Release Date: December 20th, 1946
Genre: Drama
Directed by: Frank Capra
Starring: James Stewart | Donna Reed | Frank Capra
Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3iIjOW8
A heart-warming two-hour watch, a treat to your eyes, mind, and soul, “It’s a Wonderful Life” makes you happily mushy by the time you finish watching it. For some, it’s the festive season movie, for others it’s two hours of blissful family time. Me, I’m just grateful Franc Capra, decided to take on the venture of creating this spectacle.
Right from the introductory scene, you fall in love with the protagonist of the movie, George Bailey played by Bobby Anderson as a child and by James Stewart as the adult. This 72-year-old drama, takes place in a small town Bedford Falls, in whose well-being George spends his entire life.
The movie is a series of events showcasing George’s compassionate nature and his failure to be selfish in any given situation. He comes to aid of those who need it regardless of the fact that it might come in the way of his own plans, dreams, or life itself. Right from taking upon himself to help Mr. Gower when his son dies, to letting go of the opportunity to go to college for his younger brother, George does everything in his power to keep everyone around him untroubled and content.
Tragedy strikes when married George with three kids and his family business to take care of, falls in a pit of bankruptcy due to the mistake of his poor Uncle Billy and wickedness of Mr. Potter, the only competition to Bailey’s Business in the town. The hero of his children, the prince of his wife and the savior of the town loses faith in his existence. Decides to give up his place in this world and jumps off a bridge. But he’d done way too much for his people, his family, and even strangers for God to let him die just like that. And so, an angel(literally) saves his life, and George questions why? What follows is a reality check for him. He witnesses the lives of hundreds of people the way it would be if he’d never been born.
It’s the 21st century, and most of us are leading individualistic lives. Living among other humans without acknowledging their existence. We have money for clubbing but none if someone’s in dire need. We have time for binge-watching 10 seasons with 20 episodes each but none if a friend wants to meet. We talk about worldly problems like poverty in a café outside which children begged for food and you shushed them away; about climate change while we make more cement towns in the place of forests; about mental health issues while we rag for “fun” and isolate so-called “misfits”; about national rivalries or terrorism while we cyber bully those who we deem worthy of it.
We all are born and die with nothing. What’s to live for is this moment. Humanity demands progress and that’s to happen only if we walk hand in hand. Helping others isn’t a choice, it’s human nature, and inculcating these values is important in the coming generations. Emotional and Mental support is way more significant than monetary support in these times. Kindness is the key to happiness and it always finds its way back to you. George, too, finds his way. Rather the town does for him and humanity wins in the end.
Released in 1947, this movie will remain a classic forever thanks to its universality and the satisfaction it gives of having witnessed a true heart-candy.
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