The first time I saw the big chill I was 16 and thought wow, these people are self absorbed, it was 1984.
The movie came out the year previous and was heralded as the movie for the modern era. Perhaps it was the age that I was and did not really get these mid to late 30 yr olds at all, their problems or why they were at odds with themselves and each other. They seem to have pseudo problems and maybe they just were bitter, who knows.
The characters were good, that I will say and the sound track even today stands the test of time but being 16 and having my own issues I just thought these people were whining for the sake of whining and really did not get life at all. No diversity at all in the cast and they seemed to have rich white people problems. I know I mentioned I grew up poor and could not relate to what their issues were.
As time went on I was at home with my now Ex and it was on the tv, or cable, or whatever we had nearly 20 yrs ago. I do believe I was about 35 ish years old the second time I watched this movie.
Eventhough styles have changed it now was 2003, 20 yrs after the movie came out, my thoughts on those people had changed. I found them more relatable, especially to my own life as I was contemplating divorce at this point ( did not happen for another decade). I still found them still self obsessed in a way but definitely more relatable.
I think we all come to a cross roads in our mid 30s, we are no longer kids, we are adults or at least doing a good job disguising that we have our shit together. I was one of them. From the outside people saw what they thought was a happy, together couple. It was the lie we tell ourselves and others. I was making really good money, contemplating getting my MBA, and still unsure if I wanted a child or if I wanted to stay in the marriage I was in, but no one knew that.
We travelled on vacation to Europe a few times in our 30s, went to NY or Vegas on a whim, and well, I was one of those self absorbed people (for awhile). I bought designer clothes (because I could) and I thought to myself that was what I wanted, I realized it was not what I wanted, I was doing it because it was what he liked, not what I want.
It took me a few years to realize, that is not who I am, the person I am is the one I was as a teenager to be honest. The scrappy 16 yr old who said those people are self absorbed, and they are.
The person I became in my 40s and now my 50s is one who does need to make money, but no longer spends it on expensive clothes or furniture, I see things like I did when I was younger, sustainability.
I know some of you have read about how I shun anything new as it relates to furniture and its true, I love antiques and I rediscovered that after my marriage ended, my ex more preferred new and I went along with that, for awhile.
So when I saw the Big Chill was on Netflix, I watched it a few weeks ago and well, the sound track is still great but wow its an eyeopener to watch it again nearly another 20 years later and give my assessment.
Its funny how I have come full circle that my criticism as a teenager is exactly how I felt when I saw this again past 50, however I did not judge them quite as harshly because I have now seen all stages and can relate to them at 30 plus and think….they will get there too.