A film even Beethoven would have loved Ode to Joy

 I love this movie!

I love Charlie.

I love Cooper.

I adore Francesca for her loving and honest charm, her temperament and charisma, and I most definitely love Aunty Sylvia for her attitude.

In short: 

I love Ode to Joy.

It brings me an enormous comfort, and I feel happy and secure.

I felt like this almost immediately, and for once it had nothing to do with Martin Freeman per se, but with Charlie's job.

Charlie is a librarian.

I was a librarian, before I became to ill to work.

I did the job for several years, and I will never be able to not be biased about this kind of job.

The atmosphere, the smell, they was people behave and talk, and wherever you look , there is a book, and all these books will tell you a fascinating story if you let them.

So yes, being a librarian is fantastic, you work with all kinds of books and people.

It is indeed, not a job that will bring you lots of action, or sudden emotions, that's why Charlie might work in a library, because the chance that you work yourself up on high emotions is rather small, but it gives you a certain kind of calmness.

And definitely not only nerds visit a library, as Francesca's ( soon to be) ex boyfriend points out, but children and adults, who know that besides cinemas and great television, a library is your place to be when your fantasy needs to go on holiday.

But for Charlie, the way to work every morning is already a huge obstacle.

Actually, almost everything in life is a challenge for Charlie.

Charlie suffers from a neurological disorder called cataplexy.

It is an emotionally triggered disorder, that leads to episodes of weakness and paralysed muscles, and if it is severe even to faint.

In Charlie's case, it fainting happens more often than not, and he has to endure the most sadest trigger.

Happiness and positive emotions.

Weddings, happy couples, love, animals, children playing and having fun.

Can you imagine how awful it is, not to be allowed to feel deep and heartfelt joy?

It is beyond cruel, and Martin Freeman transports exactly this, as you can read in a viewer's comment:

AT the end of the film I was left convinced that Mr. Martin Freeman was actually suffering from Cataplexy, that's how authentically he deconstructed himself on screen.

 It's such a beautiful portrayal of the character (Charlie).
It's been eight hours and I still can't get it out of my head.

What a delightful premise. Martin Freeman plays Charlie, a man who has a neurological condition which causes him to faint when he experiences strong emotions, particularly joy. 

So uplifting to watch him trying to manoeuvre through life by trying to avoid joyful situations, which because of his hypersensitive caution means he can’t help noticing almost everything designed to bring joy. Like a dad carrying his toddler on his back, or two lovers sharing a kiss, or watching a man helping a pregnant woman when she drops her groceries. 

It brought joy to my heart just watching it all through his eyes. 

Watch the movie, especially if you’re feeling down. I promise it will lift you up. 

I enjoyed this film immensely.

And that sums up, a huge element of why we feel at home watching the film.

Because Martin Freeman presents Charlie with such a naturalness, that we can easy see life and his struggles through his eyes.

He creates an environment, where we feel with him, never pity him, and almost every second of the movie wish him love and happiness.

Because of his neurological disorder Charlie is different, and that gives the film a huge advantage to other so called rom-com films.

It's something new and unusual, and it is so easy to love the characters, and their quirks and flaws.

At the frontline right next to Charlie stands Cooper.

The baby brother and protector.

I find it rather easy to love Cooper, he is a bit of a dork, but a very charming one, and he is ready to move mountains for his big brother.

The scenes between the brothers are lead by honesty, kind bickering, and Cooper's underlying wish for his brother to find love.

A rather impossible task for a man, who needs sad music on his way to work, and who's only pleasure is a carousel.

Which is actually a fact, that made me pleasantly sad.

I know how strange that sounds, but feeling sad for Charlie, is a big difference than feeling sad for Chris or Lester.

The whole atmosphere of the movie, is light and besides the fact that I always shed a tear for Charlie while he is sitting first relaxed and as happy as he can be on the carousel, only to pass out a minute later, it is the wonderful natural aura Mr. Freeman created that makes it less hurtful, yet so incredibly human.

I'm all with Cooper, when it comes to the wish of love and happiness for Charlie.

And I think there couldn't be a better chance than Francesca.

Besides the fact that she is super beautiful and charming, she is also a person we want to hang out with.

She is funny, unconventional and ready to really find a way to be with Charlie, which makes her very kind and really deep thinking.

A fact that we also see while Franny is interacting with Aunty Sylvia.

A woman we can all learned from, a sassy Lady who tackles the tragedies of life with unbelievable strength and sarcasm.

Maybe the only way to fight your battles!

Morena Baccarin is perfect for the role, a beautiful and talented actress I already knew from the series Homeland, where she played Jessica Brody, the wife of Nicholas Brody, the homecoming soldier who was held captive for several years, played by Damian Lewis.

Consider this a tv tip:)

I suppose you all know Ode to Joy, otherwise you wouldn't have read this post, so I won't tell you how the film moves forward, but will tell you my three favourite scenes, and no , none of them are set in the library:)

First scene that stayed with me is when Francesca comes to visit Charlie in the hospital room, after he passed out on her steps.

Charlie tries so hard to keep his head above the water, because he is clearly embarrassed, as so often before in his life.

The explaining of the situation is difficult for him, and the more Francesca pushes, the more Charlie withdraw from the possibility of a second date, until he lashes out...a little bit!

Not much, but enough for Francesca to realise, that winning Charlie over again, could be an impossible task for her.

Poor Charlie, we must keep in mind, that this is not a fictional idea, but a real condition and that is a tragedy in itself.

The next scene I want to highlight, is by far my absolute favourite moment in the entire movie.

Francesca, Cooper, Bethany  and Charlie spend the weekend away, and visiting the junk job, or antique shop, that depends on the your own view.

Anyway, when Francesca starts playing the piano, and the moment all of a sudden turns into something else.

While Cooper and Bethany are not really amused, is Charlie at the height of his game.

Within seconds, he turns the moment into something unforgettable and hilariously sweet.

His change into a kitchy Quasimodo is the moment, we see the real Charlie!

A man carefree, insanely funny, and ready to get his fair share out of life.

We see why Francesca isn't attracted to him, we see all the fun, the positive attitude towards the moment, and we see what kind of man Charlie would be without suffering from Cataplexy.

It is by far, the most poignant moment for me!

Last but not least, the ending ending scene.

No, not the Ode to Joy and rightly so kiss, but the scene we see if we stayed in cinemas until the credits had been rolled off.

The bathroom scene.

I mean look at this:

If that is not the most romantic scene ever.

The trust, the love, the acceptance!

Besides the fact that I totally love the domestic moment, because falling in love is easy, staying in love is the challenge, but the sheer trust and adoration Charlie gives to Francesca here, is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in a rom-com.

And on the other hand, the acceptance Francesca shows here, she is obviously totally ok, that her partner has a  condition, that makes him extremely vulnerable, but with the love she shows and the consent, she gives him the feeling that everything is alright, and she will handle the situation.

And she does, the way she calmly combs through his hair, while the lovely and the situation overwhelmed Charlie on every more, she took over and offers him a safe haven.

And that is what this film is to me:

A safe space with people I keep incredibly close to my heart.

Once again I need to thank the two amazing supporters thinwhitedoc and safedistancefrombeingsmart for their help and fabulous work!

Thank you, guys.

And of course, the BIGGEST Thank you goes to YOU all, for letting me that I love so much.