In 1921, F. Scott Fitzgerald published a short story called "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." It was a tale of a child born with the body of an old man. As the child grew up his body grew younger. In the story, Benjamin's father forced his young, er, old son to disguise himself, so as to appear younger and help avoid embarrassment to the family. His mother would buy him toys and he would have to play with them, despite having more adult desires. The story follows him as he grows up and becomes younger, travels the world, fights in war, and goes to school during the second half of his life rather than the first. I have never read the story, but the description I did read differs greatly in execution from what is offered up in David Fincher's film. However, the core of what makes the story interesting appears to have remained intact.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an interesting tale of contradictions, both internal and external. I was simultaneously drawn into the emotional tale and held at arm's length from becoming too invested. The central character is a contradiction by definition, the child born old who ages in reverse. Benjamin is someone in the world but not of the world. It is a film that is near poetic with meaning, while also maddeningly obtuse. In the end, it is a movie that bears enough evidence to sway viewers to the side of love just as it contains enough to push them in the opposite direction. I have found the film more poetic than not, engrossing in its slowly paced flow, and a film that will require multiple viewings. Fortunately, there is enough to it to warrant a desire to revisit.
As the film opens, we get a sequence chronicling a blind clock maker building a clock for a new and massive train station in the year 1918. When the clock is unveiled, it is discovered that it ticks backwards. The maker states this is in hopes that time can be turned backwards and the sons lost to the war can be brought back to life and return home unharmed. This coincides with the birth of a baby who looks like an old man. The mother dies in childbirth, and the father is horrified by what his child appears to be. His first instinct is to hurl the innocent tyke into the river, but when he is spied attempting to off his offspring, he sprints off into the night, swaddled child in hand. He comes upon a house where he hears voices emanating from within. He leaves the child on the stoop and retreats back into the inky darkness, apparently regretting his initial instinct and feeling guilty over what he has done.
Article comments
1 - kate washintogon
i loved the story and the movie it was relly cool how the made him look rellay old
2 - robert blass
i loved the story i read it to my kids you reads it to them seles now it was relley cool, and i loved to read over and over again.ilove to listin to my kids read it because i know they can enjoy something i enjoy.
3 - Amy Will
If you ever contemplate life, you should see this movie. It was very well done. The story sticks with you for the rest of the day. It is never too late to change who you are.