February at the Movies

Yesterday, I received the schedule for the WGA Screenings program.  Each listing gives a brief summary of the film and additional information.  I started laughing after I read the very first three summaries.

"Detour"
A young law student suspects that his stepfather was responsible for an accident that left his mother in a coma, 

"My Life as a Zucchini"
After his mother’s sudden death, 

"A Man Called Ove"
An angry old man, committed to visiting his wife's grave 


So...detect a theme yet??!!"  Hey, it's really a shame the companies didn't hold these for release until May.  They'd have been perfect for Mother's Day.  Take mom out to a movie and then treat her to dinner.

And yes, these really were the first three movies on the schedule.  It so made you look forward to the rest of the month.  

Thank goodness we already held the Women's March.  Being in the crowds of four million other women was probably the safest place for mothers to me.

There was one other pretty funny listing in the month, totally unrelated to this films above.  An upcoming screening is called "Kedi."  It's described as -- A charming, thoughtful movie about the thousands of cats that wander through Istanbul.  A profile of an ancient city and its unique people, seen through the eyes of these mysterious animals.

What made me smile about this?  In part, of course, it's the plot summary -- a film about thousands of cats wandering through Istanbul is not inherently the kind of movie I personally am looking for.  Nor, I suspect, most guys.  But then I looked at when the screening was scheduled for -- February 5.  And why is that so funny?  It's the day of...the Super Bowl!!!.  Yes, the WGA compassionately jumped into some alternative programming for those who don't care to spend the day watching football.

For that matter, the movie they scheduled following directly after the thousands-of-cats film on Super Bowl Sunday is "Julieta."  The description  they provide is -- After a casual encounter with her long lost daughter’s best friend, middle-aged Julieta learns that her daughter has resurfaced in Madrid. This begins a painful reflection by Julieta into her checkered past, flashing back to the moments that defined her current life. To be clear, I'm not remotely saying either movie isn't good -- in fact, this particular film is by writer/director Pedro Almodóvar, so I'm sure it's well-done.  Just that the Guild did a good job finding movies that big football fans might not rush otherwise out to...and those who can't stand the sport might prefer a change of pace.

So, Happy Mom and Women's Month from your benevolent WGA...