one that almost kills its victims. Its called unrequited love. Of that I am an expert!”

I was reminded of Padmarajan, when he said” unrequited love is an  aching pain in your heart”

“Most love stories are about people who fall in love with each other. But what about the rest of us? What about our stories, those of us who fall in love alone? We are the victims of the one sided affair. We are the cursed of the loved ones. We are the unloved ones, the walking wounded. The handicapped without the advantage of a great parking space! Yes, you are looking at one such individual. These years that I have been in love have been the darkest days of my life. All because I've been cursed by being in love with someone who does not and will not love me back.”

There are skillfully crafted moments of refreshing comedy as well as heartening scenes of blossoming romance.

I am off this weekend and planning to see some more movies, and weep.



29 comments:

  1. Dr Anthony, I am not 100% sure if I would get a chance to wish you later, so Happy Christmas. I hope your year fills you and your family with happiness and joy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ok next time I read some sidney sheldon book,I will inform you..Then I will surely say 'Come,let us weep".
    Yeah in his novels I will completely fall for the negative roles..dunno why:P
    And HAPPY CHRISTMAS IN ADVANCEE

    ReplyDelete
  3. What about 'weeping'together, this X'mas?

    The first time I remember bawling at movie was when I watched 'Dosti' as a kid. My whole family was embarrassed.

    I too love the romantic comedies the best. 'While you were sleeping' with Sandra Bullock ( my heartthrob)and Bill Pullman is the movie I love to watch ad infinitum. And 'You got e-mail' and 'French Kiss'... aw, it could go on...

    Happy X'mas & Happy movie watching!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! Its very rare to hear about men liking romantic movies. Most of them go for action and violence isnt it? Weep, weep and enjoy your holidays Doctor. Merry Christmas :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. You must have been my brother in an earlier birth or may be we are distant cousins in this one as well. I too cry while watching movies or at least I used to till a few years back. I know that movies are not real but I'd cry all the same. But I'd rather watch a tear jerker with a good story line than the rubbish that is shown as commercial successes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is news...i mean about your habit of weeping and should salute you for your courage to admit it in public :)

    I agree with you that 'the holiday' suits the holiday mood...It is a beautiful movie to watch...simple pains n joys in life have been portrayed so well...

    ReplyDelete
  7. I..would love to watch this movie!! sounds interesting..sometime the emotions are so overbearing ,,hard to control ...
    this is the best time of the year!
    Merry Christmas..have a good one!!
    God bless you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
  8. my top pics for all to watch during the christmas season.

    Love actually
    Home alone
    A Christmas Story(1983)
    It's a Wonderful Life(1946)
    Miracle on 34th Street(1947)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can very well relate to this
    I get emotional at the slightest sadness shown ...not just in movies also with situations around us

    Good day to you..

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would say to Padmarajan our famous saying " you have not experienced hunger to forget about love" in that way he has been fortunate to be in a condition to think about love!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've seen The Holiday, it is a very good movie.
    Most people I know would rather hide their tears(including me). I think it is because we interpret crying with vulnerability and think people would take advantage of our weakness.
    Merry Christmas to you and your family.Wishing you all the happiness in the world.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I also get bvery emotional and I am a hoplelessly optimistic person and always want a happy ending.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You have echoed my thoughts. An emotional doc is a rarity...I am sure your patients love you.

    I cried a lot when I read the book 'My sisters Keeper' by Jodi Piccoult. I am sure you will love it. Do keep lots of tissues handy.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Merry Christmas, Dr. Antony. And, I have seen "The Holiday" too, quite loved it. I am a sucker for romances but I prefer romantic comedies. I too would rather hide my tears, but movies do move me a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Doc, love in the air?
    reinventing and or rediscovering with Mrs Antony? ha .
    Yes some moments on the screen make one weep ,and no outsider can tell why exactly why?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nice to know the other side of you @Doc!

    Thanks for the review. For some reason I couldn't trust Jude Law as I had hated few of his earlier movies. But now I wish o try The Holidays one of these days.

    When you have a chance watch Fireproof! The best out there...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hey doctor..first of all happy christmas to you and ur family.AND THANKS FOR NARRATING ABOUT "THE HOLIDAY" ;I WOULD WATCH IT DEFINETELY.And the line about "unrequited love",was it diretly what u experienced?

    ReplyDelete
  18. @Madhu
    Thanks for the wishes.Wish you and family a wonderful time ahead.
    @Neeha
    I have read some of Sheldon long time back.The other side of midnight,I remember.Honestly I don't trust this love business,but somehow,I like Romance movies.

    ReplyDelete
  19. @Balachandran
    We could weep for the New year, I am coming for a week.
    @Insignia
    I am taking after Balachandran! He has offered company to weep!
    @Elizabethe
    I know some people would take it as a weakness.Being sensitive to emotions is not a vice,isnt it?
    @Harman
    it is nothing exceptional.But it is so romantic.
    have a wonderful Christmas!
    @dashboy
    What about Notinghill and A walk in the clouds

    ReplyDelete
  20. @Padma
    Sometimes we guess for reasons.I am the youngest in a family of seven sons.I had no sisters.So it was so good of you to think so.
    Some people see tears as weakness.I don't think so.
    Being sensitive and emotional makes you feel more human.After all,these are feelings unique to our species,isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  21. @Balachandran
    Have you seen " A walk in the clouds"?.If not,try.
    Every single frame as good as a painting.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ha..ha...finally I got company..I am like you Dr. I cry watching emotional movies and when ever there is a sad scene my partner tell our daughters to look at my face..they say the movie is running on my face...I just cannot help feeling emotional. Not only movies even a sad incident read on newspaper or hearing some one's words are enough to make my eyes fill up. Unlike you, I am embarrassed by this problem and I try hard to avoid it but cannot...

    Merry Christmas and Happy New year..

    ReplyDelete
  23. Very interesting..wanna watch the movie..
    wishing you n your family a very happy christmas.
    Tasty appetite

    ReplyDelete
  24. I liked the move the holiday.. and yes i cry too nothing wrong with men crying ... someone told me once

    Sir you hvae a very Merry christmas and a VERY HAppy new year

    Do let us know what other movies have you seen .. for a change these days i am also watching a lot of movies and they all seem to be quiet romantic ones ...

    Up in air, valentines day , lettes to juliet , to name a few they were great ...

    Bikram's

    ReplyDelete
  25. I haven't seen this movie, and by all accounts it'll nudge hearts.

    Tears are way to connect with ourselves, and while they're cathartic they change the state of mind to the receptive, else how will we be moved by our circumstances.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family...

    Had only been lurking around this wonderful blog all this time but a doctor who still can cry led me in :)

    Holiday is a great movie...Wish you a wonderful holiday too..

    ReplyDelete
  27. @Stranger
    Come on,don't be shy.weep heartily. don't care about others.Aren't we better?
    @Jay
    I know you are too busy a person.For a change, try the movie.
    @Bikram
    Not very serious movies..But I loved A walk in the clouds, Love actually,Nottinghill,Fools rush in,chocolate,Amelie, and so on. I have a long list!
    @Anil
    It is nothing great,but an easy one.Are you busy these days/ you are infrequent.
    @Happy Kitten
    Welcome. Being emotional is sometimes a problem.But it is better than not having any!

    To all my friends,
    A Wonderful Christmas and New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  28. That's a nice one and very true..I have always felt that I end up being the cry baby just because I find reasons to cry and not exactly with empathy for the movie..afterall we need a strong reason to support our crying right...

    ReplyDelete
  29. @Doc! Finally I got hold of The Holiday and watched it today. Wanted to let you know I really liked it.

    ReplyDelete

Please spend another moment to make your comment before leaving.

Every dog has his day

Boo Boo George George and Boo boo  The world’s tallest dog met the world’s shortest in Central Park when they both made t...