Cinema classic: "Groundhog Day"

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Groundhog Day, directed by Harold Ramis, hit theaters around the world in 1993. The picture was warmly received by critics and viewers, and over the past 20 years has, without a doubt, become a cult. Undoubtedly, one of those films that even people who are not particularly knowledgeable in cinema will always recommend you to watch is Groundhog Day. Actors (starring the inimitable Bill Murray) and a gripping plot, in which a deeply dramatic story is skillfully complemented by really funny humor, are the main reasons for the success of the film.

The small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania celebrates Groundhog Day every year. Phil Connors is a TV commentator, and every time he comes to town to cover the events of the holiday. He did the same this year. Phil is generally not a very cheerful person, but on this day his mood was especially bad. Everything is not set from the very beginning, and the culmination of events becomes a snowstorm, due to which the film crew cannot get out of the city.

When Phil wakes up the next morning, he does not yet know that today is February 2 again, and all the same events will begin to occur during the day,same as yesterday. So it will be tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, and it seems that Groundhog Day will now last forever. Only Phil has memories of what happens these days - all the other characters just relive the same date over and over again. The protagonist decides to take advantage of the situation and tries to flirt with his colleague, Rita (played by Andie MacDowell), learning more and more about her every day. However, the efforts remain unsuccessful.

It is not necessary to retell the plot further, but it is important to note that during the film, Phil's character and worldview undergo incredible metamorphoses. During the ten years that Groundhog Day stretched on, he learned kindness, openness, love and, most importantly, to be himself. Some believe that the film is about this - life becomes real only then, and every day is unique and does not exactly copy the previous one, when you are sincere and get rid of falsehood and lies.

Other critics say that eternity and immutability reigning in the world of motion pictures is nothing but death itself. All the events that happen to the heroes of the film during the day are erased from reality, life turns into non-existence. At first, Phil tries to create the appearance of life, deciding that now you can do whatever you want. Finally realizing his helplessness, he becomes depressed and unsuccessfully tries to die physically. And finally, after a long time, the main character comes to what was mentioned above - to real life, breaking this endless circle with Rita, towhich he begins to experience true love.

The reason for the popularity of the film "Groundhog Day" is not even in the philosophical subtext of the plot, especially not all viewers think about it. Rather, clearly visible ideas about eternal values - love, kindness and humanity, presented in a beautiful and high-quality shell, find their way to the heart of any person who has watched this movie. And the plot can be interpreted in detail in completely different ways.