We recently went to an Israeli film called “The Matchmaker,” though we really had no idea what it was about until we saw it. It’s a story of survival and coming of age. We were both deeply touched by its portrayal of humanity, the dark histories that disturb sleep and make nightmares a normal part of life, and the choices that ordinary people make under extraordinary circumstances.
In this age of high-tech cinema full of magic, explosions, and heart-stopping hyper-excitement, “little films” often get lost. But we hope that this one won’t be. We typically opt for character-driven films such as “The Matchmaker” because we find comfort and reassurance in stories about ordinary people. After all, no matter our strengths or talents, we’re all ordinary people, all the sum of our genetic and personal histories and our reactions to those histories.
Within ourselves, any of us could be the people in the movie, no matter our national origin, language, religion, economic status, or other background factors. What we have in common is being human, our reactions to joys and traumas, and our interactions with the world that can either cushion those traumas or exacerbate them. In this particular film, the grace of the deeply injured and the generosity of spirit that inhabited them were inspiring.
Most of us seek inspiration, excitement, or distraction in our entertainment, which largely guides our choices on how to spend our “fun money.” Everything’s gotten rather expensive, what with gas, tickets, parking, food, beverages… But we spend the money because it’s important to us to be inspired, excited, or distracted—or all three.
The desire for distraction is likely a reaction to how complicated “modern living” has become. Sometimes the most basic transactions morph unexpectedly into ridiculously difficult challenges. Nothing seems simple any more—except when we’re sitting in a darkened theater with the comfort of snacks, when we’re guaranteed a few hours away from ordinary, workaday life.
Seeing “The Matchmaker” is a potent reminder that no matter how complicated our lives and technologies and rancid politics have become, those complications don’t nearly approach the level of dysfunction and inhumanity endured by many of the citizens of this film. It makes us so grateful for the good fortune we’ve been given up to this point. We did not earn it. It’s haphazard, and sometimes a rose is a rose and good luck is simply good luck.
Barbara & Oliver