When it comes to films about life energy, it's hard to top the 1971 cult classic "Harold and Maude," a charming story of a young boy who falls in love with an old woman with a gusto for life.
Right off the bat, it's worth noting that this film is off-kilter. Director Hal Ashby infuses this odd tale with a thoroughly dark sense of humor – although that's exactly what has made the film such a classic.
The protagonist, Harold (Bud Cort), is a young, privileged child born into a wealthy family. Despite his advantages, Harold is thoroughly bored with his existence and yearns to find a greater life purpose. His frigid mother simply wants to find him a girlfriend, but he prefers to hang out at funerals.
That's where he meets Maude, a kooky old lady who doesn't seem to have much regard for laws or convention – stealing cars and whatever else she can get her hands on. Together, the two characters develop a bond that eventually becomes romantic.
It's certainly a bit weird, but the energy behind the movie is infectious, as the young Harold begins to learn that there are things worth living for.
Everything closes with Cat Stevens' "If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out," a song he composed for the film and a true celebration of life if ever there was one.
