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. Julianne Moore and David Strathairn in A Map of the World .