M. Nack’s Blog

There was an interesting movie on TV the other night: “Evening”.  (2007?) It is a “chick flick” for sure. My husband totally slept through the whole thing. Vanessa Redgrave plays an old woman on her death bed reminicising on the days of her youth and the love of her life, who she does not marry or otherwise spend her life with. The tale is about her reconciling her regret over that fact - did she do the right thing? There were cameo performances by Meryl Streep (who looked absolutely lovely and played the ultimate “wise grandmother”) and Glenn Close. (It was weird seeing Glenn CLose in a subordinate role. She is such a presence!) The main theme of the film was, rather than living out their lives with “Their ONE Great Love”, these women made other choices. As Meryl Streep says at the end of the movie, “We did what we had to.” 

I find it an interesting hypothesis. Meryl Streep’s character, unable to marry her “Great Love”,  decides to “settle” and marry ”a good man”.  She clearly arrives at the end of her days happy and content with her choice. Vanessa Redgrave’s character finally decides that she, too, made the right choice, choosing her calling as a chanteuse over a life with her Great Love. The movie belies the modern day notion that romantic love is necessary for happiness. “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” There are other priorities that fulfill us and make us happy - children, career, following our calling in life. The movie surprisingly turns out to be a “women’s lib” film! Women don’t need a man to give their life meaning or fullfillment.

The movie also belies the notion that there IS, in fact, only “One Great Love.” Vanessa Regrave’s daughter in the film agonizes over whether the father of her unborn child is, ”The One”. Should she commit to that relationship? At the end, she concludes it’s a meaningless question - by virtue of proximity and the fact that she’s pregnant with his child, she already HAS commited to it - at least at some level. The heart has many chambers and is capable of many different sorts of relationships. Holding out for ”The ONE Great Love of your Life” may only lead to frustration, despair, loneliness and unhappiness. Put another way? “Bloom where you are planted.”

“All Things With Exuberance!”

mary!