Review of Harold and Maude (1971) by Philip M — 16 Sep 2011

Liked this film when it came out, became obsessed with it a couple years later when MY Fiance died, killed herself, that is, dumped me, whatever. (Still love you 24/7/365.) I live in the area and made pilgrimages to places in the film.

Haven't seen it in 30 years, saw it yesterday. Why was Harold SO death obsessed? I always thought it was because he saw his mother's reaction to the news of his death and thought it was lacking, but I just figured it out.

The police don't come running to tell your mother you are dead if there's no body. Harold confessed he started a fire at his boarding school and split. I think someone died and was mistaken for Harold and Harold was responsible for that person's death.

One of his suicides is self immolation, at which point, and the only time he "breaks the third wall" and stares directly into the camera. - Half of the film is a Vietnam era anti war statement.

I turned 18 in '71, and eligable for the Draft lottery, my number didn't come up, but I guess I could have ended up killing people in Nam that year. Hal Ashby also directed "Coming Home" where a Vietnam vet traumatized by the war commits suicide.