Anastasia

Originally published on social media on January 5th, 2023

Film is magic. Don’t believe me? How else can you explain those serendipitous moments in life when a film finds you in PERFECT TIMING, EXACTLY when you needed it? Anastasia found me in November when a friend invited me to her house for a tea party and film viewing. Prior to our jolly meeting, it had been years since I had seen this film, and I remember thinking it was overrated. Well, I was wrong. This film is a historically rich musical delight. Anastasia has everything: great lighting/color scheme, picturesque winter scenes and overall design, lovely music, humor, romance, and the promise that we are all more wonderful than we realize.

I can’t guarantee any one of us being princesses with amnesia, but if we allow ourselves to be humble, kind, daring, loving, and follow our dreams like Anastasia, our lives can be just as magical as a fairy tale. People get bummed that life isn’t actually a fairy tale, but look at it this way…at least we don’t have to deal with psycho dead wizards like Rasputin who sell their souls to satan just to seek revenge and have body parts that keep falling off. What can I say, it’s always good to count your blessings

Our tea party happened the day before I got my diagnosis, and my friend’s presence and this film were both very comforting to me when I was scared and facing the unknown. The song “Journey to the Past” really empowered me and helped me find joy in the midst of lonely, vulnerable, medical grief. Here are the lyrics in case anyone else needs this kind of encouragement today (not all lyrics are listed here):

“Heart, don't fail me now!
Courage, don't desert me!
Don't turn back now that we're here.
People always say
Life is full of choices
No one ever mentions fear.
Or how the world can seem so vast
[…]
Somewhere down this road
I know someone's waiting
Years of dreams just can't be wrong
[…]
One step at a time
One hope, then another
Who knows where this road may go?
Back to who I was
On to find my future
Things my heart still needs to know”.

Watch this film not only because I recommend it, but because you will leave the experience refreshed and hope-filled again.