Product: Head in the Clouds (2004)
Rating: 5.0
Romance vs. Idealism
The Amazon review of this is horrible. Obviously it was assigned to the wrong person, perhaps the one that writes reviews of do-it-yourself manuals. It is a wonderful movie about the conflicting impulses of romantic people. Do you live for love alone, or do you embrace activism, hoping to do good for all? Is it truly better to ruin your own life to possibly make no difference in a social struggle, or would it be better to spend all your time pursuing a grand passion, should you be lucky enough to have one or two? A very venerable plot and one that is still relevant. Charlize Theron's character is a privileged and very uninhibited girl with many abilities and much charm. She initially sees no use in taking any sides in politics or devoting herself to the cause of the oppressed. Her boyfriend and girlfriend, who adore her so helplessly, are still more helpless to refuse the call of service to the less fortunate. Are they right? Is she so wrong? Will she be forced by the end to become a heroine after all? Lovely film, lovely characters.