But when the fall happens, it can happen anywhere, and so gradually, you don't necessarily sense the matter. You see, it takes at least two, generally three things to alter the course of life. Hamilton, A Map of the World O nce upon a time, movies were ready-made daydreams that showcased extraordinary lives. Only the exceptional movie involves real human beings struggling in a complicated world. People are either completely good or bad.
Movies provide a Utopian translation of life.
Problems loom more intense than everyday reality. Domestic angst has replaced post-war distress. Witness the modern-day existentialist, troubling herself over P.T.A. meetings while secretly longing for something more fantastic. In typical movie fashion, the heroine of A Map of the World , admits that motherhood isn't always much fun. Soon the cinematic gods have declared a virtual plague of disasters upon the outspoken woman, as if punishing her honesty by sweeping away what she takes for granted.