I love a good contest - the reason is, they take you to places you havn't been in a very long time. In this case, that place was my youth! Thanks to my friend @cinetv for putting together the following prompt: https://peakd.com/hive-121744/@cinetv/cinetv-contest-were-back-with-a-new-one
CineTV – Films that rocked your childhood. Ah, the nostalgia! It has been a while since I’ve thought about VHS tapes. How frustrating it was to want to watch a film, and to have to wait a couple of minutes for the film to re-wind. This was a seemingly common occurrence in my house, particular given a proclivity to watch the same films over and over again.
One such film was Home Alone. It came out when I was a youngster, only three – but I certainly found it when I was a little bit older and I was immediately captured. The premise of the film presented to my younger self the dilemma: would I prefer a holiday to Paris, or the freedom of staying home by myself?
The beauty of this question went beyond the film, and became the stuff of daydream. I remember drawing up maps of my house and planning out my own booby-traps. I had a bowling pin which featured heavily in my defense. I diligently presented my plans to my mother, in case she ‘accidentally’ went on holiday with Dad without me. Of course, this never happened, which may say something about my drawings.
As I moved into my early teenage years, the film continued to play continuously, and when the time came for the sequels to be released, it became customary to watch them all – especially at Christmas.
Beyond the daydream though, there’s a lot to like about this film. It had a star quality cast in 1990, and many of the faces feature in a lot of family genre films. Obviously, the face we all know: Macauley Culkin – the character himself looked particularly ordinary, he was the everyman of kids tv. This relatability meant that I could easily position myself in his shoes. Culkin actually won the American Comedy Awards ‘Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture’ (Leading Actor) award!
And of course, the legendary director who made all this happen: Chris Columbus, a name you’ll no doubt know from his amazing Pirates of the Caribbean films. While Home Alone didn’t have the same level of high drama, or the same degree of cinematography, it nevertheless was nominated for two Oscars.
Why you should watch it now: Why not? It’s wholesome fun – we can’t say that too often these days, and you’ll get the nostalgic kick of returning to your younger self, some 32 years ago.
You’ll also get the chance to re-visit one of the most iconic moments in the film, ‘Keep the change, ya filthy animal’. I’m sure my younger self found this most hilarious, and I remember using the line on the playgrounds, and of course, against my sister. Thinking back, it still brings a smile to my face.
And then there’s the film’s message – a quality didactic moment – the importance of family, as Kevin’s mum travels back around the world, to re-unite with her son. It’s a powerful moment, as Kevin, who earlier in the film felt overlooked in his family, comes to appreciate the power of familial love.
Merry Christmas!
Summary: It wasn’t so much the film that was amazing, but the way the film becomes a part of our own cultural context and woven into my young life, that made it a standout for this post.
#cinetv #cine #cinetalkies #cinetvcontest #proofofbrain #vyb