media minute: about time.

There is a movie on Netflix, that has sent my mind into a frenzy. About Time is an amazing captivating story playing on the inner desires that most of us have: to go back in time, even if for a moment. This movie doesn’t spend the storyline dancing around the Butterfly Effect. Changing some particular thing can have compounding impacts into unexpected and undesired other events. In comparison, this storyline would be much closer to the movie, Sliding Doors, and focuses on the meanings of the things that do happen. Sure, it wouldn’t be a time travel show if the super-powered persons did not alter anything making accidental changes, but the roots in this plot are that of love. But, like the Butterfly Effect reference, when events were changed in this story, other things were impacted.

Regardless, the fact remains, my brain went wild! So much so, that in the end, several tears escaped my eyes and trailed down my face. The movie touched on the importance of memories. We see the actor start off making small changes to the timeline, such as fixing a play for a playwright friend by ensuring an actor remembered his lines, to interfering with his future partner’s date plans so he gets a chance. The story also shows, through trial and error, the impacts of small changes, but like I mentioned, that is not a focal point. Instead, it explores a world of opportunity for memory exploration. Going back in time for a second look. Replaying ping pong with loved ones. Walking down the beach again as a child. Enjoying moments – before the timeline is closed and loved ones are lost.

It makes me think about history, my history. IF I was blessed with the gift of traveling back in time… If time was a plane that we could wander in and out of – what would I desire to do? Would I be able to restrain myself from altering things? Am I confident enough in myself now, that the risk of altering some details would be worth the second look? Seeing myself in a variety of states and seeing other people… what would I do? What do you think you would do? If you could go back in time, what period would you revisit? Would you change a friendship in childhood… in young adulthood? Would you experiment with suspicions or small details to see what made you, you? Almost reverse engineering yourself. Fascinating.

The thoughts fall in line with the series that I have started, dear younger self. So it seems the heavy lifting that I am asking you to pontificate upon, I have been doing awhile. The movie explored thoughts that I have whizzed by while searching in the muck to remember this and that. The second-guessing that I have now… I think about my reactions, then, now. I was new to the thoughts at the time. Frustration, hurt, happiness, were all first experiences for me. And although they may have occurred multiple times I was looking at my life through a singular view. A view of a child, teen or young adult limited in worldly exposure. So, for example, looking back now I have multiple generational views. A holistic view that sees the choreography that led me to now. Sitting here, writing the words… I remember key things, but combat childlike perception with adult logic. That filter makes me think about the synchronicity that was necessary for now. The shaping of me.

So, when you have some time on your hands and have some creative brain energy to expend, or perhaps just relax and take at face value, grab a glass of hot tea and snack. Put on Netflix, select About Time, and chill. Enjoy.