Harold and Maude (Comedy) ( 1971) © 2002 by Raymond Weschler Major Characters Harold Chasen............Bud Court A depressed 20 year old man who lives with his mother, who is obsessed with death, and whose favorite hobby is going to funerals. Maude....................Ruth Gordon A very spirited 80 year old woman who also loves to go to funerals, who meets Harold and teaches him that there are in fact many wonderful things in life, if you learn how to appreciate them. Mrs. Chasen..............Vivian Pickles Harold’s rich and superficial mother who seems completely unaware of Harold’s true unhappiness, and who feels that she can solve all his problems by buying him things and arranging social dates with various girls his age. Uncle Victor.............Charles Tyner Harold’s uncle, who is a general in the US army, and who is convinced all of Harold’s problems could be solved if he goes into the military. Plot Summary This film is probably the funniest movie you’ll ever see about the subject of suicide. It is the story of Harold Chasen, a sensitive and emotionally disturbed 20 year old man who lives in Northern California with his wealthy mother. Harold is psychologically depressed, and actually spends much of his time attending funerals and pretending to kill himself in various violent and ridiculous ways. His mother is so out of touch with Harold’s real emotions that she believes that if she can only find Harold a nice girl to marry, his problems would be solved. One day Harold meets Maude at a funeral. Maude is 80 and also obsessed with death, but unlike Harold, she is also very much in love with life, and is certainly the most lively and different person that Harold has ever met. Over the next few months, they become close friends, and then despite the difference in their ages, Harold actually falls in love with her. Maude teaches Harold many things, including the circular nature of life, death and rebirth. She also shows him that even with all the problems of the world, life is very much worth living, at least for a man like Harold, who is still so young... Some Words and Expressions that You May not Know Harold shows us his passion for death, as his mom, uncle and psychologist try to figure out the best way to respond. Darling, be a dear and cancel my appointment with Renee this afternoon. "Be a dear" is a silly and rich person’s way of telling somebody to be nice and do what they say. I’ll know he’ll be furious, but I’ve had such a frightful day. If a person is "furious," they are extremely angry. If something is frightful, it is very scary. Do try and be a little more vivacious. If a person is "vivacious, they are full of life and have lots of energy. Harold’s father had a similar sense of the absurd. In this case, an apprecia责任编辑:yechenglu
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