Conversational Movies

“When we talked, I talked about me, you talked about you, when we should have talked about each other.”

– Michel to Patricia, “Breathless”

Freewheeling, a bit crazy, full of life, usually inconclusive, a great conversation is a bit like an impromptu road trip. Instead of “Where are you going?” the question is “What’s on your mind?” There is just nothing better than a great conversation!

The best conversations usually start with a smile. You smile because you are excited about something that you are thinking about. On top of that, you have someone interesting to talk to! Life is good, and you have some ideas you want to share! Naturally, you are smiling! If the other person is also smiling and excited, then a great conversation is probably about to happen!

You start speaking and are immediately interrupted (or vice versa). The other person just can’t wait to get started. They also have some thoughts they want to share. You have to take turns. Back and forth it
goes. You listen, then you speak. The excitement builds. You are in the midst of a great conversation!

How are we to define conversation? Perhaps a conversation could be defined as two or more people speaking to each other. Is it a requirement to have more than one person? I would answer no. There are plenty of great conversations, in my opinion, that include only one person.

A person reading a book is having a conversation. So is a person watching a movie. When Henry Miller was writing “Black Spring” he was having a conversation with himself about his life while working at a telegraph company in New York City. Believe me, it is quite a conversation!

Unfortunately, great conversations are rare. This is because most people are not really interested in pursuing a particular topic. Their minds are already made up. They can tell you what they believe in. They can tell you what they like and dislike. When it comes to WHY they like or dislike something, however, they don’t have much to say. “Does it really matter?” they say. “The bottom line is I hated that movie.” They are not smiling!

I would define conversation as any sincere inquiry into the truth. This book is a conversation about movies. What is good? What is interesting? What is life changing? Here are four extraordinary movies about conversation.

I begin with the movie “My Night at Maud’s” directed by Eric Rohmer. The protagonist is a young man who has taken far too many classes in philosophy. He has taken far fewer classes in life. He has a lot to learn. Then he spends the evening with Maud. The conversation really picks up and you are invited!