Finding Comfort in Cinema
Buried within the myriad of pretentious reviews from business students praising The Wolf of Wall Street exists a collection of confessions that resonate with connection, hope, and representation. Once merely a movie review app, Letterboxd has evolved into a therapeutic community fostering creativity and understanding among movie enthusiasts like myself.
The Letterboxd community serves as a playground for both creative and analytical thinkers, a haven for the friends who (annoyingly) pause movies to dissect powerful cinematic shots and eerie motifs. The site functions as a convenient tool to track the films one has seen, plans to watch, or vows never to endure again.
Almost instinctively after experiencing a jaw-dropping film, I open the app to delve into the analyses of fellow cinephiles. I, alongside users like David101, Sarah_Movies, and Laura, am emotionally shaken by Past Lives (2023) and its stomach-churning line, “You dream in a language that I can't understand.” Despite our diverse backgrounds spanning countries, genders, races, and religions, we can all acknowledge the enchantment of cinema. Emotions, it seems, are truly universal, transcending our countless differences.
Within the Letterboxd community, discussions abound about films such as Little Women and Barbie, celebrated for their genuine expressions of femininity and sisterhood. Women of all ages confess their unrelenting resonation with Jo March and Weird Barbie. Letterboxd, an outlet for raving reviews, becomes a sanctuary, a portal to mutual understanding.
Reflecting on my own film diary on the app, I analyze my choices. Is "Goodfellas" genuinely a flawless five-star movie, impeccable in its execution, dialogue, and plot? Almost. Yet, what cemented its perfect rating for me was its role in connecting with my father. While we may not see eye to eye on many things, we both could appreciate Scorsese's masterpiece. Whiplash, too, was an exceptional film, but its five-star rating stems from the summer memory of holding hands with my roommates, collectively awestruck by the brilliance of the film.
Cinema, for me, is akin to a hand-squeeze, an "I get you," and an understanding nod, creating bridges of connection that transcend the confines of the screen.
