Official Website: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/500daysofsummer/
Synopsis: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel star in director Mark Weber's wry, non-linear romantic comedy about a man who falls head over heels for a woman who doesn't believe in love. Tom (Gordon Levitt) is an aspiring architect who currently earns his living as a greeting card writer. Upon encountering his boss' beautiful new secretary Summer (Deschanel), Tom discovers that the pair have plenty in common despite the fact that she's seemingly out of his league; for starters, they both love The Smiths, and they're both fans of surrealist artist Magritte. Soon, Tom is smitten and all he can think about is Summer. Tom believes deeply in the concept of soul mates, and he believes that he has finally found his. Unfortunately for Tom, Summer sees true love as fairy tales, and isn't looking for romance. Undaunted and undeterred by his breezy lover's casual stance on relationships, Tom summons all of his might and courage to pursue Summer and convince her that their love is real.
As seen in the film, Tom and Summer had their first conversation due to their similar taste in music for The Smiths(similarity). Apart from Summer's beauty, having the same liking for The Smiths was one of the reason that left Tom to believe that Summer was 'The One' for him. As Tom and Summer worked in the same card company(proximity), it was definitely much easier for them to get to know each other, much to Tom's delight.
Though this is still a boy-meets-girl type of Hollywood film, the catch here is that the man in the show is the one who believes in love at first sight, whereas the woman does not share this belief. It was due to such different perspective of love and relationship(conflict) that caused Tom his heartache and also led to the end of their relationship in the end. In one of the scene, a random man tried to hit on Summer at a bar, and Tom eventually ended up in a fight with the man. Tom felt that Summer should not be chatting with random guys at a bar since they're in a relationship, but Summer felt that Tom was being possessive. Such conflict was caused mostly due to their different needs from their relationship (relational needs). Tom wanted to be with Summer all the time, but Summer preferred to have her own personal space and freedom.
Personally, I feel that this is a very interesting take on the difference in perspective of a relationship between a man and woman, especially with their role-reversal. Relationships between people, be it love or friendship, are often complicated and require much effort in order to maintain it. However, if we handle them carefully, these relationships often give us great satisfaction and provide us with some much needed support, as they form an essential part of our lives.
Great analysis! =) Certainly, relationships require time and work, and if all works out well, generally everybody would be happy and contented. I guess perseverence and consideration for other parties is really important in relationship building and management. In this unusual case of (500) days of summer though, it sort of goes out of norm and does show an interesting take on the main "controller" of the relationship. That being the woman in this case.
ReplyDeleteHi Chris, Gerald Here.
ReplyDeleteRelationships require alot of time and work and i concur with Audrey on this aspect. But, how about we look at it this way. A relationship is like a jigsaw puzzle. If the puzzle pieces already do not fit, is there really a point in going into the relationship? Wouldn't we just be actively BLINDING ourselves and trying to force pieces that do not fit to fit?
I know alot of people beg to differ with that train on thought but it makes sense doesn't it. Of course, in this world, everything is subjective, even science and the outcomes really surprise us sometimes.
Love @ First sight. Brings back those days when in JC :) It is a nice show indeed :)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good post bro and i will see you soon :D
Audrey: Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that perseverance and consideration plays an important part in maintaining a relationship, as many couples often choose to give up as soon as they hit a rough patch. Also, only if both parties want the same thing and put in almost equal effort will their relationship last.
Gerald: Thanks for your comments. =)
ReplyDeleteI guess the problem here is in deciding if the puzzle fits or not, as it is very much subjective. Indeed, I agree with you that there isn't a point to try to force a relationship, especially if both parties are incompatible. The person one adores may not necessarily make a good partner in a relationship, and both parties may end up feeling hurt and unsatisfied.
Aaron: Thanks for you comments.
ReplyDeleteSo you believe in love at first sight during JC days? Haha.
It may be that way for some people, as relationships between people tend to become more and more complicated as we grow up and have more varied life or love experiences. A simple and honest relationship is often hard to find these days.
Perception of events happening around us changes as we age. Those events also shape us into what we are today.
ReplyDeleteWithout revealing too much of the plot, Summer is what is commonly known as the young, frivolous, fickle-minded female stereotype that prefers to have no strings attached. It comes as no surprise that the relationship just isn't going anywhere when love is not reciprocated.
Carrying on the relationship will only alienate them further. Maybe it's better for Tom to forget about last season's stuff.
Hey, Trevor here, I feel that relationships, simple and straightforward as they deceivingly seem to be, are actually very very abstract; people think that they understand it well, but come on, how can anyone understand what happens when you put 2 or even worse, a group of super complex sentient beings together?
ReplyDeleteImagine a simple BGR as illustrated above, for some people; they really want to be free and independent of love and having a relationship, for others, they might actually be trying to play hard to get, and some just don’t care at all. Some people are so desperate for love that they are willing to do anything imaginable; others just want to dominate someone or want someone to dominate them, and some just want to wait for chance, nature and probability.
When it comes to friendship, it’s supposed to be a wonderful thing where people go through thick and thin together and share their feelings with each other, nowadays it’s very undermined and thus, it seems worthless to many, people have generally become very self-centred and proud, they are not willing to trust others wholeheartedly or even seek help from them, they want to keep their true feelings a mystery. It is just a superficial notion of having someone to hang out with.
Of course there’s family relationships too, that’s supposed to be the strongest relationship in my opinion, but this is the easiest to understand, unless dirty secrets are kept...
There are all sort of people out there, ultimately, a relationship must be mutual, it’s just supposed to be a pure innocent link between people, in my imagination. Now, it’s like a game, a stage where people have to keep watching and guessing what others want us to do, act accordingly, play in character, bound by social norms and what not...it’s just not what it is anymore...
Hey Hey. The.. other, Gerald here
ReplyDelete(I have yet to watch the show, so I'm just running off what you wrote. Boo for spoilers though) Hm. Despite the role reversal, personally, i think it's just another teen flick then. Just cause the guy's doing the chasing, doesnt make it any more interesting. It's just the same story apparently. It doesnt matter in the end, who does what, as every relationship is different. We can't really say that it's interesting just cause the roles are reversed.
But yea, it takes a lot for a relationship to work. Both must want it to work, and only then will it. It would be exhausting for just one person to keep trying.
You-G: Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteIt is certain true that we tend to be with people who have mutual feelings so that our feelings are being reciprocated. No one likes a one-sided relationship.But yet sometimes we delude ourselves that the other party will change for us, but only end up being hurt.
In such cases, moving on, as the season changes, is probably a smarter move.
Trevor: Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you have a rather pessimistic view on people's relationships nowadays. Though I still think that there is much hope in having a relationship built on trust and selflessness, your opinions on some relationships are definitely true. I agree that family will usually be the closest to us. For some, it may be friendship instead.
Whichever it is, only when both parties are genuinely interested in contributing to the relationship will it then work out well. But this is usually undermined by other motivations of being in the relationship, usually selfish benefits.
Gerald: Thanks for your comments and sorry for the spoilers. Haha. But like you said, it's probably just another teen flick. But I do enjoyed the show pretty much, especially when it stars Zooey Deschanel.
ReplyDeleteI guess many people know the logic that a relationship will only if both parties put in the effort to sustain it. But it's often easier said than done, as people tend to play all sorts of games, like Trevor mentioned earlier, when it comes to relationships, so as to benefit themselves. It's sad but true.
i love the part the part of role-reversal, unlike the typical relationships. This is probably the attention-grabbing part in this movie.
ReplyDeleteWell, compromising each other's weaknesses is a critical aspect in a relationship. If both people in the relationship refuse to compromise, no matter how many soulmates they are able to find in life, they will not be able to settle down. In this case, the guy has to give way and help build the relationship since the lady seemed to be quite nonchalent.
I think that love is something we should devote time into. It takes two hands to clap. A willing party is not enough.. :)
ReplyDeleteOut of all the things, human relationship is the most difficult to grasp because there is no one theory which will work. It is usually not easy to find out what the other party is really thinking and much consideration has to be taken in order to maintain a good relationship with the other party.
ReplyDeleteHello (:
ReplyDeleteHavent got the chance to catch the movie, but is does seem pretty cool!
Women nowadays are more independent and thus this is potrayed in the movie that the female lead prefer to have less ''sheltering' and more 'freedom'.
"Love at first Sight" seems very romantic and fantasical. But it does not occur in real life often. The other party may just do something later on which jolts you right out of your fanasty.
Also, I agree with Gerald. Relationship is to be nurtured between two willing parties. Coercion doesnt give you happiness.
Charlene: Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you that compromising is a way to ensure longevity in a relationship. However, it is provided that both parties still wanted the same thing in the relationship and put in the effort and not just wait for the other party to give in or do all the work.
I have to disagree with you about the guy having to give in in the flick. I feel that if the other party isn't interested, he should not be wasting his time at all. It's just silly. Probably moving on would be a smarter option if he wants to meet with mutual feelings.
Anonymous(Guangliang): Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteCertainly having a stable relationship, whether friendship or love, often provides us with some emotional support in times of needs. As mentioned earlier, I believe a relationship will only work if both parties put in almost equal amount of effort.
CZJ: Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the relationships between people are usually far more complicated than a single theory, which is probably why we are constantly studying about this topic so as to gain more insight on our interaction with others.
Also, when it comes to matters of the heart, men and women often communicate differently, thus creating all sorts of problem. Women want men to be mind readers, whereas men wishes that women would be more straightforward when it comes to expressing their thoughts and emotions.
But ultimately, if both parties are willing to try to understand each other, I believe things will eventually work out well.
Yenling: thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI would like to add on to your point about how relationships are nurtured. I believe most people, if not all, wants to be loved by someone. It's always lucky to have someone to love you, but it isn't always quite the same when it comes to reciprocating. Everyone wants to be loved, but not everyone wants or knows how to love someone.
Which is why I feel that actions speaks louder than words when it comes to relationship, or most other things for that matter. Making an effort to keep the relationship alive is key to having a satisfactory relationship.
I, for one, believe in the idea of soulmates. There are only a few people out there that actually qualifies to be your soulmate, and it takes lots of fate to meet up and stay together. If a person is not going to be your soulmate, it is very hard to stay together, for people usually suffer more frustrations during the relationship than enjoy the good times.
ReplyDeleteThere's this chinese saying: It takes a lot of karma in our past lives to be able to come together as soulmates.
Clouds: Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI believe fate plays a part to a certain extend, probably the part where u are given the chance to meet or at least be around the 'destined one'. But that's probably it for me. I feel that being able to find a person that has mutual feelings and wants to be together in a relationship takes work, and not just fate.
As the Chinese saying goes - It's easy to meet but ain't easy to get along. =)
I am so excited for this movie - which has come out AGES ago in the US and it's only coming out in Singapore on Thursday.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I can see from the trailer, their perception of love is just different. It's as if they reversed roles because in a stereotypical light (which isn't true sometimes), women are suppose to be needy and want to be in a relationship but Summer isn't. It's the guy. He's the one who believes in 'the one' and normally it's the girl who dreams about Mr Right.
That's why their relationship had an expiry date and terminated by her.
I'm so excited for this movie and am so watching it this week! I *hope* it's a happy ending! :)
Nina: Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it always takes forever before they screen these nice movies here in Singapore.
Having a role reversal does makes it less of a cliche but what I enjoy most is the way the director jumps from one day to another, throughout the 500 days, in order to allow us to find how more about their relationship development, especially when the show opens with them holding hands at a park looking so happy. It allows our own expectation of the couple to play a big part in what may have happened during those 500 days.
I do not believe in love at first sight. What actually is meant by 'love' when you first exchange glances with a stranger or acquaintance and think that there is some connection between the two persons. Love should be interpreted as an emotion on a level only established or attained after having a significant amount of understanding between each other through experiential interactions. 'Love at first sight' is unrealistic and impractical.
ReplyDeleteThe director seemingly has attempted to distinguish his movie from the rest by swopping the stereotypical roles of men and women (by making men the one with emotion-driven notions about relationships and women the one with the rationally-driven ideas about love); Which does make the show kinda more fresh and new, but is nowhere near outstandingly different from the common you-love-me-and-i-want-to-play-to-get romance movies. Romance movies are lame, boring and dull.
just an addition and edition..it's...cmmon you-love-me-and-i-want-to-play-hard-to-get....
ReplyDeletecheekiemaniac: Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteJust like how guys are usually stereotyped as the ones who are afraid of commitment in films, you are also living up to another stereotype that guys think such romance movie are "lame, boring and dull". Haha.
On another note, I have to agree with you on what constitute love. I believe that love is nurtured over time and not something that hits us all of a sudden when we meet someone. That's probably just a serious case of infatuation or lust. Such novelty usually wears off pretty fast.
But I'm sure there are also those who will readily disagree with us on this issue. I would love to hear their side of the story.
i once read somewhere that for a relationship to work out, a man must find someone that loves him, and a woman, a man that understands her.i put some thought into it and have come to agree that its true to an extent. men are typically not very outspoken about their feelings, women have to come to love and forgive their men; whereas women typically give out too many signals and its always common to hear women complaining about their men not loving them as much as before because they do not understand their needs. however, for relationships to work there must be love to some extent.
ReplyDeleteregarding the movie, its a typical rom-com with a slight twist. perhaps the director's take was to allow men and women to realise how they are in relationships by putting the couple in each others' shoes
hello jinyuan!
ReplyDeletea great article written for a great movie. I do agree with your previous comment that love is nurtured over time, or else it should just be a case of infatuation or lust.
great job on the article! =)
Kevin: Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI guess that quote of yours pretty much sums it all up. It's very true I think, that men and women communicate very differently, and that's probably one of the reason we're attracted to each other. It's probably more like a love-hate relationship; sometimes it's great, sometimes it's frustrating.
I can't deny that this is ultimately still a romantic-comedy, but what I like about it is the way the director brings the story across, with the clever rearrangement of the chronological order of events.
Benjamin: Thanks for your comment and encouragement.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have someone who shares my beliefs on relationships and love. Relationships are usually complicated and fragile, as it involves another party. Sometimes, no matter how well we think we know that person, be it a family member,a friend or a lover, conflict still arises when communication breaks down.
Personally, I feel that the difference in expectation is usually the cause of most conflicts and it is not an easy task for us to meet the expectation of others and ourselves in every aspects of the relationship.
hello!
ReplyDeletehaha well, basically love, both parties got to understand each other well and learn to give and take. when the man in the bar tries to hit on summer and tom turns a little violent, summer see him as being possesive, but she probably don't understand that it's because tom feels insecure when that happens which leads him to such behaviour. probably he just wants to protect her. on the other hand, might be tom is the one who is putting more effort in the r/s but not really summer. seems like they do not understand each other's needs. relationship, it takes both hands to clap, not just one. maybe that is the reason why they couldn't last.
Anonymous: Thanks for your comments Eileen.
ReplyDeleteTom definitely is the one putting in more effort to try to make the relationship work in the show. However, the problem lies mainly in their difference in attitude and belief of relationship. Summer was not looking for a serious relationship and she made that clear, but Tom believed he could change her over time. In the end, Summer did fell in love, but it wasn't with Tom.
Putting in the effort is important, but sometimes effort simply isn't enough to build a relationship.
I watched the show with a girl i like... a nice show indeed... nice article christopher! Thank you for sharing this with me!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Hi, thanks for your comments, though I don't know who you are =)
ReplyDeleteSo you're a fan of Zooey Deschanel? I think she's very suitable for the role too. It's nice to know that she's not only doing Indie films now but also more mainstream movies.
Chris.......I agreed with u....love takes time so that it can b strong n there will b no break up... keep it up dude....
ReplyDeleteTerry: thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeletePersonally I agree with what you feel about relationships and love. I think it is accumulated gradually over time. But I'm quite certain there are many out there who beg to differ.