"How Movies Make Me Feel Alive"

(courtesy Pinterest)

by Yulia Sutjahjono

Movie. How many often do you watch movie?

Once in a week? Or even once in a month?

Me? Uncountable.

Doesn’t mean I want to show off that I am a queen of movie. Nope!

Or so that people think I am cool? Nein!

This time, I want to share about what I feel, what I’ve experienced by watching a movie, and why does movie make me so alive.

Since 4 or 5 years old, my dad always bought me new DVD or CD of children movies every month, sometimes every week. Well, I think the kids nowadays also get the same way by their parents, and also animation videos from Youtube, but since in my generation Youtube wasn’t so popular yet like this moment, so DVD is one of the alternative answer.

Those DVDs are Tom and Jerry, Snow White, Cinderella, Tarzan, Alice in Wonderland, Sesame Street, Spongebob Squarepant, etc. Well, not all of them my parents bought for me, some were also rented from the movie rental or just watch it in the broadcast television.

Those activities about watching movies keep going on, up until now. I think, it’s not only about what my parents did buy the DVDs for me, but also the habit of watching movies that my parents has been showing to me, especially my dad. Until now, I still like, uhm LOVE TO WATCH a movie. And when I am grown up, I just realized that the expression of “Like father, like daughter” is just happened between me and my dad. He unintentionally showed his hobby (watching movies) in front of me, and I knew that since I was kid. Every time he watches a movie, particularly through a TV or the cable one, I can see that he is so focus watching the movie, since the opening until credit (well the credit is not so I think), without giving any comments while watching it. Until now, he is still doing that. As far as I am concerned, those kind of habit just be hereditary to me, except the ‘without give a comment’ part, because every time I watch a movie, I am busy guessing what other movies that the actors/actresses play a role in, or any kind of things that could be so interested to discuss about.

So, to be honest, having this kind of hobby is one of my pride. Why?

I got many things, information, and even new knowledge through a movie. Especially, knowing other cultures. Oh, one more, implicitly learning the language. For example, watching Hollywood movie, it uses English as a medium language, mostly. Also implicitly local cultures shown in that movie.

Okay, I give you one example:

Film “The Terminal” is one of my favorite movie. In this movie, I can learn whole things about airport and its terminal. First time I watch it, when I was in High School and I haven’t yet get on the airplane in that moment. So, I kind of learn something new from the movie. For example about the facilities in the airport. The character of the passenger, how passenger wait for their flight or next flight, and of course I can learn English words by this movie, especially the aviation language which I didn’t know in the first moment I watch it; departure, arrival, delayed, etc. Also before I watch this movie, all I know about word ‘Terminal’ is only used by the context of Bus, The Bus Terminal. But then I know that word ‘Terminal’ also refers to the place in the airport.

Another favorite movie of mine which also starred by Tom Hanks and directed by Steven Spielberg, “Catch Me If You Can”. There is no detail which I do like most, just the idea of this movie. Well, this movie is actually adapted from a true story but I really like the way Spielberg depict from the reality and modify to be something that can be watched by people. Another thing that I like, is something interesting that has shown in this movie, which is the life skill that people can try. In the scene of Frank Abagnale Jr. tries to pull off a sticker PANAM in an airplane replica, he soaks the airplane into a bathtub with a full of water, then he puts the sticker off that mini airplane and applies to a paycheck that he was working on. Thus, I have new knowledge about how to pulling off something sticky without making any damage from the object. In a real life, I practice that skill when I was in Germany. One day, my boss wants to recycle jars from strawberry jam and she asked me whether I could pull off the label or not. As you know, the label in strawberry jam is mostly sticky with some traces. So, in the name of “Have been watched Catch Me If You Can”, I put into practice the same way as Frank Abagnale Jr. just did in the movie. Now, you can see that you can learn something useful from a movie.

Other things that I could learn from, movies about Second World War, such as “The Pianist” and “Ida”. For “Ida”, it just tells about a moment of a nun who lost her parents from the World War II, and from that I could feel how Polish people live before and after the war in that time. By the way, “Ida” is a Polish movie.

In the other hands, “The Pianist” also tells about how people, especially Polish people survive during World War II. I can feel the way they survive and try to stay alive in such difficult moment like that. While watching it, I was so emotional, cried little bit, and really can feel how hard that moment was. Really appreciate to Roman Polanski and the team who already made this movie so amazingly!

How about learn English through the movies?

Yes, as I’ve mentioned above, I also learn English by watching movies. There are a lot of movies which I watch more than one time and play them all over again, then I can memorize the words that the characters have said. Maybe because I play it more than one time or even more than a hundred times, but also how the casts say the dialogue, which is so unique, one-of-a-kind, and memorable.

Like “Because I Said So” The Movie. One of my favorite scene is when Daphne Wilder (Diane Keaton) said “Thank you so terribly much” on a phone call. Since that, I can always remember those words and apply them into my English daily conversation. Even it’s not so common, but I still can use it.

Not only about expression in English, words or vocabularies that I never known it before, I can tell through some other movies. Let me write down below the words and the terminology, the cultures that I can learn from, and where those are from (the movies):

·        Attic (in Bahasa Indonesia is loteng/ruang di lantai paling atas dekat atap rumah)

I know this word from “Toy Story 3”, when Andy wants to put all his toys to the attic of his house because he is going to university and might not be able to play the toys anymore.

·         Clarinet (Klarinet –alat musik tiup seperti terompet atau suling)

Are you thinking what I am thinking of? Yeah, every time I hear a word “Clarinet”, somehow it reminds me to Squidward Tentacles in the “Spongebob Squarepants” American animated television series. When I was in Germany, I have former host brother who plays clarinet. So, the first time I knew that he plays that music instrument, I was spontaneous saying “Squidward!” Nothing so special with this one, but I think if I never watched Spongebob, then I will never know what clarinet is.

·         Herring fish (in Bahasa Indonesia : Ikan hering)

I know this word by watching “The Wedding Date” in a scene when Nick is having conversation with Kat’s father, Victor Ellis, and Victor serves herring fish to Nick who actually allergic with Herring Fish instead. The first time watch this movie, I have no idea what the herring fish looks like. Just see from that scene, but unfortunately the fish is served with small pieces, so I have no idea how does one whole herring fish look like. So, when I was in Germany, I saw Herring Fish in a can (just like tuna can) first time in a supermarket. Hmm, if I am not mistaken it was in Lidl close to my apartment, and when I saw it in the rack, I was quite surprised because I’ve heard the name of the fish from that movie. So, I was pretty happy when I found it first time by my eyes and to see that fish markedly.

·         Marmalade (in Bahasa Indonesia : Selai jeruk) 

Still about food. I never knew that the world has Marmalade as topping or spread for bread. Well, maybe I could find it in my country, Indonesia, but it is not so common, even this jam is kind of special and you can only find it in an international supermarket like Lotte Mart or Food Daily in Jakarta or some other big cities in Indonesia. But since I watch “Paddington”, I would say that the movie makes me cleverer than before and surely I could know something new from the movie itself.

·         Pretzel or Brezel (roti khas Jerman)

One more food that I’ve seen in a movie. It’s called “What’s Your Number”, starred by Anna Faris and Chris Evan. I saw Pretzel when Ally (Faris) and Colin (Chris Evan) are walking the bay and eating shared Pretzel. I keep remembering the bread until I see a Pretzel store in Jakarta named “Auntie Anne’s” in Grand Indonesia Shopping Mall. And I read online that Pretzel is one of typical bread in Germany. Then when I arrived Berlin in the end of August 2017, I was seeing Pretzel in every single bakery. So, when I saw the Pretzel (or Brezel in Germany), they remind me to “What’s Your Number” the Movie. Since that moment on, I always feel happy every time I see Pretzel during my live in Germany and always coming back to the movie. I also found the big Pretzel in a Christmas Market in Frankfurt and automatically I bought one. I always remember how I excited was!

   

My Pretzel in Frankfurt, Germany

·         Christmas (in Bahasa Indonesia is Hari Natal)

Speaking about Christmas, I also thank many movies or television series about Christmas that already aired or released in the cinema, moreover I could watch again in DVD or Netflix. Because of them, I knew that the culture as Christmas celebration in Europe or America is like what I’ve watched in many movies. Because in my country, the Christmas only celebrated for those who Christian or Catholic. So, the Moslem like me or the others don’t, but can still see the vibe in the mall or public spaces. So, I never experienced all kind of Christmas celebration inside my house. But always curious how does it feel being in the middle of the Christmas atmosphere itself, especially in Europe or America. Moreover since watching “TheHoliday”, “Home Alone”, “Love Actually”, “JingleAll The Way”, and “Mr. Bean Series : Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean”. So lucky I was when I lived in Germany and finally experienced the celebration of Christmas on December 2017. Finally I could help the German family (my former host family) to decorate the Christmas tree. It was really amazing. Also prepare the Christmas cookies and the Christmas’ Eve dinner. While experiencing those moments, they keep reminding to those Christmas movies that I’ve watched before.

·         New Year’s Eve (in Bahasa Indonesia is Malam Tahun Baru)

After Christmas, there will be always New Year’s Eve. This celebration also remind me to a movie called “New Year’s Eve” created by Garry Marshall. Nothing really memorable with this movie, however through this movie, I am having a dream to see Ball Drop in Times Square New York someday.

·         Other cultures in Western Countries like Wedding, living in the society, etc.

o   So, not only the new words that I’ve learned through a movie, the culture aspect as well for sure. My favorite movies are mostly in a genre of romantic-comedy and also about wedding. Trust me, it doesn’t relate anything in my life, but as a normal woman, I also dream of having beautiful wedding as I’ve seen in movies such as “27 Dresses”, “What’s Your Number?”, “The Wedding Date”, or “Bride Wars”. Many things I’ve also learned through those movies, that 90% wedding style in the movies are the same, or typical. Thus, I think a wedding party in America or western countries is just like that; the bride has bridesmaids who come from her best friends or cousins, the blessing of the church moment, throwing the flower bouquet to the single friends or family members, many more. It’s a bit different with my culture, also with my religion in practice, but if I had chance to get married with someone, I want to make my wedding as perfect as I wish and as in the wedding movies I’ve watched, with a little improvisation or difference from the movies I think.

o   Another thing still about American culture or typical western countries, is about having meal time with family. Based on what I watch in “Failure to Launch” (starred by Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey) that people in America having breakfast with Pancake and orange juice. Well, it’s not always like that, but at least it is typical. Or in “August:Osage County”, I’ve seen that they eat potato, meat and vegetables like asparagus and bean for their dinner, especially if they invite another family member to the dinner. Okay, it is not always the same thing, but it is typical. Because when I was in Germany, I also experienced the same thing. Almost every dinner, my former host family and I were having dinner eating asparagus (especially in summer time), potato (mashed, baked, or boiled), and sometimes with meat or chicken, also another kind of vegetable.

Movies are not only being my hobby, but also my best friend, a part of my life, that I will never let it go, never let them live alone. For those who also love watching movies, maybe just watch it as full of beans, but for me, somehow, since make ‘watching movies’ as one of hobbies, I have a dream to be a filmmaker. Even though I realize that take filmmaking school is expensive, but now I am still having a dream to be a writer, particularly screenwriter.

I also always thanks to my dad who has been given me those animated movies that I can watch during my precious childhood. And when I’m grown up, I realize that I can be like this now is because of watching movies. I got many knowledge implicitly or even explicitly caused by movies, Hollywood movies especially.

And every time people ask me, how did you learn English? I could answer “Take English school and watch many American movies or all movies that use English, and watch it without subtitle. Then, soon or late, you are able to speak English well, or at least your listening skill is going to be better”.

In addition, I also got idea to put movies as a main idea in my bachelor thesis which I was analyzing three French movies (I studied French studies, for pedagogical purpose) and find the cultures in each movie. It’s just because I love watching movies, and I want to dedicate my hobby as bachelor thesis and make something that I knew well; about movies. Yeah, let’s say I thanks to movie that makes so much like this, so why not to put movie to be a main idea of the thesis. And luckily I successfully made it!

So, I’m sort of annoyed with the people who would saying “Watching movies is wasting time”, because the truth is the opposite. I know it seems so weird for me who likes writing but actually don’t really like reading, well I do but not so often read novel or science books, more often with magazine, screenplay, and Wikipedia. So, caused of watching movies, my passion to be writer and screenwriter is getting higher every single day. Also watching movies is not that so wasted. I’ve proofed that movies are all helpful, help me to improve my English skill, help me to know about many new things that I never seen them before, and help me to know the other cultures, in this context is American or western countries. And if I never made watching movie as my hobby, I will never know how to survive, how to react all the things that I found in Germany during my voluntary year there. So, THANK YOU SO TERRIBLY MUCH for all movies I’ve watched. I hope I could find something more in my unwatched movie list, will find more knowledge with them and always wish that I could be a real filmmaker or screenwriter as my dream.

As closing part, these movies down below are the Top 20 movies in my version. Everyone has their own preference especially choosing the genre, so most of these movies are rom-com. But I hope you could also watch them and like it. If you already watched one of them or all of them, please don’t be hesitate to put your comment on the comment box and we can discuss about the movie as well. Enjoy!

1.      The Holiday

2.      The Devil Wears Prada

3.      27 Dresses

4.      The Wedding Date

5.      Leap Year

6.      What’s Your Number?

7.      Bride Wars

8.      We’re The Millers

9.      Sex and The City 2

10.  The Reader

11.  Johnny English

12.  Gravity

13.  Catch Me If You Can

14.  Ida (Polish movie)

15.  La Môme (French movie)

16.  Elysium

17.  Ghost Writer

18.  The Terminal

19.  Ratatouille

20.  Home Alone