What is it about film that captures our attention so well? Some may say it’s the story and how we best relate to it but most times, it’s the performances played by actors who we are enamoured by; who we choose to relate to in some sense of the characters they portray because deep down, they’re just like us. This morning I learned Elizabeth Taylor passed away and my heart sunk. Of course, death is inevitable and inescapable but watching someone throughout your years through a television screen and finding them to be of comfort to you, that’s hard to part from. Speaking to a friend earlier today, we came to the agreeable notion that these people — these actors, we sort of expect them to be around forever. Perhaps it’s because my generation grew up watching black and white films and anything from that golden era but it just feels weird with them not being around any longer. I remember I first experienced the pinch of an actor that I admired passing away when I was twelve years-old: James Stewart. I had been watching It’s A Wonderful Life since I was around eight or nine years-old and in some mentality of sorts, I always thought of him to be evergreen and always around.
Today was no different. My heart grew heavy at the news of Taylor’s passing. In my twenty-five years of existence, I have watched a ton of movies and always found an appreciation for film whether it be in colour or black and white. I often tell one of my best friends that film isn’t old if you haven’t seen it and try my best to encourage him to watch the Turner Classic Movies channel. I might be annoying in my feat to convert couch potatoes to TCM watchers but at least I’m persistent.
westlifebunny 