We will be giving you time in class to work on your dystopia projects this week. On Friday (2/6), we will be watching and discussing Casablanca in class. By the end of the week, we need the following from each group:
- A finished version of your script by the start of class Friday (2/6)
- A list of the locations where you will be shooting your film
- 60-90 seconds of edited footage due by end of class Thursday (2/5), uploaded to a computer in the media lab.
Also by Friday (2/6), please read this article from The New York Times on Groundhog Day. In a well written comment, please post a response to the article detailing your own personal religious or philosophical interpretation of the film.
Groundhog Day may seem like your normal romantic comedy film, but if you look at it in a religious limelight you notice that it can be interpreted in a few different ways. I looked at the film as a vision of reincarnation and how Bill was given numerous opportunities to re-live a specific day in his life where he didn't portray the most moral and sincere of character traits. Philosophically speaking, Bill was put into this continuous situation because he was meant to right his wrongs. Bill at first hated it, then used this opportunity to his advantage by getting laid, and then he liked it, and then he got tired of it. It took the death of a homeless man for Bill to realize that life is precious no matter how many redo's he gets. The death of the homeless man was the turning point for Bill and instead of re-living his day to his benefit, he used this chance of faith to help others and make their lives better. I interpreted this film as a chance given to Bill to find himself and change his attitude in life. Bill, who was selfish and conceded, became caring and thoughtful throughout the end of this process. This film can be closely related to the idea of Buddhism and how rebirth occurs to help humans escape suffering. It isn't until Bill escapes his suffering that he is able to live his life again.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw Groundhog Day, I interpreted the meaning of it on the surface level. When he woke up again at 6AM I thought that he just repeated the day magically. Never once did I think that it had a religious undertone until Mr. Clark mentioned it. After I read the article though, I did see stark similarities between some religions to which it was compared. Looking more into Bhuddism I saw that it mirrored the philosophy the movie projects. One of the philosophies of Bhuddism is to lead a moral life. Phil was completely selfish and unhappy. He wasn't allowed to leave February 6th until he was completely selfless. Another guideline of bhuddism is to be mindful and aware of thoughts or actions. Phil was mindful only about his selfish actions in the beginning of the film. After accepting his fate he tries over and over to save as many people as he can. The next philosophy is to develop wisdom and understanding. His producer seemed to allude to the perfect man and these traits were similar to what she was saying. Also, at the party when people were thanking him he was very humble. His actions were genuine and so was his happiness. That is the end goal of Bhuddism: Nirvana. After reading the article and researching some for myself, it is clear to see that Groundhog Day alludes to the basic principles of Bhuddism.
ReplyDeleteafter watching Groundhog Day and talking about it made me realized that its does have some religious moments. Like the old man was dying everyday and Mr. Murray tries to save him and he realizes that he is going to die and he tries to be nice to everyone and everything. So wants he becomes a "good guy" everything he wanted from the beginning he's getting and fends up finally making it past groundhogs day. So I feel the old man is represented as god.
ReplyDeleteGroundhog Day has a few different parts of the film that are consider religious views. One way is how rebirth occurs to help people start over and get a fresh start. The most obvious view was the scenes where Bill kept getting chance after chance to try to impress his girl. Though his intentions were different it can portray a religious view of reincarnation because it shows that you can come back and change your ways to get different results. In order for Bill to change his way of thinking it took for the death of the homeless man he knew to pass away for him to realize re-living his day to satisfy himself, he decided to help others instead. In the beginning of this film you get lots of laughs and realize that Bill is just very rude and self centered but you see that by the end of the film he changes his ways and is no longer anything but caring. This links to Buddhism because of what it represents and the moral life you live within this religion.
ReplyDeleteThe movie Groundhog Day has received many different compliments regarding it's religious interpretations and their point of views. Members of the Jewish, Christian, and Buddhist communities all see their respective philosophies coming to life in the movie. Something all three of the religions practice is being selfless and keeping the well-being of others in your mind as well as your own. Bill Murray's character Phil played a selfish, ignorant jerk that was caught up in bettering his career. Once his life was turned upside down by the repetition of Feb. 2nd and he took his time seriously to make peace with his demons, he gained the ability to live fully and see the big picture as opposed to the way he previously lived. I am not a religious or philosophical person but I understand that your life is not complete or full without giving aid to the people you come across in life. Each situation you encounter impacts the rest of your life and Bill Murray's character was fortunate enough to get a redo. Or a bunch of redo's but in the end he made the most of it.
ReplyDeleteGroundhogs Day had multiple religious stand outs and received high prayers on the film. Buddhism stood out the most for the religious stand points. Scenes from the movie that were religious stand outs were when the main character tried to save the old man and the day starting over and over again. To explain, the day starting over and over again was an explanation of rebirth from the religious stand point. Getting multiple chances was like getting another chance at like from the religious side. The old man played a little part in the film but had a huge impact with the main character. When finding out that he's died in the film the main character began to make peace with all the demons in his life. You don't have to be religious to understand what's going on in a religious stand point because you know that you are to live your life to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteThe film is interesting because so many different religions can relate to it. The one I found the most interesting was samsara. Its kind of scary to think about this seemingly never ending cycle that you have to figure out a way out of. How long will it take, what will it take to get out? Its interesting to think about a bodhisattava too, and the question of who is one. The article says only the Dalai Lama but who knows? Its cool to see how the different religions would reward Bill Murray, Buddhists gaining nirvana, Christians earning a place in heaven, and Jews getting to return to earth. Most people will only take the movie for what it is on the outside, but its actually a lot deeper than a romcom. I didn't see if the director said if he meant for it to be any type of religion but it seems like its up to interpretation. Its very thought provoking to me. I wonder what I would do to better myself in this like time between time. Even the time between time is interesting like, the world is just paused for you while your in this alternate space, or maybe the world is still playing and you've been in a coma the whole time! It would be terrifying but enlightening. I think I would spend the time doing some of the stuff Bill Murray did, like learning to play an instrument, learning another language, meeting all the people in the town. I kind of went of topic...oh well
ReplyDeleteIf you pay close attention to the film Groundhogs Day you will pick up on it's religious themes. The most obvious being reincarnation which is most famously known from the religion of Buddhism. Bill was given the opportunity to re-do a day for what is said to be about 27 years. During this journey he shapes himself into a better person. In the beginning he doesn't have the best moral character but by the end of the film he becomes quite the gentleman. This was a way for bill to correct his mistakes. Bill didn't reach his realization period until he found the old man had passed, and every day after that, no matter what he did or how good of a person he was, the old man still died. That was the one unchanging factor of the story. To me, this films meaning was to help Bill realize who he truly is and how great of a person he is capable of becoming. His egotistical and arrogant attitude was just a front and through out the film, he changes to become a better man.
ReplyDeleteIn all variations of Buddhism, a person cannot truly grow or learn until they come to terms with themselves, a person has no ability to take forward strides until they can take each moment as it comes. In Groundhog's Day Bill Murray's character has an inflated idea of who he is, his importance in this world and what he deserves. He is full of himself and he looks down on everyone. As a consequence of this way of living, he has to relive the same day over and over. Now here you could easily pull the Christian feel because of the heavy reincarnation vibe given off especially after Murray's character starts killing himself every day. But the hints of Buddhist influence are more interesting, and more in line with my beliefs and what I felt from this movie. So Murray's character begins living every day over and it is easy to call this a punishment for his poor attitude on life. But what if this was a gift to Murray's character, a chance for him to become a bodhisattvas, a enlightened individual that is talked about in the article. In Buddhism, before he was the Buddha, the Buddha was a prince of significant wealth who understood little of the world. With that in mind it wouldn't be hard to draw parallels between Murray's character and the Buddha as both were people of heightened status who were ignorant to what the world was really like. The parallel does end after that as The Buddha quickly changed his way of thinking where as Murray's character takes about 27 years of the same day to finally reach his level of understanding of his ability to affect this world. I think i made a point and connection in there somewhere. My take on this film is that it has some heavy Buddhist influence as well as other religious influence.
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ReplyDeleteWatching “Groundhog Day” was interesting. I actually enjoyed the movie. There are a bunch of different religions that can relate to what goes on in the movie. Such as reincarnation, because he is given multiple opportunities to relive a day and get it right. Also when he basically commits suicide with the famous groundhog and still wakes up the next day. In the start of the film, you get the impression that Bill is self- centered and selfish. But after having to live the same day over and over again, it definitely changes him for the better. At the end of “Groundhog Day”, Bill is more caring and actually appreciates life.
-Tiffany Valiante
Groundhog Day was a grey movie which I enjoyed watching a lot. This movie had many things that made it amazing to watch. One being the religion stand put on it. Like in Christianity how when you become saved you are reborn or start a new life so to say. That's what happen to him he repeated groundhog day for years..decades but never went to the next day. Instill he finally was reborn and was selfless and respected other people and treated them fairly or at least just thought of others first. Other religious part of the film is Tht many believe if you are a good person or do good things that you will go to heaven. So for Bill the day was repeated instill he become so to say a good guy.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1993 classic American fantasy comedy "Groundhog Day", Phil Connors who is an arrogant Pittsburgh TV weatherman finds himself in a time loop and continuously repeats the same day over and over again. Some would say the film is Christian-based, others would argue that it has hints of Buddhism, but I believe it has a more Jewish undertone. In the article, the last paragraph on the first page states that there is "Jewish resonance in the fact that Mr. Murray's character is rewarded by being returned to earth to perform more mitzvahs -- good deeds -- rather than gaining a place in heaven,". And if you think about it, these good deeds and rewards occur all throughout the film, and his final reward is to be given his average life back but with a better and less selfish man. Like Rabbi Goldstein says, the movie tells us, as Judaism does, that the work doesn't end until the world has been perfected- which is the ultimate message of the film.
ReplyDeleteThe movie “Groundhog Day” in my opinion was really interesting. The reason why is because it caught my attention on how his days kept repeating and never ending. It drove him to the point where he kept trying to kill himself but it wouldn’t work because his day would just restart. There are a bunch of different religions that can relate because of being reborn and having a new life after you die. Which is reincarnation, because he is given multiple opportunities to relive a day and get it right, and each day he messes up he goes back to fix them so he can end this terrible curse. Also when he basically commits suicide with the famous groundhog and still wakes up the next day. In the beginning of the film, you get this mindset that Bill is selfish and doesn’t care about anyone else but himself. But after having to live the same day over and over again, it definitely changes him for the better. At the end of “Groundhog Day”, Bill is more caring and actually appreciates life and finds true love and is finally happy and content with his life.
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