My Life In Films: Anna Cowan

Film is revolutionary. Film can change lives. Film is something which is hard to imagine our lives without. For me, film is an important part of who I am (which is such a typical cliché but it’s true nonetheless). We often use movies as a way to relate to a situation in our lives, or are perhaps used as an escape from said situation. However, their basic purpose is to create a story which makes us feel a whole spectrum of different emotions. Whatever or however you watch movies, there is no doubt that some define and develop you into the human being you are today. After much consideration, these are four films which I think do so for me.

Trainspotting

dir. Danny Boyle

From my good old homeland of Scotland comes cult classic Trainspotting. A heroin-induced rollercoaster of satirical humour, disturbingly trippy comedowns and lots of self-deprecating inner monologues, Trainspotting makes me feel oddly patriotic considering that the film’s protagonist describes himself and his fellow Scots as the ‘lowest of the low’. However, the raw charm and wit which radiates from the main characters makes up for this – although I don’t see myself shooting up any time soon, I would love to be pals with them all. I watch this film whenever I feel like reminding myself of how remarkable Scottish film is, and how remarkable Scotland is.

Ghost World

dir. Terry Zwigoff

Scrutinising everything and everyone alongside your best friend is truly an elating experience, and Ghost World perfectly captures the beauty of this skepticism. Ghost World mirrors my best pal and I (well, we like to think it does); we tend to base our lives’ philosophies on the characters of Enid and Rebecca – although we’re much less bold and more timid than this duo. Ghost World, for me, is a film which brings my feet back on the ground if things are getting weird. It reminds me of how important it is to have your best friend with you no matter what. It reminds me that it’s okay not to know what you want. And, it makes me love the lameness of Steve Buscemi even more. I absolutely adore this film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WmCBRkWJ54

Donnie Darko

dir. Richard Kelly

I first watched this film when I was quite young, and I was instantly captivated by its strange, enthralling complexity. To this day, it still manages to hypnotise me with its confusing (yet easily explained with a simple Google search) plot and incredible performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze and, in particular, Drew Barrymore. The ‘Mad World’ scene in this film is my favourite cinematic scene ever; it allows you a glimpse into each character’s life, which I find incredibly fascinating. Donnie Darko will always intrigue me, no matter how often I watch it (which is too often).

(500) Days Of Summer

dir. Marc Webb

Regardless of where I go or what I do, I can never seem to escape this film. In the past, I was strangely obsessed with it. I was, and still am, aware that cinematically it isn’t great; yet, I naively fell in love with it. Whether it was the unarguably flawless soundtrack, clever direction (particularly the Expectations/Reality scene) or the fact that I believed this movie explained everything I didn’t understand about ‘grown-up’ relationships, I don’t know; but, it’s a film which has been momentous in my teenage years. It’s taught me not to expect too much  or put too much faith in anyone (as heartless as that may sound), and to know that it’s okay to change my mind. It’s also taught me that attempting to seduce someone with The Smiths is not 100% guaranteed to work. Overall, (500) Days of Summer will oddly always stay with me.

Honourable Mentions: We Are The Best! (2014), Pulp Fiction (1994), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Juno (2007), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1987), Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Frozen (2013 – I AM NOT ASHAMED!)

Words by Anna Cowan