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@thedefinitionofcreativity
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(500) Days of Summer is a romantic comedy that I think many people misunderstand. But it does have some cultural relevance, exploring the complexity of relationships, even though I wouldn’t know fully
The entire film is told from the perspective of Tom, which is the most important detail of the film, but also something that not many romance films do. The story usually involves the perspectives of both people in the relationship. Tom has this ideal, romantic view on love: soulmates, destiny, fate etc. So when he sees Summer, it’s love at first sight. I think he forces a relationship with her because of this, and she is viewed as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Tom. When I first watched the film, I thought Summer was so rude and self-centred, but then I realised that because she isn’t objectively portrayed, I can’t make that judgement about her. A Manic Pixie Dream Girl is a character trope where there is a woman who is quirky, fun and attractive, but her only purpose is complete the man min the story (Tom). This is all Tom sees Summer as, but we get a glance that Summer is not this character trope because she has her own desires.
“I just don't feel comfortable being anyone's girlfriend. I don't actually feel comfortable being anyone's anything, you know?”
What I’ve realised as I’ve watched the film more and more is that the technical elements also feel as though they are told by Tom. The non-linear structure of the film shows contrasts within their relationship, such as the two scenes in the record shop, and the expectations vs reality scene which is the best example of juxtaposition. Even when Tom finds out that Summer is engaged to someone else: the cinematography fades from white to grey. I like the scenes where Tom is immersed in scenes from iconic classic films. This, to me, says that Tom’s life is the subject of a film and that he needs to change, as without some slight presence of a character arc, there is no purpose of a film.
The dialogue shows how Tom has matured as a result of his relationship with Summer. At the end, when Tom and Summer are sitting on the park bench, Tom realises that his love views were flawed, but then Summer says that he is partly right in that she wouldn’t have met her husband had it not been for fate. What if she had stayed at home or gone to the cinema, instead of going to the café where they first met each other? This reassures Tom that not all of their relationship was damaging, but because his ignorance of Summer’s thoughts, it appeared one-sided. In that same scene, he says to Summer:
“I really do hope you’re happy.”
This is the first time where he said or perceived something that isn’t about him; it’s about Summer. This transition in maturity towards relationships is clear, and is symbolic through him quitting his job as a greeting card writer as well. I think this job is quite ironic because Tom has had this unrealistic view on love, but he’s determining the love messages and intentions of other people, which I think is what he does with Summer. And the character arc is clear when he says:
“What does that word even mean - love?”
Conclusion. Is Summer rude and self-centred? Absolutely not, because she is only viewed by Tom that way, not by us. We don’t have an outsiders view of Summer, so we can never know. Is Tom an idiot? Yes, but he changes because he realises how he’s misunderstood Summer and not properly listened to her.
I think this film is different from other romance films because it actually reflects modern culture. I think a lot of people nowadays expect so much from someone else in a relationship, that their relationship doesn’t last. And I don’t think they necessarily have to have a fate and destiny perspective like Tom, but the way that romantic relationships have been portrayed in the media has perpetuated these high standards. This film provides the realism behind that concept, making it universally and socially relevant.
By @thedefinitionofcreativity
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