Movies can affect how the audience understands a place. Visiting places might also motivate some travelers to watch a particular movie in order to understand more about the destination. In my case, watching Stephen Daldry’s film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which was released on December 25 in 2015, provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the themes of death and loss and expedition that revolved around the main character, Oskar. Through these themes, I look back on my past experience as I was in the city of New York. New York city has completely changed from the image put forth by Stephen Daldry fourteen years ago. However, the experience of Oskar and the bombing on 9/11 still felt real to me.
The theme of death and loss runs through the film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Oskar Schell’s father, Thomas, and many other people died as a result of the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. All the actions of this film revolve around the World Trade Center and mostly feature ways in which people cope with tragedies. Another prominent theme in this film is isolation. Characters such as Oskar’s mother and Mr. A. R. Black isolate themselves and suffer from loneliness. Finally, the theme of secrecy portrays itself in the film where Oskar hides voicemails from his mother and the black key in the vase. More other scenarios depict the characters who have an emotional and psychological load of carrying these secrets on top of their personal tragedies. During my recent trip to New York City, I could easily relate to the scenes from the film and the reality of it in Manhattan. Sixteen years after the tragedy, the world is in full swing, but people were still grieving over their lost loved ones. A memorial service and memorial ground was opened in the same location where the attack occurred. This is a key indicator that tragedies leave behind scars which require positive methods of handling them. Watching the film and visiting the site help me to understand the effect of that tragic event. Just like how Oskar feels scared and lonely after his dad’s death, the 9/11 Memorial symbolizes the emptiness left after the destruction of the World Trade Center and the death of those who worked there.
The events that lead to the death of Oskar’s father at that young age not only directly affect Oskar’s experience, but on a broader level serve as a moral lesson to why we have to remember these victims that lost their lives from the tragic event. Landmarks such as the 9/11 Memorial that we visited and the film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Closethat we watched have helped me understand the value of unity. They remind me to honor thousands of people murdered by terrorists in the horrific attacks, as well as to recognize the endurance of the survivors, the courage of those who risked their lives to save others, and the compassion of all who supported us in our darkest hours. Stephen Dalry reminds his audience of this important lesson by placing the audience in the shoes of Oskar, a young boy with the help a lot of people in his search for the key that has a substantial link to his father’s death.
The theme of the expedition also takes stage in the film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. This theme is exemplified in different ways. The most common example is Oskar’s expedition to discover the lock that fits his father’s key. Oskar’s journey through the streets of New York can be described as being both a physical excursion and a mental undertaking. In his search for the key, Oskar thought that he was lost at some point because there was no hope of achieving his mission. The scene where Oskar feels lost in the middle of New York City reminds me of my first day visiting there. For me, New York City appeared to be a capitalized place, highly urbanized, with a lot of people, cars, and many signs of capitalization like banks. The stressed lifestyle causes the alienation of people, who do not know each other even within the family circle. Walking between the skyscrapers, Oskar feels lonely; he looks for something in the streets, something that it is just not there. Therefore, Oskar or perhaps me-a tourist easily feels lost in this non-sleeping city.
The film can directly be related to our present life where we slowly come to grips with some tough realities. Most of them end up hurting us but we find the power and courage to move on. The film draws the audience emotionally as they feel like they could get in the movie and try to assist Oskar to overcome this tragic loss. The film leads the audience to think more deeply about their lives and elements that complement their lives. Although I had never experienced an emotional journey as Oskar in the film, I was able to learn a lot of things about Manhattan and how people carried on with their daily lives. I could reflect on the glimpse of the busy and crowded city with colorful lights from buildings, cars, stores and other structures, especially during the night. Experiencing the environment in Manhattan where the film was shot is a great inspiration and makes a big impact emotionally and psychologically regarding the themes portrayed in the film